Planned Issuance of a General FESOP Permit Renewal for Drum-Mix and Batch-Mix Asphalt Plants

Notice of Public Comment Period

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is accepting comments on the renewal of a General Federally Enforceable State Operating Permits (General FESOP) for two types of asphalt plants, drum-mix and batch-mix. An asphalt plant is used to manufacture hot-mix asphalt for use as pavement in road construction projects. The process consists of blending cold feed materials (sand, gravel, screenings, chips, etc.) uniformly and adding sufficient hot asphalt oil to bind the mixture together. After the asphalt mix is manufactured at a plant, it is transported to various locations where it is to be applied.

The purpose of a general permit is to regulate facilities which have similar operations in a similar manner. The draft permits would cover two different types of asphalt plants. The General FESOPs are for drum-mix asphalt plants and batch-mix asphalt plants. General FESOPs could be issued to facilities that meet the criteria established in the General FESOP without further public review of the permit issuance. Each facility would be required to meet the criteria established in the General FESOP and operate in compliance with the conditions of the General FESOP. A facility will have to apply to renew its General FESOP every ten years. These permits will only cover existing asphalt plants or new facilities that have separately been issued a construction permit from the Illinois EPA.

The General FESOP for Drum-mix plants allows operation of one (1) asphalt drum-mixer and one (1) drum dryer with baghouse control, up to eight (8) asphalt storage silos with truck loadout, six (6) asphalt plant screening decks, twenty (20) asphalt plant conveyors not including the cold feed and RAP bin belts, twelve (12) storage tanks, five (5) asphalt tank heaters and/or boilers, a RAP/recycled concrete crushing plant comprised of no more than three (3) crushers, nine (9) screens  and thirty (30) conveyors associated with the crushing plant. The permit includes asphalt production, fuel usage and material processing restrictions. 

The General FESOP for Batch-mix plants allows operation of one (1) aggregate dryer with baghouse control and an associated pug mill mixer, up to eight (8) asphalt storage silos with truck loadout, six (6) asphalt plant screening decks,  twenty (20) asphalt plant conveyors not including the cold feed and RAP bin belts, twelve (12) storage tanks, five (5) asphalt tank heaters and /or boilers, a RAP/ recycled concrete crushing plant comprised of no more than three (3) crushers, nine (9) screens and thirty (30) conveyors associated with the crushing plant. The permit includes asphalt production, fuel usage and material processing restrictions.

The General FESOP renewal for asphalt plants currently applies to 70 facilities in the state. A list of facilities is attached at the end of this notice.

Public Comment Period

The Illinois EPA is accepting written public comments on the draft permit. After consideration of any comments received, the Illinois EPA will make a final decision on the permit. Written comments must be received by 11:59 PM on May 13, 2026. If a significant degree of public interest is expressed in the draft permit, a public hearing or other information meeting may be held.

Written comments and questions should be submitted to:

Sarah Brubaker, Office of Community Relations #5

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency

2520 West Iles Avenue, P.O. Box 19276

Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276

sarah.brubaker@illinois.gov

Draft permit documents are also available for inspection at the Illinois EPA’s offices at 911 Harrison St. in Des Plaines, (847) 294-4000, 1101 Eastport Plaza Dr., Suite 100 in Collinsville, and 2520 W. Iles Ave. in Springfield, (217) 786-0790 (please call ahead to assure that someone will be available to assist you). Copies of the documents will be made available upon request. TDD phone number (866) 273-5488.

Facilities located in an area of Environmental Justice concern are indicated in the attachment. More information concerning Environmental Justice may be found at https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/environmental-justice.html.