ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
September
30, 1976
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
Complainant,
V.
)
PCB 75—218
E.
LYSLE EPPERSON,
GLENN BUELTER,
GEORGE E.
& SHARON M.
DAVIS,
RICHARD A.
& MARGO L. HOBKIRK,
NOELLE N.
DARLINGTON,
RONALD
0.
& DOROTHY
J.
LAMKIN,
DONALD
L.
& BETTY ~J.FOSS,
GEORGE
T.
& LILA
L. MOORE,
MICHAEL R.
& KAREN R. WEBER,
)
EDWIN
L.
& SHIRLEY HARRIS,
ALPHA FAY EPPERSON,
)
LOIS
M.
HALL,
)
KEVIN P.
& HELENA
G. CORLEY,
KATHY
M. BOATMAN,
RICHARD K.
& DOROTHY M.
HAMPE,
THEODORE
R.
& ELEANOR
Y.
GIBSON,
)
ALPHONSE,
JR.
& JANET
E. ANTOINE,
)
CHARLES
L.
& HELEN PARKER,
RICHARD
E.
&
BARBARA
K.
WAHLS
)
CHARLES E.
& CHARLOTTE J.
BENNETT,
)
MARGUERITE E. FREEHILL,
)
DAVID
S.
& RHODA J.
BALDOCK,
)
RAYMOND
& AUDREY BUCH,
STANLEY
&
MARY
R. COOPER,
RAYMOND W.
& JUDITH C. VONDERAHE,
)
DELMAR
W.
&
CAROL
A.
AUKAMP,
EARL
R.
~
JANET
I
.
ACUJ?
ARTHUR
G.
&
JEANETTE
WILMERT,
THOMAS
C.
&
MYRNA
P.
LEITH,
and
LYSLEEN
HUNTER,
Respondents.
Mr. Steven Watts, Assistant Attorney General, appeared for
the
Complainant.
Mr.
William
S. Hanley appeared for all Respondents except
E.
Lysle Epperson, Alpha Fay Epperson and Lysleen Hunter.
23
—
581
—2—
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
(by Dr. Satchell):
This matter comes before the Pollution Control Board
(Board)
upon a Complaint filed May 28, 1975 by the Environ-
mental Protection Agency
(Agency).
An amended complaint was
filed on February 13, 1976.
Of the fifty-six Respondents
named four were dismissed in a Board Order of March 25, 1976.
The four Respondents dismissed were Charles
T.
and Sandra
S.
Merrill and George B. and Betty Kiockenga.
The Complaint in
Count
I alleges that Respondents owned or operated or caused
to be operated a public water supply system furnishing water
for drinking and general domestic use;
that this public water
supply consists of a drilled well,
a hydro-pneumatic storage
tank, and a distribution system;
that before,
on and after
July 1970 until December 21,
1974, Respondents as a result of
maintenance and operation of the system violated Section 18
of the Environmental Protection Act
(Act)
and Rule 3.12 of
the Public Water Supply Systems Rules and Regulations
(Regula-
tions) which are continued
in effect by Section 49(c)
of
the
Act and incorporating by reference certain sections of the
“Great Lakes-Upper Mississippi River Board of State Sanitary
Engineers Report on Policies for the Review and Approval of
Plans and Specifications for Public Water Supplies”
(Standards).
Specifically alleged are the following:
The drilled well
was constructed in a pit without proper safety adaption, thus
subjecting
it to flooding and possible contamination by surface
water
in violation of Sections 3.2.3.14 and 6.2.2 of the
Standards and Rule 3.12 of the Regulations and Section 18
of the Act; the top ten feet of the well casing was not
encased in a concrete envelope to properly protect it from
the entrance of shallow ground water
in violation of Sec-
tion 3.2.3.4(a)
of the Standards,
Rule 3.12 of the Regulations
and Section 18 of the Act; the top of the casing was not
properly sealed, therefore allowing the possible entry of
unknown contaminants
in violation of Section 3.2.1(a)
of the
Standards and thereby Rule 3.12 of the Regulations and Sec-
tion
18 of the Act;
the Water Supply System contained
a
four inch Orangeburg tile directly connected into the well
casing;
this tile discharged into a man-made lake approximately
two hundred fifty feet south of the well and as a result vio-
lated Rule 3.60 of the Regulations and Section
18 of the Act;
the Water Supply System had inadequate pressure storage,
and the pressure storage tank was not equipped with a sight
glass
or an air compressor to maintain proper air—to—water
ratio,
in violation of Section 7.1.5 of the Standards and
23
—
582
—3—
Rule 3.30 of the Regulations and Section
18 of the Act;
Respondents did not submit samples of water for analysis
and such reports
of operation pertaining
to
sanitary quality,
mineral quality, or adequacy of such supplies as were demanded
by the Agency,
in violation of Section 19 of the Act;
a portion
of the Water Supply System was constructed of two inch galvani-
zed pipe,
an unapproved material,
in violation of Section 8.0.1
of the Standards,
Rule 3.40 of the Regulations and Section 18
of the Act.
