Section 1100.40  Permit Provisions and Issuance of Permits

a)         Any person, corporation, political subdivision, agency or department of the State who wishes to buy, sell, offer for sale, distribute, or plant seeds, plants or plant parts of exotic weeds must obtain and possess a valid permit from the Department.

b)         An application for any permit issued pursuant to this Part shall be made on forms provided by the Department.  Applications can be found on the Department's website, www.dnr.illinois.gov.  In addition to the permit application, an applicant shall provide the Department with the following information and meet the following requirements:

1)         Permit to sell, offer for sale, or distribute non-viable exotic weeds. Persons planning to sell, offer for sale, or distribute non-viable exotic weeds must apply for a permit.

A)        To be eligible, the applicant must:

i)          Be 18 years of age or older; and

ii)         Certify that the applicant will only offer to sell or distribute exotic weeds or exotic weed parts that are non-viable.

B)        In addition, the applicant must provide to the Department, in writing:

i)          the purpose of the selling or distributing exotic weed material;

ii)         how the material will be acquired;

iii)        the specific species of exotic weed or weeds that the applicant is applying to sell or distribute;

iv)        the amount of material to be sold or distributed; and

v)         the anticipated mechanism to sell or distribute the material.

C)        A permit will be approved if the applicant meets the following criteria:

i)          The applicant meets the eligibility requirements of subsection (b)(1).

ii)         The material was acquired legally. 

iii)        If cut from the wild and with the permission of the landowner, the source material was treated to prevent resprouts.

iv)        Based on the information provided to the Department, the Department determines the material is not viable.

2)         Permit to plant seeds, plants, or plant parts of exotic weeds that are viable.

Persons planning to plant seeds, plants or plant parts of exotic weeds that are viable must apply for a permit.

A)        To be eligible, the applicant must:

i)          Be 18 years of age or older; and

ii)         Either:

·          plant material only to study control measures in a controlled environment; or

·          Plant material only as part of biological control in the wild.

B)        The applicant must:

i)          provide to the Department an outline of the proposed research, including the scientific justification for such research, methods to be used, needs for the use of an exotic weed, and a statement as to how the proposed research will improve treatment or control of the exotic weed;

ii)         provide a description, including photographs, of the facilities intended for use in holding, growing, or planting the exotic weed, as well as information regarding any planned planting or distribution of exotic weeds;

iii)        Submit a statement of the qualifications of the applicant to conduct the proposed research, including educational history, experience in similar research, and a list of pertinent publications and professional activities;

iv)        Describe the method of termination of exotic weeds after expiration of the permit; and

v)         If applying for a permit for biological control in the wild, provide proof of a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) permit for biological control.

C)        A permit will be approved if the applicant meets the following criteria:

i)          The applicant meets eligibility requirements of subsection (b)(2);

ii)         The proposed research cannot be conducted using a plant not listed as an exotic week;

iii)        The proposed research can be expected to yield results which will improve treatment or control of exotic weeds; and

iv)        The applicant demonstrates the ability to control and prevent the spread of the exotic weeds.