ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
November 1, 2001
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Complainant,
v.
CROP PRODUCTION SERVICES, INC.,
AEH CONSTRUCTION, INC. and
GUNTHER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY,
Respondents.
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PCB 02-37
(Enforcement - Land)
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by C.A. Manning):
On September 18, 2001, the Office of the Attorney General, on behalf of the People of
the State of Illinois (People), filed a complaint against Crop Production Services, Inc. (Crop),
AEH Construction, Inc., and Gunther Construction Company (collectively, respondents).
See
415 ILCS 5/31(c)(1) (2000); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.204. The People allege that respondents
violated Sections 21(a), (e), and (p)(1) of the Environmental Protection Act (Act) (5/21(a), (e),
(p)(1) (2000)). The People also allege that Crop violated Sections 21(d)(1) and (2) of the Act
(5/21(d)(1), (2) (2000)) and 35 Ill. Adm. Code 807.201. The People further allege that
respondents violated these provisions by failing to obtain the proper permits and allowing open
dumping and improper disposal of waste. The complaint concerns a facility in Galesburg, Knox
County.
On September 18, 2001, the People and respondents 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) (2000)). This filing is authorized by Section 31(c)(2) of the Act
(415 ILCS 5/31(c)(2) (2000)).
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 the
Galesburg Register-Mail
on September 24, 2001. The Board did not receive any requests
for hearing. The Board grants the parties’ request for relief from the hearing requirement.
See
415 ILCS 5/31(c)(2) (2000); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.300(b).
Section 103.302 of the Board’s procedural rules 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 causes of the alleged violations and the nature of
respondents’ operations. Section 103.302 also requires that the parties stipulate to facts called
for by Section 33(c) of the Act (415 ILCS 5/33(c) (2000)). The People and respondents have
satisfied Section 103.302. Respondents neither admit nor deny the alleged violations and
respondents agree to pay a civil penalty of $5,000 each for a combined total of $15,000. The
Board accepts the stipulation and proposed settlement.
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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. Crop Production Services, Inc., AEH Construction, Inc. And Gunther
Construction Company (respondents) must each pay a civil penalty of $5,000, for
a total of $15,000, no later than December 1, 2001, which is the 30th day after the
date of this order. Respondents must pay the civil penalty by certified check or
money order, payable to the 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. Respondents 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. Penalties unpaid within the time prescribed will accrue interest under Section
42(g) of the Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS 5/42(g) (2000)) at the rate
set forth in Section 1003(a) of the Illinois Income Tax Act (35 ILCS 5/1003(a)
(2000)).
5. Respondents 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) (2000);
see also
35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.300(d)(2), 101.906, 102.706.
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 1, 2001, by a vote of 6-0.
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Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board