SPRINGFIELD – Assistant Majority Leader Tony Muñoz (D-Chicago) led legislation that was signed into law on Friday in response to an oversight by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency that left McKinley Park residents blindsided by the construction of an asphalt plant in their neighborhood.

“The public has every right to know when a facility that may affect their health is moving into their community,” Muñoz said. “There is no reason why McKinley Park residents weren’t given ample notice regarding the asphalt plant, and we don’t want to see another community put in the same situation.”

Last year, McKinley Park residents received only a two week notice before construction on an asphalt plant began. Muñoz held a town hall in July to discuss the issue with the community resulting in the new law.

Senate Bill 1847 requires the IEPA to provide notice when a permit is required to construct a new facility to the state senator and state representative of the district where the construction is to occur and post the information on its website, searchable by ZIP code.

A permit is required to construct any facility capable of causing or contributing to air and water pollution or designed to prevent air and water pollution. If no action is taken by the IEPA within 90 days of filing the application, the permit is considered issued.

The measure goes into effect January 1, 2019.