Requirements of Policy Statements and Cooperative Working Agreements

Section 700 Section 700.20  Requirements of Policy Statements and Cooperative Working Agreements a)         The policy of each agency toward farmland preservation and the working agreements shall be as stated in 8 Ill. Adm. Code 700.APPENDICES A-J. b)         Policy statements shall contain the following information: 1)         An explanation of the agency's responsibilities and a description of the various regulations, programs, procedures and operations employed by the agency to fulfill its mandate. 2)         An analysis of how the agency's responsibilities and undertakings might result in farmland conversion. 3)         Measures that can be implemented by the agency to avoid or mitigate farmland conversion. c)         The DOA shall submit copies of each policy statement and working agreement to the following: 1)         the Governor; 2)         the General Assembly; 3)         each member of the Committee; 4)         the State Library; and 5)         the public upon request. d)         Every three years, each agency shall update its policy statement and working agreement or certify in writing to the DOA that its policy statement and/or working agreement on file as rules are accurate.  The updated policy statements and working agreements shall be sent to the DOA for review and approval.  The DOA shall notify in writing each agency of approval or the reasons for disapproval of the documents. 1)         Policy statements shall be approved if: A)        The revised policy statement states the agency's obligation and responsibility to protect farmland; B)        The policy statement explains the effect the agency's program will have on farmland conversion; and C)        The policy statement identifies the measures the agency shall utilize to protect farmland from unnecessary conversion (see Project Proposal Requirements in Section 700.APPENDIX A:  EXHIBIT B). 2)         The approval of the working agreements shall be based on: A)        Identification of projects which are exempt from DOA's review; B)        The identification of changes, if any, from the previous working agreement; C)        Identification of the point in time when an agency will notify the DOA of a proposed project; D)        The time limits of the review; and E)        The time when the review will start. 3)         If, after the review of a policy statement or working agreement, an agency and the DOA are not in agreement, the conflict resolution process shall be invoked by the DOA. 4)         Certification or update of existing policy statements and working agreements shall be submitted to the DOA at least six (6) months before the expiration of existing policy statements and working agreements.