ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    August 9,
    1973
    )
    CITY OF MOUNT OLIVE
    )
    v.
    PCB 73-124
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    CITY OF WAVERLY
    )
    PCB 73-127
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    ANNA STATE HOSPITAL
    )
    )
    v.
    )
    PCB 73-129
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    CITY OF CARRIER MILLS
    )
    PCB 73-131
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    VILLAGE OF NORRIS CITY
    )
    v.
    PCB 73-132
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    CITY OF HARRISBURG
    )
    V.
    PCB 73-133
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    CITY OF WHITE HALL
    )
    )
    v.
    PCB 73-153
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    9—9

    -2—
    )
    ILLINOIS STATE FARM (Vandalia)
    )
    )
    v.
    )
    PCB 73-154
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    CITY OF ASHLEY
    )
    )
    v.
    )
    PCB 73-162
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    VILLAGE OF SORENTO
    )
    )
    V.
    )
    PCB
    73-170
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    TRIPLE OAKS WATER COMPANY
    )
    )
    PCB 73-177
    v.
    )
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    CITY OF
    ST. ELMO
    )
    )
    PCB 73-186
    V.
    )
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    CITY OF SPARTA
    )
    )
    PCB 73-196
    v.
    )
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    CITY OF EUREKA
    )
    PCB 73-206
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    9—10

    -3-
    )
    ELDORADO WATER COMPANY
    )
    )
    PCB 73-207
    v.
    )
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    VIENNA CORRECTIONAL CENTER
    )
    )
    v.
    )
    PCB 73-232
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    CITY OF NASHVILLE
    )
    )
    V.
    )
    PCB 73-227
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    VILLAGE OF SHIPMAN
    )
    )
    V.
    )
    PCB 73-259
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    VILLAGE OF AVON
    )
    )
    V.
    )
    PCB 73-256
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    SUMMERFIELD, LEBANON, MASCOUTAH
    )
    WATER COMMISSION
    )
    )
    v.
    )
    PCB 73-276
    )
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    )
    )
    )
    OPINION OF THE BOARD
    (by Mr. Dumelle)
    This opinion covers the grant of Variances
    in the
    20 cases
    listed
    for which orders were issued between May 31, 1973 and this
    date
    permitting copper sulfate dosing to control algae.
    9—11

    -4-
    A year ago, on August
    8,
    1972 we granted three variances
    to
    cities
    to use copper sulfate
    in order to control algae
    in water
    supply reservoirs
    (City of LaHarpe,
    et al, PCB
    72-168,
    203,
    225).
    We said then
    We concur in
    the grant but do
    so reluctantly because
    of what appears
    to be an incomplete
    discussion by the
    Agency or by the various cities of alternative methods
    of treatment
    or of possible harm.
    However, the algae
    bloom “season” is now almost over and no discernible
    harm from using copper sulfate
    appears
    in these records.
    Ample
    time remains before next summer for both
    the
    Agency and all Illinois water
    supply users
    to prepare
    fuller discussions on both alternative methods and
    possible harm from the present practice.(SPCB
    117)
    Unfortunately the Agency and the Institute did not act promptly
    in authorizing
    a research study and only on May 30, 1973 did the
    Board receive an interim report on “Algae Control
    in Water Supply
    Reservoirs” by
    Dr. Charles
    B.
    Muchmore of Southern Illinois University.
    At
    this date the final report has not yet been received and the Board
    has had to
    act without full information available
    to it.
    Dr. Muchmore’s report involved a literature search; questionnaires
    to the
    50 states
    (37 replies received);
    and contact with individuals
    knowledgeable
    in algal growth control.
    Ot the
    37 states which replied,
    only three reported fish kills
    because
    of excessive copper sulfate usage and attributed this
    to
    the
    lowering
    of dissolved oxygen levels due to overkill of algae and rooted
    aquatic plants.
    The possibility of fish kills
    is
    a reason then to
    keep copper sulfate dosage as low as possible.
    We point out that the Agency recommendations show copper levels
    resulting from CuSO4 use varying from
    as
    low as
    0.03 mg/l for the
    Vienna Correctional Center
    (PCB 73-232)
    to
    as high
    as
    0.70 mg/l for
    the Summerfield, Lebanon, Mascoutah Water Commission
    (PCB
    73-276)
    which was granted today.
    If 0.03 mg/l of copper will kill algae
    then why should
    23
    times
    as much be necessary
    (0.70 mg/l)
    in another
    case?
    It may be that
    the traditional amounts of copper sulfate
    always used in the past are being recommended by
    the Agency with
    no
    attempt to prescribe
    the least possible amount.
    Dr.
    Muchinore cites
    a 1952 study done in Wisconsin that
    shows
    that copper concentrations
    in bottom muds
    of copper sulfate-treated
    water reservoirs were considerably
    less than the 9000 ppm
    (dry basis)
    necessary
    to affect benthic organisms.
    We would point out that
    this
    study is now 21 years old and it would be well to have more
    up-to-date information,
    especially from Illinois reservoirs.
    The
    mention
    of copper sulfate usage for 40
    years in some water reservoirs
    9
    12

