ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
December 20, 1990
HERMAN PRESCOTT,
)
)
Complainant,
)
v.
)
PCB 90—187
(Enforcement)
THE CITY OF SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS,
)
)
Respondent.
ORDER OF THE BOARD (by J. C. Marlin):
This matter is before the Board on a Motion to Dismiss
Petition as Frivolous filed by Respondent City of Sycamore
(“Sycamore”) on November 29, 1990. The Complainant, Herman W.
Prescott (“Prescott”) filed a response on December 19, 1990.
Because of the result reached today, the Board will not
specifically address the response. After consideration of the
motion to dismiss, the Board denies it.
The motion raises several grounds as to why the complaint
should be dismissed as frivolous. The first is that one of the
sections claimed to be violated in this water enforcement case,
Section 654.403 of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
regulations, involves secondary maximum contaminant levels for
finished water and is not an enforceable tolerance limit. We
agree. Section 604.401(b) of Board regulations states that the
Agency may set levels and promulgate procedures for chlorination.
35 Ill. Adm. Code 604.401(b). The Agency requires a minimum free
chlorine residual of 0.2 mg/L or a minimum combined residual of 0.5
ing/L be maintained in all active parts of the distribution system
at all times. 35 Ill. Adm. Code 653.604. The Board agrees,
however, that the Complainant’s reliance on Section 654.403 as an
enforceable standard for residual chlorine is misplaced. Section
654.403 lists secondary maximum contaminant levels for finished
water. It is neither an enforceable provision of the Illinois
Environmental Protection Act nor an enforceable Board regulation.
Therefore it is not the proper subject of an enforcement action.
As Respondent admits, however, Prescott correctly sites the
enforceable standard, 35 Ill. Adm. Code 654.403, in his complaint.
We find therefore no need to dismiss the provisions of Prescott’s
complaint relating to residual chlorine just because Complainant
includes an additional, non-enforceable standard.
Sycamore’s second ground for dismissal of Prescott’s
allegations concerning residual chlorine is that the test results
Prescott includes are “undocumented and unfounded.” Sycamore
contends its test results show compliance with the applicable
standards. Sycamore attaches these test results as an exhibit.
117—153
As the above shows, the facts regarding the test results and the
actual residual levels are controverted. The Board finds this to
be an insufficient reason to find the complaint frivolous.
Sycamore raises a third reason as to why the complaint should
be dismissed. Prescott’s complaint alleges that the finished water
has an odor and is frequently rusty. These allegations are
deficient, Sycamore argues, because Prescott neither appends test
results nor does Prescott cite a section of the Act which has been
violated. Sycamore attaches to its motion tests results for
manganese and iron concentrations which show that it is in
compliance.
Sycamore is technically correct that the Complainant has not
cited any applicable Board rule or section of the Act regarding
manganese and iron concentrations which Sycamore is claimed to have
violated. We are reluctant, however, to so narrowly construe
Prescott’s complaint as to require dismissal. Rather, we believe
the claim is sufficiently stated so as to apprise Respondent of the
conduct of which Prescott complains. Complainant may amend the
Complaint to add those sections claimed violated in a supplemental
pleading or amend his pleadings to conform to the proof at hearing.
See 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.210. As regards Sycamore’s test results,
the facts are again controverted. Therefore, the motion to dismiss
these allegations is denied for reasons similar to those given
previously.
Lastly, Sycamore requests the complaint be dismissed as
frivolous because the Complainant improperly attempts to enforce
the written recommendations of the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency contained in a letter dated July 20, 1990 to the
city. We agree with Respondent that these recommendations are not
a proper basis for an enforcement action. As we read the complaint
however, Prescott asks the city to conform to these recommendations
as the relief Complainant is requesting not as an actionable
violation itself. Therefore, the motion to dismiss on this ground
is also denied.
Respondent’s motion to dismiss is hereby denied. The matter
is accepted for hearing.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
I, Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
Board, hereby certify that~heabove Order was adopted on the
day of
~,
1990 byavote
of
____________________
~
~.
Dorothy N4’Gunn, C~erk
Illinois pollution Control Board
117—154