Count II alleges these same conditions as viola-
tions
of Section 3.2.3.14 and 6.2.2 of the Standards,
Technical
Policy Statement 212(B)
(Edition of January 13,
1975)
which
was submitted in conformance with Rules 103B and 212
(Technical
Policy Statement)
and therefore in violation of Rule 212 of
Chapter
6: Public Water Supplies and Section 18
of the act,
and
also Sections 3.2.3.4(a),
7.1.5, and 8.0.1 of the Standards,
Technical Policy Statement 212(B)
,
2l2E(l)
,
2l2E(2)
,
212G,
Rules
212,
312,
314(a),
314(b)
of Chapter 6, and Sections
18 and
19 of the Act.
Count II also alleges that Respondents failed to
add fluoride to the water of the Public Water Supply System as
required by Section 7(a)
of “An Act to Provide for Safeguarding
the Public Health by Vesting Certain Measures of Control and
Supervision in the Department of Public Health over Public Water
Supplies in the State” and therefore Rule 306 of Chapter
6.
Count
III alleges that on or before May 24,
1965
to at least
the filing of the complaint Respondents allowed the operation
of the water supply without the employment of a person properly
certified as competent to operate
the system in violation of
Section
1 of “An Act to Regulate the Operating of a Public
Water Supply,”
Ill.
Rev.
Stat.
Ch.
111 1/2 Par.
501
(1975)
A hearing was held April
21,
1976 in Lincoln, Illinois.
Respondents
E.
Lysle Epperson, Alpha Fay Epperson and Lysleen
Hunter did not appear.
The Agency made a motion for default
pursuant to Procedural Rule 320.
The Board does find
E. Lysle
Epperson, Alpha Fay Epperson and Lysleen Hunter in default
and on the hasis of
the
aD eqations of
owner~h i
r
and operation
of
the
Lakcvi.cw
Subdivision
Public
Water
Supply,
now
Lakun
as
true,
the
Board
finds
these
Respondents
in
violation
of
all
the
alleged
Standards,
Regulations
and
Acts
as
set
out
in
the
complaint.
At
the
hearing
the
remaining
Respondents
and
the
Agency
submitted
a
Stipulation
of
Facts
and a Proposed Settlement
Agreement
for
Board
approval.
Subsequent
to
the
hearing
the
parties submitted
a Proposed Settlement Agreement with
Modification.
23
—
583
—4—
The Stipulated Facts of the Agreement are as follows.
Forty-nine Respondents participated
in this agreement
(i.e.
all
Respondents but those in default).
The area in question is
Lakeview Subdivision located in the Southeast 1/4
of the
Northwest 1/4 of Section 18, Township 20 North, Range
2 West
of the Third Principal Meridian in Logan County,
Illinois.
This subdivision was developed by E. Lysle Epperson and in-
cludes those subdivisions known as Lakeview Acres Subdivision
filed October 26, 1960 in Plat Book 12, pages
6 and
7 of the
Logan County Recorder’s Office, Sunny Acres Subdivision filed
November 10,
1960, recorded in Plat Book 12, pages 10 and 11
of the Recorder’s Office and Sunny Acres Second Subdivision
filed December
17, 1963 recorded in Plat Book 12, pages
74
and 75
of the Recorder’s Office.
The subdivision is presently served by a public water
supply system consisting of a drilled well,
a hydro-pneumatic
storage tank estimated at a capacity of approximately 500
gallons,
and a distribution system consisting of both
galvanized and plastic pipe.
