Public Comment Period; Submission of Written Comments; Extending the Public Comment Period

Section 700 Section 700.190  Public Comment Period; Submission of Written Comments; Extending the Public Comment Period a)         Written comments on any rulemaking proposal shall be considered as submitted on the date on which they are postmarked, or if delivered in person during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), on the date on which they are so delivered. b)         All comments shall be mailed or delivered in person in accordance with the notice published in the Illinois Register.  The Department will request mailed comments to be postmarked several days in advance of a public hearing in order to guarantee their receipt for discussion at the public hearing. c)         The submission of comments shall not mean or imply that it contains reasonable grounds for the action requested or that the action requested is in accordance with law. d)         Any person may request the Director or his/her authorized representative to extend the time period for submitting comments on any rulemaking proposal by making a written or oral request prior to the conclusion of the public comment period on the proposal stating the reasons for the request.  The Director or his/her authorized representative may extend the public comment period for a period of time not to exceed 14 days.  An extension of the time period shall be granted for a person to obtain documents supporting his/her position on the proposal and transmit such documents to the Department.  An extension of time to comment shall be limited to the person who has made and justified such a request.  The Director or his/her authorized representative may extend the public comment period on any rulemaking proposal if due to unforeseen developments (weather conditions) the public was unable to testify at a public hearing. e)         The public comment period shall commence and expire in accordance with the provisions of Section 5-40 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991, ch. 127, par. 1005-40).