ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    May 10,
    1990
    ST. CLAIR COUNTY,
    Complainant,
    v.
    )
    AC 89—18
    (Dockets A
    &
    B)
    (Administrative Citation)
    J
    & R LANDFILL,
    INC.,
    )
    County No. 89-1 SC
    An Illinois Corporation,
    Respondent.
    DENNIS
    HATCH
    APPEARED
    ON
    BEHALF
    OF
    THE
    OFFICE
    OF
    THE
    STATE’S
    ATTORNEY FOR ST. CLAIR COUNTY;
    THOMAS
    J.
    IMMEL,
    OF
    IMNEL,
    ZELLE,
    OGREN,
    MCCLAIN,
    GERMERAAD
    &
    COSTELLO,
    APPEARED
    ON
    BEHALF
    OF
    RESPONDENT.
    OPINION
    AND
    ORDER OF THE
    BOARD
    (by J.
    C.
    Marlin):
    This matter comes before the Board upon
    a petition for review
    of administrative citation
    (“citation”)
    filed by J
    & R Landfill,
    Inc.
    (“J&R”) on February
    2,
    1989.
    The citation was served on J&R
    on
    January
    5,
    1989,
    pursuant
    to
    the
    authority
    vested
    in
    the
    Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (“Agency”)
    and delegated
    to St. Clair County (“Complainant”) pursuant to Section 4(r) of the
    Illinois
    Environmental
    Protection
    Act
    (“Act”)
    (Ill.
    Rev.
    Stat.
    1987,
    Ch. 1ll~,par.
    1001 et seq.).
    The citation is based upon Complainant’s determination of four
    violations of Section 21(p)
    of the Act,
    identified as Counts A,
    B,
    C,
    and D.
    Count A is based on the uncovered waste prohibition of
    Section
    21(p) (5)
    as
    observed
    on
    November
    28,
    1988.
    Count
    B
    is
    based
    on the litter prohibition of Section
    21(p) (12)
    as observed
    on
    December
    1,
    1988.
    Count
    C
    is
    based
    on
    the uncovered
    waste
    prohibition of Section
    21(p) (5)
    as observed on December
    2,
    1988.
    Count
    D
    is based
    on
    litter prohibition
    of
    Section
    21(p) (12)
    as
    observed on December 2,
    1988.
    J&R contests all four determinations
    of violation.
    On
    May
    8,
    1989,
    J&R filed
    a motion to
    dismiss
    for lack of
    jurisdiction due to improper service.
    The Board denied that motion
    by Order
    of May
    11,
    1989.
    Upon motion
    for reconsideration filed
    May 16, 1989, the Board granted reconsideration, but reaffirmed its
    denial of J&R’s motion to dismiss by Order of June
    22,
    1989.
    A hearing was held on September 13,
    1989,
    in Sauget, St. Clair
    County,
    Illinois;
    no members of the public attended.
    Complainant
    presented
    witness
    Donald
    R.
    Brannon,
    supervising
    Environmental
    Specialist
    for the St. Clair County Health Department;
    Respondent
    present witness Avis
    K. Quinn,
    President and owner of J&R.
    The
    111
    I 4
    3

    2
    parties
    elected
    to
    not
    file
    briefs,
    standing
    on
    their
    closing
    arguments’.
    BACKGROUND
    The citation was issued to J&R as the operator of a sanitary
    landfill located in St. Clam
    County, operating under Agency Permit
    No. 1975—50—OP and designated with Site Code No.
    1630100002.
    The
    facility is commonly known to the Agency as Belleville
    3
    &
    R.
    On
    the
    basis
    of
    inspections
    conducted
    by
    Mr.
    Brannon
    on
    October
    24,
    November
    28,
    December
    1,
    and
    December
    2,
    1988,
    Complainant determined that J&R had operated the site in violation
    of
    Section
    21(p) (5)
    of
    the Act.
    On the
    basis
    of
    Mr.
    Brannon’s
    inspections
    of
    November
    28,
    December
    1,
    and
    December
    2,
    1988,
    Complainant determined that J&R had operated the site in violation
    of Section 21(p) (12)
    of the Act.