    -5-
    without harm is not conclusive since
    (a) we do not know
    if copper
    in those bottoms are approaching dangerous levels and
    (b) we do
    not know if such usage
    is warrantedin Illinois waters because of
    possibly differing alkalinity
    andy hardness characteristics.
    Alternative methods of algae
    control are dismissed by
    Dr. Muchmore
    as having more drastic effects upon the environment.
    These other methods are; activated carbon,
    lime or alum addition
    and air injection.
    Again, until the premise
    is fully proven
    (that
    copper sulfate causes little harm)
    then these
    alternatives might
    have
    to be considered
    in the future.
    The possibility of using algae-eating fish does
    not appear
    promising according to a Federal biologist in Arkansas but no
    mention is made of two specie~of fish listed in our August
    15,
    1972 opinion.
    Alternative chemicals mentioned by Dr. Muchmore for use
    as algicides
    are; Hydrothol-47, potassium permanganate
    (used in
    Arkansas)
    and 2-4,1).
    (used in Texas).
    His final report should
    elaborate on the possibilities for their use in Illinois.
    We
    would also point out that our earlier opinion
    (City
    of Paris,
    City of Oakland,
    72-277,
    72-289, August 15,
    1972
    5PCB 171) mentions
    2,3-dichloronaphthoquinone and Algimycin-Pll and these
    should also
    be examined.
    In summary, we grant the variances because
    the harm to the
    environment
    seems minimal
    and long range in nature.
    We point out
    that in one case before us, minnows were observed to turn blue
    and to remain that color for a day or two (Village of Sorento,
    73-170)
    but no kills occurred.
    In a recent
    case,
    (Summerfield,
    et
    al
    73-276)
    the Agency asks
    us to exempt side channel
    (not flow through) reservoirs
    from the
    0.02 mg/l copper water quality standard.
    This
    is
    a good recommendation
    and if
    the side
    channel reservoir were only used for water supply
    purposes
    (not for fishing)
    then we would consider it
    as
    an appendage
    of the water treatment plant
    to be dosed with chemicals
    at the
    operator’s will.
    However,
    we think
    it best
    to wait on this matter
    of interpretation until
    the final report by Dr. Muchmore
    is before
    us.
    Once
    the final report
    is issued we would expect that the
    Agency would propose a change
    in
    the Water Pollution Regulations to
    allow copper sulfate usage if no suitable alternative exists for
    algae control.
    A year ago we granted similar variances to
    five Illinois cities.
    None have come back for new variances
    indicating that they have
    found alternate solutions
    to controlling algae or that no algae pro-
    blem arose this
    year.
    The Board would
    be
    interested
    in the Agency
    or Dr. Muchinore’s comments on the experience
    at these cities.
    This opinion constitutes the Board’s findings of
    fact and
    conclusions of
    law.
    9
    13

