ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
May 5, 1994
JAY AGUILAR,
Complainant,
PCB 94—75
v.
)
(Enforcement)
)
THE CITY OF WOOD DALE,
)
)
Respondent.
ORDER OF THE BOARD (by E. Dunham):
This matter comes before the Board on a “Motion for
Continuance” filed on April 14, 1994, by Jay Aguilar. Also
before the Board is a “Motion to Dismiss and Motion to Quash
Subpoena Duces Tecum” filed on April 27, 1994, by the City of
Wood Dale (Wood Dale).
The complaint in this matter was filed on February 25, 1994.
On March 17, 1994, the Board denied respondent’s motion to
dismiss the complaint for failure to allege specific facts and
allowed the complainant until April 18, 1994, to file an amended
complaint providing additional information concerning the alleged
violations. Mr. Aguilar’s “Motion for Continuance” requests an
additional 45 days in which to file an amended complaint.
Wood Dale seeks dismissal of this matter with prejudice on
the grounds that the complainant has failed to file the amended
complaint as ordered by the Board. The respondent further states
that the motion for continuance does not provide sufficient
grounds for granting an extension as the motion contains only
general and conclusory allegations.
Complainant has also served the City of Wood Dale with a
subpoena duces tecum requesting production of all “records
relating to the discharges to the Wood Dale storm sewer system
and all records relating to the Third Avenue sewer extension.”
Wood Dale requests the Board to quash the subpoena because there
is no case currently pending before the Board. Wood Dale also
contends that the subpoena fails to meet the requirements of a
valid subpoena. Wood Dale argues that there is no complaint
pending before the Board and therefore, it cannot be determined
if the requested material is relevant. Further, Wood Dale
contends that the subpoena is overbroad in scope and oppressive
requiring the production of a massive volume of documents. Wood
Dale also notes that the subpoena fails to state a date, time or
location for the production of documents.
The Board grants Wood Dale’s motion to quash the subpoena.
The Board notes that the complaint as filed has not been accepted
by the Board. While the Board recognizes that additional
2
information may be needed to provide specifics to amend the
complaint, the use of discovery procedures where the complaint
has not been accepted by the Board is inappropriate. The Board
also finds that the subpoena is overbroad as it does not limit
the timeframe of the requested records and the records to be
produced are insufficiently specified. In addition, the Board
believes that the information requested should be available to
complainant through other means, especially through the Freedom
of Information Act.
Mr. Aguilar has sought an extension of time in which to file
an amended complaint. In the motion requesting an extension of
time, Mr. Aguilar states that “the nature of the complaint is so
complex” that he is unable to proceed at this time. He also
states that he has issued subpoenas to “the parties” for the
production of documents. Attached to the motion are subpoenas to
the Clerk of the City of Wood Dale and the Wood Dale Fire
Protection District.’
The Board denies Mr. Aguilar’s request for an extension of
time. From the motion, it appears that Mr. Aguilar is requesting
additional time based on the issuance of the subpoenas. It
appears that he is relying on obtaining additional information
from the documents obtained through the subpoenas to amend the
complaint. As the Board has quashed the subpoenas, the Board
finds no reason to extend the time allowed for the filing of an
amended complaint.
The Board finds that dismissal of this matter without
prejudice is appropriate because Mr. Aguilar did not file the
amended complaint by the date ordered by the Board or present
adequate grounds for an extension of the filing date. The Board
finds that this matter does not present an adequate justification
for dismissal with prejudice. The Board notes that it is
dismissing this matter without prejudice and therefore, Mr.
Aguilar is not prohibited from filing a new complaint in this
matter. The Board cannot at this point determine if the
additional time requested is adequate to obtain the needed
information to amend the complaint or if Mr. Aguilar still
intends to pursue this matter. The Board finds it preferable to
dismiss this matter at this time and allow Mr. Aguilar the option
of filing a new complaint if the needed information can be
obtained, than to hold this matter open, placing time
requirements on the filing of an amended complaint.
The two subpoenas are identical in form and substance.
Although there is no motion before the Board concerning the
subpoena for the Wood Dale Fire Protection District, the Board
also quashes that subpoena for the reasons stated above.
3
Accordingly, this matter is dismissed without prejudice and
the docket in this matter is closed.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Section 41 of the Environmental Protection Act, (415 ILCS
5/41 (1992)), provides for appeal of final orders of the Board
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 Ill. Adm. Code 101.246, Motion for Reconsideration.)
I, Dorothy N. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
Board, hereby certify that the above order was adopted on the
_____________day of
,
1994, by a vote of
~-O.
L
Dorothy N. nfl, Clerk
Illinois o lution Control Board