    Complainant subsequently issued
    a
    citation
    on
    January
    5,
    1989
    for
    two
    violations
    each
    of
    subsections
    (p) (5)
    and
    (p) (12)
    of
    Section
    21.
    Complainant then
    noted that J&R is subject to
    a civil penalty of $500.00
    for each
    of the four violations for a total of $2000.00.
    Sections 21(p) (5)
    and 21(p) (12)
    of the Act state:
    (p)
    No
    person
    shall
    conduct
    a
    sanitary landfill
    operation
    which is required to have
    a permit under subsection
    (d)
    of this Section,
    in a manner which results in any of the
    following conditions:
    *
    *
    *
    5.
    uncovered
    refuse
    remaining
    from
    any
    previous
    operating day or at the conclusion of any operating
    day, unless authorized by permit;
    *
    *
    *
    12.
    failure to collect and contain litter from the site
    by the end of each operating day.
    J&R
    now
    contests
    before
    this
    Board
    Complainant’s
    determinations
    of violation,
    claiming that the determinations
    of
    violation were improper.
    In
    the alternative, J&R claims that the
    violations
    were the result of uncontrollable
    circumstances,
    thus
    invoking the “uncontrollable circumstances” provision of the Act:
    if
    the Board
    finds that the person appealing
    ‘Closng
    arguments
    are
    cited
    herein
    “Compi.
    R
    at
    for
    Complainant,
    and
    :J&R”.
    at
    for J&R.
    1 ii
    I
    :.

    3
    the citation has
    shown that the violation resulted
    from
    uncontrollable circumstances, the Board shall adopt a final
    order which makes no finding of violation and imposes
    no
    penalty.
    Ill.
    Rev.
    Stat.
    1987,
    ch.
    111½,
    par.
    1031.1(d) (2)
    Penalties
    in actions of the type here brought are prescribed
    by Section 42(b)(4)
    of the Act, to wit:
    In an administrative citation action under Section
    31.1 of this
    Act,
    any person
    found
    to have violated
    any
    provision of
    subsection
    (p)
    or
    (q)
    of Section
    21 of this
    Act shall pay
    a civil
    penalty of $500
    for each violation
    of each such provision, plus any hearing costs incurred by
    the Board and the Agency.
    Such penalties
    shall
    be made
    payable
    to the Environmental Protection Trust
    Fund to be
    used in accordance with the provisions of “An Act creating
    the
    Environmental
    Protection
    Trust
    Fund”,
    approved
    September
    22,
    1979
    as
    amended;
    except that
    if
    a unit of
    local government
    issued the administrative
    citation,
    50
    of the civil penalty shall be payable to the unit of local
    government.
    Ill.
    Rev.
    Stat.
    1987,
    ch.
    111½,
    par.
    1042(b)(4).
    COMPLAINANT’S DETERMINATIONS OF VIOLATION
    The
    Board
    next
    turns
    to
    the
    four
    individual
    counts.
    For
    purposes of economy of discussion, Counts B and D will be treated
    together.
    Uncovered Refuse
    -
    Count A
    On October 24,
    1988,
    Mr. Brannon inspected
    the J&R facility
    between
    9:10
    and
    10:40
    A.M.
    Mr.
    Brannon testified
    that
    on that
    date
    he
    observed
    uncovered
    refuse2
    on
    the eastern
    and northern
    slopes
    of
    the
    fill
    area
    (R.
    at
    15)
    .
    Complainant
    submitted
    photographs taken during the October 24 inspection (Exhs.
    16-1,
    18-
    1
    and
    19—1)
    which purport
    to show areas
    of
    uncovered
    refuse
    in
    gullies.
    On November 28, 1988, Mr. Brannon conducted another inspection
    of the J&R facility.
    He testified that he photographed areas of
    uncovered refuse on the eastern slope of the fill, which he states
    is the same uncovered refuse which he observed on October 24, 1988.
    He testified to the contents of the photos under direct examination
    as following:
    21n
    his
    testimony,
    Mr.