    -6-
    I, Christan L. Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
    Board, hereby certify the above
    Opinion was adopted on the
    c1.+.~
    day of August,
    1973 by a vote
    of ___________________________________
    Illinois Pollution
    1 Board
    9—14

    ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    August 9,
    1973
    ALTON BOX BOARD COMPANY,
    Petitioner,
    vs.
    )
    PCB 73—140
    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
    Respondent.
    Karl Hoagland, Attorney for Alton Box Board Company
    Frederick Hopper, Assistant Attorney General for the EPA
    OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
    (by Mr. Henss)
    Alton Box Board Company requests variance from Sections
    402,
    403,
    404(a) (i)
    404(b) (i)
    405 and 408(a) (h)
    and
    (c)
    of
    Part IV, Chapter
    3, Water Pollution Regulations of Illinois
    and Section 12(a)
    of the Environmental Protection Act.
    The
    Company states that variance from these water quality and
    effluent standards will be needed until construction is completed,
    about December 1977, on
    a proposed new waste water treatment
    facility.
    The mill in question is located within the city limits of
    Alton in Madison County and borders
    the Mississippi River below
    Alton Lock and Dam #26.
    It is the largest of
    4 paperboard mills
    owned by the Company.
    Approximately 800 tons of paperhoard are
    produced daily by the mill’s 720 employees.
    It consumes 735 tons
    of coal daily,
    93 tons of processed chemicals,
    600 tons of re-
    claimed wastepaper,
    568 tons of wood chips and
    8 to 10 million
    gallons of water.
    Petitioner owns
    a total of 43 plants located
    in 15 states in its fully integrated production of paperboard
    packaging products.
    The record indicates that Alton Box has made some progress
    over the past 11 years in its attempt to conform to existing
    regulations.
    A May 18,
    1964 letter from the Sanitary Water Board
    acknowledges
    a
    2/3 reduction in fibre content of the Company
    effluent.
    After failure of an experimental control program
    Alton installed an 8.5 MGD wastewater clarifier and sludge
    removal system.
    In April 1967 the Sanitary Water Board said the
    new system could “provide adequate treatment to the tributary
    9—
    15

    —2—
    industrial wastes for some years
    to come”,
    if afforded proper
    maintenance and operational control.
    Under SWB-l3,
    the Alton
    mill was required to have secondary treatment by December 1982.
    On January 19,
    1971 the Environmental Protection Agency
    advised Petitioner by letter (Petitioner Exhibit
    #23) that newly
    adopted regulations now required secondary treatment for the mill
    effluent by December 31,
    1973.
    In April 1971 Petitioner hired Mid—America Engineers Incor-
    porated to do
    a feasibility study relating to the liquid wastes
    (Exhibit 24).
    Although the study was to have been completed
    within
    8 weeks,
    it was not received until September 16, 1971.
    The recommendations of the study were not followed, allegedly be-
    cause Petitioner did not choose to accept undesirable pollutional
    trade-offs inherent in the plan.
    Evidence also shows that in
    April 1971 Alton Box hired
    a St. Louis
    firm of consulting engineers
    to assist in obtaining permits and for consultation on other
    phases of their pollution abatement problems
    (Petitioner Exhibit
    #26).
    During May 1971 two Alton Box officials toured six other
    mill sites to determine how other paper mills were treating their
    liquid effluent before discharge.
    Mid-America Engineers was.re-
    quested to perform additional studies and subsequently provided
    Petitioner with revisions that were found acceptable.
    Alton Box adopted a program which called for the complete
    elimination of wood chips
    from the process in order to abate the
    troublesome black liquor effluent.
    This would leave reclamation
    and recycling of wastepaper
    (increased to 950 tons per day)
    as the
    primary source of raw material.
    Under this plan, Alton Box would
    be able to reduce its use of land for aeration,
    lagoons and ponds.
    The time schedule for the 4 stage program
    is as follows:
    Stage
    1:
    Install processing equipment for converting the entire
    operation to reclamation of wastepaper.
    Time required
    -
    18 months
    Estimated completion date
    September 19, 1974
    Effects:
    BOD—25 lbs./ton or 20,000 lbs. per day
    80
    reduction
    Suspended Solids
    -
    5 lbs./ton or 2,000
    lbs.
    per day
    -
    37.5
    reduction
    Stage
    2:
    (simultaneous with Stage
    1)
    Phase out woodchips and phase in new sources of
    reclaimed waste paper
    (i.e.,
    expansion of the
    paper reclamation division).
    9—16

