(a) This Section establishes a rebuttable presumption for the purposes of evidence and liability under State law regarding claims of pollution or diminution of a water source and for use regarding the investigation and order authority under Section 1-83.
     (b) Unless rebutted by a defense established in subsection (c) of this Section, it shall be presumed that any person conducting or who has conducted high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing operations shall be liable for pollution or diminution of a water supply if:

Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 225 ILCS 732/1-85

  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14

         (1) the water source is within 1,500 feet of the well
    
site;
        (2) water quality data showed no pollution or
    
diminution prior to the start of high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing operations; and
        (3) the pollution or diminution occurred during high
    
volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing operations or no more than 30 months after the completion of the high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing operations.
    (c) To rebut the presumption established under this Section, a person presumed responsible must affirmatively prove by clear and convincing evidence any of the following:
         (1) the water source is not within 1,500 feet of the
    
well site;
        (2) the pollution or diminution occurred prior to
    
high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing operations or more than 30 months after the completion of the high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing operations; or
        (3) the pollution or diminution occurred as the
    
result of an identifiable cause other than the high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing operations.