ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
July 3, 1990
PEOPLE OF THE STATE
OF ILLINOIS,
Complainant,
V.
)
PCB 90-85
(Enforcement)
GEORGE M. ELIOPULOS,
)
d/b/a ELLIS CLEANERS,
an involuntarily dissolved
)
partnership,
Respondent.
DISSENTING OPINION (by J. Theodore Meyer):
I dissent from the majority’s acceptance of the settlement
stipulation in this case.
Neither the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Agency)
nor the Attorney General have articulated any standards as to what
factors should be considered when negotiating a fine to be imposed
pursuant to a settlement agreement. Additionally, although the
proposed settlement agreement states that respondent’s
noncompliance was economically beneficial in that respondent
operated its unpermitted equipment without the delay of applying
to and waiting for the Agency to issue permits, there is not any
specific information on the amount of that economic benefit.
Section 33(c) of the Environmental Protection Act specifically
requires the Board to consider any economic benefits accrued by
noncompliance. I believe that this provision contemplates a
consideration of the amount of the economic benefit, not just a
statement that that an economic benefit was realized. Without more
specific information, it is impossible to know if the penalty of
$1,000 even comes close to any savings realized by respondent.
Finally, I am frustrated that, although this case was brought
in the name of the people of the State of Illinois, there is no
recognition that costs and fees could have been assessed against
respondent. Ill.Rev.Stat.1989, ch. 111 1/2, par. 1042(f). I am
pleased that the Attorney General is beginning to bring enforcement
cases in the name of the People, but I believe that settlement
agreements in such cases should, at a minimum, recognize that the
Board could award costs and reasonable fees.
113~5
2
For these reasons, I dissent.
J. ~çheodore M~yer
Board Member
I, Dorothy N. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
Board, hereby certify that the above Dissenting Opinion was filed
on the
‘~
day of
________________
,
1990.
Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board