    —3—
    Time required
    -
    18 months
    Estimated completion date
    -
    September 1974
    Effects:
    (incorporated in effects shown for Stage
    1)
    Stage
    3:
    Close the mill process water system by reducing number
    of discharge water points.
    Time required
    -
    24 months
    Estimated completion date
    September
    1976
    Effects:
    BOD-20 lbs./ton or 16,000 lbs. per day
    85
    reduction
    Suspended solids
    0.125 lbs./ton or 100
    lbs.
    per day
    -
    98.4
    reduction
    Stage
    4:
    Secondary treatment of residual flow
    Time required
    -
    15 months
    Estimated completion date
    -
    December 1977
    Effects:
    Compliance with Regulations
    Under Stage
    1, Petitioner plans
    to install
    2 new hydropulpers,
    enlarge and revise the asphalt dispersion system,
    and construct
    stock tower and conveyor system for feeding the wastepaper to the
    hydropulper and cleaners.
    Alton Box claims that the 18 month time
    frame was supplied by the hydropulper manufacturing firm and in-
    cludes time required to design,
    fabricate, deliver and install
    the equipment
    so as to intermesh with the existing reclaimed fibre
    system.
    As noted above,
    Stage
    2 would occur simultaneously with
    Stage
    1.
    Petitioner advises that the extremely complex nature of
    Stage
    3
    (eliminating a great number of discharge water points)
    delays its commencement until Stage
    1 has been completed.
    This
    seems reasonable
    to us.
    Installation of
    a new clarifier originally called for in
    Stage
    4 has now been programmed for installation during Stage
    1.
    Alton Box claims that as much of Stage
    4 as possible has been
    accelerated and advanced into the earlier stages.
    Alton Box submitted this program to the Agency along with a
    Project Completion Schedule on August 25,
    1972,
    and followed with
    permit application on September 29,
    1972.
    On December 18,
    1972,
    the Environmental Protection Agency rejected the Project Completion
    Schedule because of the obvious failure of the proposed system to
    be in full operation by December 31,
    1973
    as required by Regulation,
    and several administrative inadequacies.
    The permit was then
    denied because there was no approved Project Completion Schedule
    9
    17

