ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
September
9,
1993
PEOPLE OF THE
)
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Complainant,
v
)
PCB 92—69
(Enforcement)
PATTERSON GEAR
&
)
MACHINE,
INC.
Respondent.
OPINION
AND
ORDER OF THE
BOARD
(by J. Theodore Meyer):
This matter is before the Board upon a complaint filed May
7,
1992 on behalf of the People of the State of Illinois,
by and
through its attorney, Roland
W. Burns, Attorney General of the
State of Illinois, against Patterson Gear
& Machine,
Inc.
(Patterson),
located in Rockford, Winnebago County,
Illinois.
The complaint alleges that Patterson has violated Section 21(i)
of the Environmental Protection Act
(Act)
(415 ILCS 5/21(1)),
and
35 Ill.
Adni.
Code 722.141(a)
of the Board’s rules and
regulations.
On July 22,
1993,
the parties filed a joint motion
requesting relief from the Act’s hearing requirement, pursuant to
Section 31(a) (1).
Notice of the request for waiver was published
by the Board on July 28,
1993;
no objection to grant of the
waiver was received.
Waiver of hearing is granted by the Board
via today’s opinion and order.
Patterson denies the alleged violations,
but agrees to pay
$1,500 into the Illinois Hazardous Waste Fund.
The Board has
authority to impose a penalty where the parties have stipulated
to a penalty,
but not to a finding of violation.
(See,
Chemetco.
Inc.
v.
Illinois Pollution Control Board
(5th Dist.
1986),
140
Ill. App.3d 283,
488 N.E.2d 639,
643;
Archer Daniels Midland
v.
Pollution Control Board
(3rd Dist.
1986),
140 Ill.App.3d 823,
489
N.E.2d 887.
The Board finds the settlement agreement acceptable under
35
Ill.
Admn.
Code 103.180.
This settlement agreement in no way
affects respondent’s responsibility to comply with any federal,
state or local regulations,
including but not limited to the Act
and the Board’s pollution control regulations.
The Board notes that the People requested,
in the May 7,
1992 complaint,
that the Board award the People its costs,
including expert witness,
consultant,
and attorney fees,
incurred
in the action.
However, there
is no mention of this request
in
2
the stipulation and settlement agreement.
Section 42(f)
of the
Act allows the Board to award such costs and fees where a person
has committed
a
“wilful,
knowing or repeated violation of the
Act.”
(415 ILCS 5/42(f)
(1992).)
The Board finds no evidence in
this record that Patterson committed a wilful, knowing,
or
repeated violation of the Act.
We continue to urge the People to
develop the record to support such a finding, especially where
(as here)
the complaint originally requests the award of costs
and fees.
This opinion constitutes the Board’s findings of fact and
conclusions of law in this matter.
ORDER
1.
The Board hereby accepts the stipulation and settlement
agreement executed by the People of the State of Illinois,
the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and Patterson
Gear
& Machine,
Inc., concerning Patterson’s operations
located in Rockford, Winnebago County,
Illinois.
The
stipulation and settlement agreement are incorporated by
reference as though fully set forth herein.
2.
Patterson Gear
& Machine,
Inc. shall pay the sum of one
thousand five hundred dollars
($1,500.00) within 30 days of
the date of this order.
Such payment shall be made by
certified check or money order payable to the Treasurer of
the State of Illinois, designated to the Hazardous Waste
Fund,
and shall be sent by first class mail to:
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Fiscal Services Division
2200 Churchill Road
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield,
IL 62794—9276
Patterson Gear
& Machine,
Inc.
shall also write its Federal
Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number on
the certified check or money order.
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
(1992))
as now or hereafter amended,
from the date of
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.
3.
Patterson Gear
& Machine,
Inc. shall cease and desist from
the alleged violations.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
3
Section 41 of the Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS
5/41
(1992)) provides for the appeal of final Board orders.
The
Rules of the Supreme Court of Illinois establish filing
requirements.
(See also
35 Ill.Adm.Code 101.246 “Motions for
Reconsideration”.)
I,
Dorothy N. Gunn,
Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
Board,
hereby certify that the abg~egpinion and order was
adopted on the
~1~-
day of
~
,
1993,
by a
voteof
1c
.
))~.
Dorothy N. G~n, Clerk
Illinois Poflution Control Board