A minimum setback zone is established for the location of each new potential source or new potential route as follows:
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c) and (h) of this Section, no new potential route or potential primary source or potential secondary source may be placed within 200 feet of any existing or permitted community water supply well or other potable water supply well.(b) The owner of a new potential primary source or a potential secondary source or a potential route may secure a waiver from the requirement of subsection (a) of this Section for a potable water supply well other than a community water supply well. A written request for a waiver shall be made to the owner of the water well and the Agency. Such request shall identify the new or proposed potential source or potential route, shall generally describe the possible effect of such potential source or potential route upon the water well and any applicable technology-based controls which will be utilized to minimize the potential for contamination, and shall state whether, and under what conditions, the requestor will provide an alternative potable water supply. Waiver may be granted by the owner of the water well no less than 90 days after receipt of the request unless prior to such time the Agency notifies the well owner that it does not concur with the request. The Agency shall not concur with any such request which fails to accurately describe reasonably foreseeable effects of the potential source or potential route upon the water well or any applicable technology-based controls. Such notification by the Agency shall be in writing, and shall include a statement of reasons for the nonconcurrence. Waiver of the minimum setback zone established under subsection (a) of this Section shall extinguish the water well owner's rights under Section 6b of the Illinois Water Well Construction Code but shall not preclude enforcement of any law regarding water pollution. If the owner of the water well has not granted a waiver within 120 days after receipt of the request or the Agency has notified the owner that it does not concur with the request, the owner of a potential source or potential route may file a petition for an exception with the Board and the Agency pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section.
No waiver under this Section is required where the potable water supply well is part of a private water system as defined in the Illinois Groundwater Protection Act, and the owner of such well will also be the owner of a new potential secondary source or a potential route. In such instances, a prohibition of 75 feet shall apply and the owner shall notify the Agency of the intended action so that the Agency may provide information regarding the potential hazards associated with location of a potential secondary source or potential route in close proximity to a potable water supply well.
(c) The Board may grant an exception from the setback requirements of this Section and subsection (e) of Section 14.3 to the owner of a new potential route, a new potential primary source other than landfilling or land treating, or a new potential secondary source. The owner seeking an exception with respect to a community water supply well shall file a petition with the Board and the Agency. The owner seeking an exception with respect to a potable water supply well other than a community water supply well shall file a petition with the Board and the Agency, and set forth therein the circumstances under which a waiver has been sought but not obtained pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. A petition shall be accompanied by proof that the owner of each potable water supply well for which setback requirements would be affected by the requested exception has been notified and been provided with a copy of the petition. A petition shall set forth such facts as may be required to support an exception, including a general description of the potential impacts of such potential source or potential route upon groundwaters and the affected water well, and an explanation of the applicable technology-based controls which will be utilized to minimize the potential for contamination of the potable water supply well. The Board shall grant an exception, whenever it is found upon presentation of adequate proof, that compliance with the setback requirements of this Section would pose an arbitrary and unreasonable hardship upon the petitioner, that the petitioner will utilize the best available technology controls economically achievable to minimize the likelihood of contamination of the potable water supply well, that the maximum feasible alternative setback will be utilized, and that the location of such potential source or potential route will not constitute a significant hazard to the potable water supply well.
The Board shall adopt procedural rules governing requests for exceptions under this subsection. The rulemaking provisions of Title VII of this Act and of Section 5-35 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act shall not apply to such rules. A decision made by the Board pursuant to this subsection shall constitute a final determination.
The granting of an exception by the Board shall not extinguish the water well owner's rights under Section 6b of the Illinois Water Well Construction Code in instances where the owner has elected not to provide a waiver pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section.
(d) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (h) of this Section and Section 14.5, no new potential route or potential primary source or potential secondary source may be placed within 400 feet of any existing or permitted community water supply well deriving water from an unconfined shallow fractured or highly permeable bedrock formation or from an unconsolidated and unconfined sand and gravel formation. The Agency shall notify the owner and operator of existing well which is afforded this setback protection and shall maintain a directory of all community water supply wells to which the 400 foot minimum setback zone applies.(e) The minimum setback zones established under subsections (a) and (b) of this Section shall not apply to new common sources of sanitary pollution as specified pursuant to Section 17 and the regulations adopted thereunder by the Agency; however, no such common sources may be located within the applicable minimum distance from a community water supply well specified by such regulations.(f) Nothing in this Section shall be construed as limiting the power of any county or municipality to adopt ordinances which are consistent with but not more stringent than the prohibitions herein.(g) Nothing in this Section shall preclude any arrangement under which the owner or operator of a new source or route does the following: (1) purchases an existing water supply well and attendant property with the intent of eventually abandoning or totally removing the well;(2) replaces an existing water supply well with a new water supply of substantially equivalent quality and quantity as a precondition to locating or constructing such source or route;(3) implements any other arrangement which is mutually agreeable with the owner of a water supply well; or(4) modifies the on-site storage capacity at an agrichemical facility such that the volume of pesticide storage does not exceed 125% of the available capacity in existence on April 1, 1990, or the volume of fertilizer storage does not exceed 150% of the available capacity in existence on April 1, 1990; provided that a written endorsement for an agrichemical facility permit is in effect under Section 39.4 of this Act and the maximum feasible setback is maintained. This on-site storage capacity includes mini-bulk pesticides, package agrichemical storage areas, liquid or dry fertilizers, and liquid or dry pesticides.(h) A new potential route, which is an excavation for stone, sand or gravel and which becomes active on lands which were acquired or were being held as mineral reserves prior to September 24, 1987, shall only be subject to the setback requirements of subsections (a) and (d) of this Section with respect to any community water supply well, non-community water system well, or semi-private water system well in existence prior to January 1, 1988. P.A. 90-14, eff. 7/1/1997; 92-574, eff. 6/26/2002.