    —4—
    and because of failure to provide
    a complete list of contaminants
    discharged and their concentrations.
    After
    a series of meetings with the Agency and their consulting
    engineers, Alton Box submitted a revised Project Completion
    Schedule and permit application giving the following information:
    Current average daily flow
    -—
    9,600,000 GPD
    Designed average daily flow
    ——
    14,400,000 GPD
    Current influent BOD
    --
    1,500 mg/i
    Current influent suspended solids
    --
    1,800 mg/i
    On page
    5 of the Mid—America Engineer’s Report
    (Exhibit #31) we
    note
    a column titled
    “Mill Effluent” under which BOD and suspended
    solids were shown to be
    1450 mg/i and 300 mg/i respectively.
    It
    could not be determined whether the ~‘Mil1Effluent” was the influent
    to the waste treatment works or the effluent to the Mississippi
    River.
    Page 10 of this same report contained the following table:
    Present
    Future
    Reduction
    Total Process effluent
    10,600 gal/ton
    1,250 gal/ton
    88
    Total BOD5 Discharge
    133 lb/ton
    4 lb/ton
    97
    Total Suspended Solid
    discharge
    7.45 lb/ton
    1/8 lb/ton
    98.3
    Calculations from this Table reveal that the present discharges
    for
    BOD and suspended solids are about 1,500 mg/i and 90 mg/i respectively.
    The BOD figure obtained by this calculation for Processed Discharge
    is exactly the same figure given for “Current Influent BOD”.
    Com-
    pounding the confusion,
    as the Agency points out,
    a discharge of
    4 lbs. BOD per ton of production in an effluent of
    1,250 gallon per
    ton yields about 384 mg/i,
    far in excess of the 20 mg/i which
    Petitioner claims will be the BOD concentration upon completion of
    all stages of
    the proposed abatement program.
    Also at issue in this proceeding was the question whether the
    receiving stream was the Mississippi River or
    a tributary to
    t.~:e
    Mississippi River known as Shields Branch.
    In granting the 1965
    permit, the SWB classified Petitioner’s discharge as being directly
    to the Mississippi River.
    However, the Agency contends that the
    discharge actually entered Shields Branch about 1/4 mile before
    reaching the Mississippi River.
    If we upheld the Agency’s position,
    the effluent criteria imposed on Alton Box would not be
    20 mg/i BOD
    and 25 mg/i suspended solids as Petitioner thought but a more
    stringent
    4 mg/i BOD and 5 mg/i suspended solids.
    9
    18

    —5—
    We hold that the higher standard for emissions
    to the
    Mississippi River
    is applicable here.
    Evidence indicated that
    Shields Branch as it was once known, no longer exists.
    A former
    Alton Box Board employee and long—time resident of the area
    testified that the spring feeding the Branch had been capped or
    plugged sometime in the past causing the Branch to become
    essentially a stagnant no-flow ditch.
    The Agency offered no
    evidence on this point.
    Except for periods of wet weather,
    all
    flow upstream of Petitioner’s outfall
    is the result of indus~al
    wastewater discharges from other industry in the area.
    The
    original Shields Branch discharged to the Mississippi at a point
    above the Alton Box property.
    However, the erection of
    a levee
    diverted whatever flow the Branch may have carried onto Alton
    Box lands.
    An aerial photograph
    (Exhibit #9), marked to delineate
    the original course of Shields Branch before diversion,
    appears
    to
    show that the industrial drainage ditch and Shields Branch are two
    different courses below
    a point near the LaClede Steel plant.
    Petitioner’s effluent is not at any point in the original course
    of
    Shields Creek.
    The photograph vividly displays Petitioner’s
    discharge point to the industrial drainage ditch in that the
    ditch becomes very dark.
    The dark liquid is also very evident
    at the ditch outfall to the Mississippi River and for some
    distance downstream.
    We find that Petitioner’s effluent reaches
    the Mississippi
    in an industrial ditch.
    While we are convinced that Aiton Box has made a good be-
    ginning, we do not believe there is sufficient information for
    immediate acceptance of its entire abatement program.
    Petitioner’s
    conversion to 100
    reclaimed paper for feedstock will reduce some
    pollution problems.
    By removing the wood chips, the black liquor
    portion of the present influent to the treatment plant will be
    eliminated.
    Upon completion of the entire project, Petitioner
    states that an estimated $4.7 million from the corporate’s $23
    million pollution control budget will have been spent.
    This must
    be viewed as
    a significant outlay for a plant as old as
    the Alton
    mill.
    An air poliution control program for the Alton miii has
    already been completed.
    However, Petitioner leaves us up in the air by failing to
    reveal methods to be used in Stage
    4
    to achieve compliance; and
    computations of anticipated BOD levels in the influent
    (or
    effluent)
    leave something to be desired.
    Aiton Box Board Company stated that a variance denial would
    cause the termination of operations
    or subject the Company
    to
    possible fines
    for continued operations beyond December 31, 1973.
    If forced to close, Alton Box claims that an immediate economic
    loss of over $12,500,000 would occur which would place the Company
    9—19

