ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    June 8, 2000
    CURTIS MASTERSON,
    Complainant,
    v.
    CITY OF FAIRFIELD,
    Respondent.
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    PCB 00-143
    (Enforcement - Citizens, Air)
    KENNETH R. BOSTER,
    Complainant,
    v.
    CITY OF FAIRFIELD,
    Respondent.
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    PCB 00-164
    (Enforcement - Citizens, Air)
    (Consolidated)
    ORDER OF THE BOARD (by C.A. Manning):
    On March 13, 2000, Curtis Masterson (complainant) filed a complaint against the City
    of Fairfield (respondent). The complaint alleges that the respondent violated Section 9(a) of the
    Environmental Protection Act (Act) (415 ILCS 5/9(a) (1998)). As evidenced by the certificate
    of service filed on March 27, 2000, respondent was served with the complaint and notice of
    filing on March 22, 2000. No responsive pleadings have been filed.
    Section 31(d) of the Act provides that “[u]nless the Board determines that such
    complaint is duplicitous or frivolous, it shall schedule a hearing and service written notice
    thereof upon the person or persons named therein . . . .” 415 ILCS 5/31(d) (1998).
    Section 103.124(a) of the Board’s procedural rules implements Section 31(d) of the Act.
    It provides:
    The Clerk shall assign a docket number to each complaint filed
    *** the Chairman shall place the matter on the agenda for Board
    determination whether the complaint is duplicitous or frivolous. If
    the Board rules that the complaint is duplicitous or frivolous, it
    shall enter an order setting forth its reasons for so ruling and shall
    notify the parties of the decision. If the Board rules that the
    complaint is not duplicitous or frivolous, this does not preclude the
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    filing of motions regarding the insufficiency of the pleadings. 35
    Ill. Adm. Code 103.124(a).
    Duplicitous
    An action brought before the Board is duplicitous if the matter is identical or
    substantially similar to one brought in this or any other forum. Walsh v. Kolpas
    (September 23, 1999), PCB 00-35. Brandle v. Ropp (June 13, 1985), PCB 85-68.
    The Board has not identified any other cases brought by this party, identical or
    substantially similar to this, pending in other forums. Therefore, based on the record before us,
    this matter is not duplicitous.
    Frivolous
    An action before the Board is frivolous if it fails to state a cause of action upon which
    the Board can grant relief. People v. State Oil (August 19, 1999), PCB 97-103, slip op. at 3.
    Lake County Forest Preserve District v. Ostro (July 30, 1992), PCB 92-80. In this case, the
    complaintant seeks an order which prohibits respondent from creating air pollution by burning
    trash and brush. The Board is authorized to order that respondent cease and desist from
    violating Section 9(a) of the Act (415 ILCS 5/9(a) (1998)). Therefore, the Board finds that the
    complaint is not frivolous.
    Consolidation
    In the interest of convenience and economy, the Board on its own motion hereby
    consolidates this case, for purposes of hearing, with the case brought by complainant Kenneth
    R. Boster, stating an identical or substantially similar cause of action. The Board makes no
    determination as to whether these cases will be consolidated for purposes of final decision.
    Conclusion
    The Board finds that, pursuant to Section 103.124(a), the complaint is neither duplicitous
    nor frivolous and is accepted for hearing. The hearing officer is directed to proceed to hearing
    in these consolidated matters.
    The hearing must be scheduled and completed in a timely manner consistent with Board
    practices. The Board will assign a hearing officer to conduct hearings consistent with this order
    and Section 103.125 of the Board’s rules. 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.125.
    The assigned hearing officer shall inform the Clerk of the Board of the time and location
    of the hearing at least 30 days in advance of hearing so that a 21-day public notice of hearing
    may be published. After hearing, the hearing officer shall submit an exhibit list, a statement
    regarding credibility of witnesses, and all actual exhibits for the Board within five days of
    hearing.
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    Any briefing schedule shall provide for final filings as expeditiously as possible. If,
    after appropriate consultation with the parties, the parties fail to provide or agree to an
    acceptable hearing date, the hearing officer shall unilaterally set a hearing date. The hearing
    officer and the parties are encouraged to expedite this proceeding as much as possible.
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    I, Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, hereby certify that
    the above order was adopted on the 8th day of June by a vote of 7-0.
    Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk
    Illinois Pollution Control Board

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