ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
December 14, 1994
PEOPLE OF THE STATE
OF ILLINOIS,
Complainant,
v.
)
PCB 93—58
(Enforcement)
L. KELLER OIL
PROPERTIES, INC.,
Respondent.
)
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by 3. Theodore Meyer):
This matter is before the Board on a six—count complaint
filed by complainant the People of the State of Illinois on March
19, 1993. On October 20, 1994, the Board issued an interim
opinion and order, finding that respondent L. Keller Oil
Properties, Inc. failed to comply in a timely manner with the
reporting requirements of Sections 731.162(b) and 731.163(b) of
our rules (35 Ill. Adin. Code 731.162(b) and 731.163(b)) for a
January 26, 1990 release of petroleum at the Bartley Garage in
Charleston. The Board ordered Keller to submit the missing
reports, and assessed a total penalty of $15,000. Additionally,
we found that Keller had committed knowing violations of Board
regulations, and thus awarded complainant its attorney’s fees and
costs pursuant to Section 42(f) of the Environmental Protection
Act (Act). (415 ILCS 5/42(f) (1992).)
On October 31, 1994, the Office of the Attorney General
filed its affidavit of attorney’s fees and costs incurred in its
representation of complainant. The affidavit of John 3. Kim
states that he spent 12 hours preparing the complaint, 15 hours
preparing for the three hearings in this matter, and 8 hours
preparing the post-hearing briefs, and suggests a rate of $100
per hour, based on his qualifications and experience.
Additionally, the affidavit states that complainant spent $314.45
on the transcript of the three hearings. Thus, the attorney’s
fees and costs total $3,814.45. Although our October 20 opinion
and order allowed Keller 7 days to respond to the affidavit,
Keller has not filed any response. We hereby find the requested
attorney’s fees reasonable, and award complainant the costs and
attorney’s fees requested in the affidavit.
ORDER
L. Keller Oil Properties, Inc. shall pay attorneys’ fees of
three thousand five hundred dollars ($3, 500), and costs of three
hundred fourteen dollars and forty—five cents ($314.45), as
detailed in the affidavit of John J. Kim, filed October 31, 1994,
2
for a total of three thousand eight hundred fourteen dollars and
forty-five cents ($3,814.45). Unless payment has already been
made, payment shall be made within 35 days of the date of this
order by certified check or money order payable to the Treasurer
of the State of Illinois, designated for deposit to the Hazardous
Waste Fund, and shall be sent by First Class mail to:
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Fiscal Service Division
2200 Churchill Road
Springfield, Illinois 62706
The certified check or money order shall clearly indicate on
its face the case name and number, L. Keller Oil Properties’
federal employer identification number or social security number,
and that payment is directed to the Hazardous Waste Fund.
Any such penalty not paid within the time prescribed shall
incur interest at the rate set forth in subsection (a) of Section
1003 of the Illinois Income Tax Act (35 ILCS 5/1003), as now or
hereafter amended, from the date payment is due until the date
payment is received. Interest shall not accrue during the
pendency of an appeal during which payment of the penalty has
been stayed.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Section 41 of the Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS
5/41 (1992)) provides for the appeal of final Board orders within
35 days of the date of service of this order. The Rules of the
Supreme Court of Illinois establish filing requirements. (See
also 35 IlI.Adm.Code 101.246 “Motions for Reconsideration”.)
I, Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
Board, hereby cert~y.that the ab~yeopinion and order was
adopt~dop the /‘~-~ day of
/J~’~
,
1994, by a vote
of
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Dorothy M. GUJ)~h, Clerk /
Illinois P01 tion Control Board