    —6—
    in default under its long—term loan agreements.
    Other adverse
    effects would be
    the possible loss of employment of 721 persons,
    loss of payroll, loss of State and Federal tax payments and the
    loss of production capabilities during
    a period of severe
    shortage of paperboard for paperboard packaging.
    Aiton Box
    claims that the resulting paperboard shortage could have
    a direct and
    serious effect on customer plants employing
    more
    than
    30,000
    persons in Illinois alone.
    The Environmental Proteciton Agency recommends that we grant
    Petitioner a variance from Rule 921(a)
    and
    (d)
    of Chapter
    3 and
    deny all other variances.
    Although Alton Box did not specifically
    ask for exemption from those Rules, the Agency expressed in their
    Recommendation a belief that Alton’s Petition should be so construed.
    On June 28, 1973 we deleted Rule 921(d)
    from Chapter
    3 therefore
    that portion of the Agency’s Recommendation is now moot.
    The
    Agency also expressed
    a belief that Petitioner should have requested
    relief from Rule
    1002(a)
    of Chapter
    3.
    The Agency recommends denial on the ground that the hardships
    alleged above are self-imposed and not sufficient
    to justify the
    grant of
    a variance.
    The Agency has an enforcement case pending
    and may fear the effect of a variance on that prosecution case.
    however, the variance is not a shield against prosecution of
    violations which occurred before or after the term of the variance.
    Using Petitioner’s estimate of BOD discharge of 106,000 lbs.
    per day, the Agency calculated that Alton Box was dumping the
    equivalent of the untreated sewage of some 623,529 persons into
    Illinois waters.
    Petitioner calls
    this
    a factually incorrect
    statement representing
    a blatant and total falsehood,
    the sole
    purpose of which was to mislead and prejudice the Board against
    Petitioner.
    Dr.
    James W.
    Irvin,
    appearing on behalf of Petitioner,
    testified
    that he “would not expect the BOD,
    as anticipated to be discharged
    from the Aiton Box Board during this intervening period, from
    present until their facilities are complete,
    to have a significant
    effect on the oxygen resource of the Mississippi River”.
    When.
    asked to describe his statement in language other than
    ~significant”
    Dr. Irvin replied:
    “It would have
    to be an opinion but I would not
    expect that the present discharge would cause
    a depression
    in the
    dissolved oxygen of anything more than half
    a milligram
    a liter”.
    (R.
    273)
    Dr.
    Irvin iater testified pertaining to the suspended
    solids and Petitioner’s effluent that “...my opinion is
    that the
    suspended solids discharge is rather insignificant”.
    (R.
    276)
    9
    —20