Inspections of this system by
the Department of Public Health and the Illinois Environmental
Protection Agency have disclosed conditions as those alleged
in the complaint.
The Respondents participating in this settlement agreement
are owners of the residences
located in the Lakeview Subdivision.
it was further stipulated that the present ownership of the
well and distribution system is in dispute between the developer,
E. Lysle Epperson, and the various homeowner users.
Since 1965
there has existed an unincorporated ad hoc committee or
association of homeowners
in the subdivision known as the Sunny
Lake Water Association also known as the Lakeview Water Committee.
The Association has accepted payment by residents which monies
have been applied to the costs of the operation of the public
water supply system.
Various homeowners within the subdivision
and E. Lysle Epperson, developer of the subdivision, whether or
not members of the homeowners’
association, have helped repair,
maintain and operate the public water supply system.
To resolve this situation Respondents agree to discontinue
use of the present well and distribution system on or before
November
1,
1976.
The Respondents agree to replace the present
public water supply system by drilling a series of wells.
The
following Respondents each agree to dig a well solely for the
use of their residence in Lakeview Subdivision:
Alphonse,
Jr. and Janet E. Antoine
Charles E. and Charlotte J.
Bennett
23
—
584
—5—
Kathy
M.
Boatman
Raymond and Audrey Buch
Marguerite
E. Freehill
Theodore
R. and Eleanor Y. Gibson
Richard K.
and Dorothy M. Hampe
Ronald 0.
and Dorothy J. Lamkin
Thomas
C.
and Myrna Pleasant Leith
George T.
and Lila L.
Moore
Charles L. and Helen Parker
Richard E. and Barbara Wahis
Michael
R. and Karen Weber
Donald L. and Betty
J. Foss
Respondents Edwin L.
and Shirley Harris have drilled and
installed a private well serving their own residence.
Respondents Helena G. and Kevin P. Corley agree to drill
one well to serve the residence owned by them in Lakeview Sub-
division.
This well is to also serve one other residence
in
the subdivision.
Respondents George E.
and Sharon M. Davis
and Lois Hall agree to drill one well to serve the residences
owned by each of them in Lakeview Subdivision.
This well will
serve two other residences
in the subdivision.
Respondents
Noelle M. Darlington, Glenn Buelter and Richard A.
and Margo L.
Hobkirk agree to drill one well to serve the residences owned
by each of them in Lakeview Subdivision.
Respondents David S.
and Rhoda J. Baldock agree to dig one well
solely for the use
of the residence owned by them or alternatively to be served
by the well to be drilled by Respondents Noelle M.
Darlington,
Glenn Buelter and Richard A. and Margo L.
Hobkirk.
The Respondents Arthur G. and Jeanette Wilmert, Earl R.
and Janet I. Acup,
Stanley and Mary R. Cooper, Raymond W.
and Judith
C. Vonderahe and Delmar W.
and Carol A. Aukamp
agree to drill one well to serve the residences owned by
them in Lakeview Subdivision or alternatively to continue
to use the aforesaid well and distribution system con-
ditioned upon completion of the following modifications
in the present system.
1.
The distribution system will be properly severed
and capped so that the system will be able to
serve only the above residences.
2.
The top of the well casing will be properly sealed.
3.
The
Orangeburg
tile
directly
connected
into
the
well casing will be disconnected and the well
casing
properly
sealed.
23
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585
—6—
The Respondents stipulating
to this agreement reserved
the right to elect to drill their own wells rather than share
a well
as stated above or to share a well with Respondents
other than those stated, provided that the drilling and
sharing of new wells will be accomplished by November
1,
1976.
One of the objects and purposes of the agreement is
to terminate the present distribution system and to remove
it and any future system of shared wells as provided under
the agreement from the jurisdiction of the Public Water
Supply Act as now enacted.
The Agency recognizes the cost to these residential
property owners of installation of new wells.
The Agency
stipulated that in light of these costs that a penalty
would not serve as an aid to the enforcement of the Act
and that the Agency’s interest will be satisfied by a
Board Order requiring the Respondents
to complete their
action by November 1, 1976.
The Board
finds that all the stipulating Respondents
were in violation of all the alleged Standards, Regulations
and Acts as set out in the complaint.
