ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
November 3, 2005
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Complainant,
v.
FIRST ROCKFORD GROUP, INC.,
VILLAGE OF CHERRY VALLEY,
HERITAGE ENGINEERING, LTD., and
SCHLICHTING & SONS EXCAVATING,
INC.,
Respondents.
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PCB 05-215
(Enforcement - Public Water Supply)
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by G.T. Girard):
On June 15, 2005, the Office of the Attorney General, on behalf of the People of the State
of Illinois (People), filed a one-count complaint against First Rockford Group, Inc., Heritage
Engineering, Ltd., and Schlichting & Sons Excavating, Inc. (collectively, respondents), and a
two-count complaint against Village Of Cherry Valley (Cherry Valley).
See
415 ILCS
5/31(c)(1) (2004); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.204. The People allege that respondents and Cherry
Valley violated Section 15 of the Environmental Protection Act (Act) (415 ILCS 5/15 (2004)),
and provisions of the Board’s rules at 35 Ill. Adm. Code 602.101(a). In the second count of the
complaint, the People allege that Cherry Valley violated Section 15 of the Act (415 ILCS 5/15
(2004)) and the Board’s rules at 35 Ill. Adm. Code 602.101(a) and 652.101(a). The People
allege that respondents and Cherry Valley violated these provisions by constructing and
installing potable water lines at the Golf Hill subdivision in Cherry Valley, Winnebago County.
On September 26, 2005, the People and one of the respondents, Heritage Engineering,
Ltd. (individually, Heritage), filed a stipulation and proposed settlement, accompanied by a
request for relief from the hearing requirement of Section 31(c)(1) of the Act (415 ILCS
5/31(c)(1) (2004)). This filing is
of the Act (415 ILCS 5/31(c)(2)
(2004)).
See
35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.300(a). The Board provided notice of
the stipulation,
proposed settlement, and request for relief. The
newspaper notice was published in several in the
Rockford Register Star
. The notice was published on Oc
tober 1, 2005. The Board did not
receive any requests for hearing. The Board gran
ts the parties’ request for relief from the
hearing requirement.
See
415 ILCS 5/31(c)(2) (2004);
35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.300(b).
Section 103.302 of the Board’s procedural ru
les sets forth the required contents of
stipulations and proposed settlements. 35 Ill.
Adm. Code 103.302. These requirements include
stipulating to facts on the nature, extent, and cause
s of the alleged violations and the nature of
respondents’ operations. Section
103.302 also requires that the part
ies stipulate to facts called
for by Section 33(c) of the Act (415 ILCS 5/33(
c) (2004)). The People and Heritage have
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satisfied Section 103.302. Heritage admits the alleged violations and agrees to pay a civil
penalty of $2,500. The Board accepts the stipulation and proposed settlement.
This opinion constitutes the Board’s findings of fact and conclusions of law.
ORDER
1. The Board accepts and incorporates by reference the stipulation and proposed
settlement.
2. Heritage Engineering, Ltd. must pay a civil penalty of $2,500, no later than
December 5, 2005. Heritage Engineering, Ltd. must pay the civil penalty by
certified check money order, or electronic transfer, payable to Illinois EPA
designated for the Illinois Environmental Protection Trust Fund. The case
number, case name, and respondents’ social security number or federal employer
identification number must be included on the certified check or money order.
3. Heritage Engineering, Ltd. must send the certified check or money order to:
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Fiscal Services Division
1021 North Grand Avenue East
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
4. A copy of each certified check, money order, or electronic funds transfer and any
transmittal letter shall be sent to:
Ms. Bridget M. Carlson
Assistant Attorney General
Environmental Bureau
188 W. Randolph St., 20th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60601
5. Penalties unpaid within the time prescribed will accrue interest under Section
42(g) of the Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS 5/42(g) (2004)) at the rate
set forth in Section 1003(a) of the Illinois Income Tax Act (35 ILCS 5/1003(a)
(2004)).
6. Heritage Engineering, Ltd. must cease and desist from the alleged violations.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Section 41(a) of the Environmental Protection Act provides that final Board orders may
be appealed directly to the Illinois Appellate Court within 35 days after the Board serves the
order. 415 ILCS 5/41(a) (2004);
see also
35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.300(d)(2), 101.906, 102.706.
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Illinois Supreme Court Rule 335 establishes filing requirements that apply when the Illinois
Appellate Court, by statute, directly reviews administrative orders. 172 Ill. 2d R. 335. The
Board’s procedural rules provide that motions for the Board to reconsider or modify its final
orders may be filed with the Board within 35 days after the order is received. 35 Ill. Adm. Code
101.520;
see also
35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.902, 102.700, 102.702.
I, Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, certify that the Board
adopted the above opinion and order on November 3, 2005, by a vote of 5-0.
Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board