    —7--
    We do not agree with Dr.
    Irvin that an estimated depression
    of up to 1/2 milligram per liter dissolved oxygen caused by
    the
    effluent from a single source is insignificant.
    USGS figures
    for the twelve month period,
    October 1970 to September 1971,
    show
    that the Mississippi
    River at Chouteau Island had an average
    dissolved oxygen concentration of about 7.3 mg/i
    (Exhibit #56).
    Data prepared by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for
    the year 1971 reveals
    that the Mississippi River at the Illinois
    Terminal Road Bridge at East Alton had an average dissolved
    oxygen concentration of 8.5 mg/i
    (Water Quality Network, 1971
    Summary of Data, Volume
    1, page 1-229).
    If we adopt
    Dr.
    Irvin’s
    reasoning,
    we should view
    as insignificant the fact that similar
    discharges from an additional
    5 industrial sites in the same area
    could reduce the oxygen content of the Mississippi River below
    standards.
    We believe the Illinois General Assembly expressed
    a
    different viewpoint in Section 11 of the Environmental Protection
    Act:
    “It is the purpose of this Title to restore,
    maintain and enhance the purity of the waters
    of this State..
    The Mississippi is not a pure stream and it has a large
    capacity but this fact is not an excuse for the dumping of large
    amounts of waste.
    The record in this proceeding demonstrates the need for
    an
    early start on construction of the waste treatment facilities at
    Alton Box Board Company.
    Alton Box has expressed a belief that
    construction of the proposed system could begin within two or
    three weeks of our decision.
    Delaying a decision until the
    conclusion of the enforcement action would not speed the proposed
    system along.
    We do not believe our decision today places the
    Agency’s enforcement case in jeopardy since the dates involved
    preceed the dates for which we intend to grant the variance.
    The Agency warns that we “are being given the opportunity to
    buy a pig in
    a poke’.
    If so, we do not accept the offer.
    The
    first three stages of the construction program should reduce BOD
    by 85
    and suspended solids by 98.4.
    These reductions will not
    be sufficient for compliance with our regulations, but they are
    none the less significant reductions.
    We have been left in the
    dark
    as to the proposed fourth stage system.
    Obviously we can
    not approve
    a proposed system that has not been fully explained to
    us.
    We can, however,
    start the first three stages on their way by
    granting a variance with certain conditions.
    Petitioner must be
    fully aware that the granting of future variances will depend upon
    adherence to the conditions and that such future variances should
    not he considered assured.
    We will expect a discussion
    of possible
    9—21

    —8—
    alternatives for Stage
    4 upon the first request for variance
    extension.
    ORDER
    It is the Order of the Board that:
    1.
    Aiton Box Board Company is granted a variance
    from Rules
    402,
    403,
    404(a)(i) and
    (b)(i),
    405
    408(a),
    (b), and
    (c), and 921(a)
    of the Water
    Pollution Regulations of Illinois and a limited
    variance from Section 12(a)
    of the Environmental
    Protection Act from April
    6,
    1973 until April
    6,
    1974
    for the purpose of constructing the proposed
    new process and waste water treatment facilities
    as described by documents submitted during this
    proceeding.
    The variance from Section 12(a)
    EPA
    shall be applicable only as to BOD and suspended
    solids levels.
    We are not at this time granting
    a variance for the discharge of any contaminants
    which were not considered in this Opinion.
    2.
    Petitioner shall by September 13,
    1973 post
    a
    bond in the amount of $500,000
    in
    a form acceptable
    to the Environmental Protection Agency, such bond
    to be forfeited in the event Petitioner fails
    to
    install and operate the abatement equipment described
    in this proceeding and equipment to be described at
    a later date.
    The bond shall be mailed to Fiscal
    Services Division, Illinois EPA,
    2200 Churchill
    Road,
    Springfield,
    Illinois 62706.
    3.
    This variance is conditioned upon the submission of
    monthly progress reports commencing September 15,
    1973 to the Agency describing the status of con-
    struction and installation of the proposed new
    process and waste treatment plant and upon a
    showing of satisfactory progress in the installation.
    4.
    As further condition,
    Petitioner shall by September 30,
    1973 submit to the Board and the Agency data that
    precisely and clearly shows current and anticipated
    concentrations of all contaminants
    cited in Part
    4
    of the Water Pollution Regulations of Illinois for
    the mill influent liauid to and effluent liquid from
    the waste water treatment works.
    9
    22

    —9—
    5.
    Petitioner shall diligently attempt to expedite
    the construction of the new waste treatment plant
    at all stages.
    Quarterly reports commencing
    December
    1,
    1973 shall be submitted to the Agency
    showing progress or lack of progress being made
    toward the selection of methods
    to be installed
    during Stage
    4.
    I, Christan L.
    Moffett, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
    Board, hereby certify the above Opinion and Order was adopted
    this
    ‘j’~
    day of August,
    1973 by
    a vote of
    ~
    to
    C’
    f
    1
    •~~i
    ~
    --~
    ~
    ~
    9
    23

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