The Board further finds
that the parties
in stipulating that a penalty would not aid
in the enforcement of the Act have stipulated beyond the pro-
vision of Procedural Rule 333 and the law.
The stipulating
Respondents have admitted and all Respondents are found in
violation of Section
1 of “An Act to Regulate the Operating
of a Public Water Supply,”
Ill.
Rev. Stat.
Ch.
111 1/2 Par.
501
(1975).
This Act provides for a minimum penalty of not less
than $100.
For this reason the Board shall assess
a penalty
of $100.
This penalty shall be suspended for all Respondents.
The Board must consider the factors of Section 33(c)
of the Act;
(1)
the character and degree of injury,
(2)
the
social and economic value of the pollution source,
(3)
the
suitability of locations and
(4) thetechnical and economic
reasonableness of compliance.
The existence and accessi-
bility of a water supply is an absolute necessity to the
subdivision.
There has been no. presentation in evidence of
any injury to the public by the failure to comply with the
regulations and the law.
The stipulating Respondents have
shown mitigation by putting money. and effort into alleviating
the situation.
Defaulting Respondents have not made any
attempt to show mitigation.
As for the defaulting Respondents the Board finds a
penalty necessary.
The burden of presenting mitigating
23
—
586
—7—
factors under Section 33(c)
of the Act is upon Respondents,
Ill.
Rev. Stat.
Ch.
111
1/2 §31
(1975), Processing and Books,
~.
~Pollution
Control Board,
____
Ill.
2d
____,
____
N.E.
____
(1976).
Respondents by default have not made any
presentation of this information.
A properly run public water
supply has high social and economic value.
In this case
E.
Lysle Epperson, as the developer, had the first and best
opportunity to provide a properly built well and distribution
system and by not doing so has ignored his responsibility to
the public health.
Mr. Epperson has waived his right to present
mitigation as have the two other defaulting Respondents by not
participating in the resolution of the problem.
The Board
assesses a penalty of $2,000 against E. Lysle Epperson to aid
in the enforcement of the Act and penalties of $200 each are
assessed against Alpha Fay Epperson and Lysleen Hunter.
This Opinion constitutes the Board’s findings of fact
and conclusions of law.
ORDER
It is the Order of the Pollution Control Board that:
1.
Respondents are found to be in violation of
Sections 3.2.3.14,
6.2.2, 3.2.3.4(a),
3.2.1(a)
of the Standards and Rule 3.12 of the Regulations
and Section
18
of the Act; Rule 3.60 of the Regu-
lations,
Section 7.1.5 of the Standards and
Rule 3.30 of the Regulations and Section 18 of
the Act; Section 19 of the Act and Section 8.0.1
of the Standards,
and thus, Rule 3.40 of the
Regulations and Section 18 of the Act; Technical
Policy Statements 212(B),
2l2E(l), 2l2E(2), 2l2G
Rules
212,
312, 314(a),
and 314(b)
of Chapter
6:
Public Water Supplies, and Sections
18 and 19 of
the Act; Section 7(a)
of “An Act to Provide for
Safe-guarding the Public Health by Vesting Certain
Measures of Control and Supervision in the Depart-
ment of Public Health over Public Water Supplies in
the State” and Rule 306 of Chapter
6: and Section 1
of “An Act to Regulate the Operating of a Public
Water Supply.”
2.
The stipulating Respondents shall build wells
in
conformance with the agreement set out in the
Opinion.
3.
Respondents E. Lysle Epperson, Alpha Fay Epperson
and Lysleen Hunter are found in default.
23
—
587
—8—
4.
E. Lysle Epperson shall pay a penalty of $2,000
and Alpha Fay Epperson and Lysleen Hunter shall
each pay a penalty of $200.
Payment shall be made
within
35 days of this Order by certified check or
money order payable to:
State of Illinois
Fiscal Services Division
Environmental Protection Agency
2200 Churchill Road
Springfield, Illinois 62706
5.
A penalty of
$100 is assessed in conformance with
“An Act to Regulate the Operating of
a Public
Water Supply.”
This penalty is suspended.
I,
Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution
Control Board, hereby ce,~tifythe above 0 inion and Order
were adopte~onthe
~
“~
day ~
1976 by
Christan L. Moffet
lerk
Illinois Pollution
trol Board
23
—
588