SB3447 Summary

• Amends the Interagency Wetland Policy Act of 1989 to require Department of Natural Resources licenses for certain activities in unprotected wetlands, including discharge of fill materials, building structures, or other work.

• Establishes a progressive in-lieu fee program where applicants pay $175,000 per acre for high-quality wetlands on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory and $50,000 per acre for other unprotected wetlands.

• Creates the State Wetland Conservation Fund to receive fee revenues for the sole purpose of acquiring, preserving, and restoring wetlands through grants and direct land acquisition.

• Modifies the state goal to prevent net loss of existing wetland acres or functional value due to State-supported or State-licensed activities.

• Effective immediately upon becoming law.