    Brannon
    used
    the
    terms
    “uncovered
    refuse” and “exposed refuse” interchangeably.
    The Board notes that
    the Act only uses the term “uncovered refuse”.
    Ill
    1
    4 5

    4
    A.
    They depict exposed refuse.
    Q.
    The same sites one month apart?
    A.
    Correct.
    Photograph 19—2 was taken farther back up the slope which
    explains
    a little bit the difference
    in the photographs
    but
    it is~the same refuse.
    Q.
    People’s Exhibits
    18-1 and 21-2?
    A.
    This
    is exposed
    refuse that was
    on
    the eastern
    slopes.
    Photograph
    21-2 was taken, again,
    a little farther away,
    and probably with
    a different
    lens as well,
    but you can
    see the two by four still laying in the gully, and you can
    recognize the refuse in the two pictures.
    (R.
    at
    20)
    From this, Complainant argues that since the photographs
    and
    testimony indicate that the same refuse was exposed on October 24,
    1988 and November 28,
    1988,
    the refuse remained uncovered from
    a
    previous operating day in violation of Section 21(p) (5)
    of the Act.
    J&R responds that the citation issued was improper and that
    no violation of Section 21(p) (5) has been shown.
    J&R states that
    photographs
    21-2,
    20-2,
    and
    19-2,
    which
    were
    the
    basis
    for
    Complainant’s
    determination
    of
    violation
    on
    November
    28,
    1983,
    depict
    a
    section
    of the landfill which was
    no
    longer active and
    had received
    final
    cover
    CR.
    at
    83;
    J&R.
    at
    132).
    Ms.
    Quinn
    testified
    that
    the
    drought
    of
    1988
    caused
    vegetation
    not
    to
    establish
    in the area,
    which
    in turn allowed erosion
    arid exposure
    of the previously buried waste
    in the fall season
    (R.
    at
    83)
    Ms. Quinn
    further noted that correction of the gulleying
    is
    possible:
    Q.
    What steps,
    if any, have you taken
    to correct that?
    A.
    The only thing you can do
    is monitor
    it and keep filling
    the washouts with dirt.
    (R.
    at
    84)
    Ms. Quinn
    additionally observed
    that
    Exh.
    19-1
    shows new cover
    material which had been placed
    near the gulleys
    for the alleged
    purpose of filling the gulleys
    (R.
    at 84—5).
    J&R argues
    that Section
    21(p)
    (5)
    does not apply because
    the
    refuse
    had
    been
    covered
    and
    the
    area
    had
    received
    final
    cover.
    11
    1
    —-
    I
    46

    5
    Therefore, J&R submits that the refuse had not remained uncovered
    from
    a
    previous
    operating
    day
    within
    the
    meaning
    of
    Section
    21(p) (5).
    The
    Board
    disagrees
    with
    J&R’s
    interpretation.
    J&R would
    seemingly
    have
    Section
    21(p) (5)
    read
    as
    a
    prci~ibition against
    “refuse
    remaining
    uncovered
    from any previous
    day”.
    Under this
    interpretation,
    J&R’s
    position
    is
    arguably
    correct
    in
    that
    the
    refuse at issue had not remained uncovered because
    it indeed had
    received a previous cover.
    Essential to J&R’s construction
    is that the word “uncovered”
    is employed as a past participle within the phrase “remaining from
    any previous operating day”.
    However, the grammatical construction
    which J&R urges is not that which actually exists
    in the statute.
    Rather,
    the statute reads:
    No person
    shall
    conduct
    a sanitary landfill
    operation
    manner which results
    in
    ...
    uncovered refuse remaining
    from any previous operating day
    In
    this
    construction,
    the
    word
    “uncovered”
    is
    an
    adjective
    modifying
    “refuse” and the participial phrase “remaining ‘from any
    previous operating day” serves as an adjective modifying the term
    “uncovered
    refuse”.
    The
    proper
    question
    is
    thus
    whether
    the
    uncontestibly uncovered refuse is properly described as “remaining
    from any previous operating day”.
    The answer to this question
    is
    clearly
    “yes”.
    The refuse obtained its “uncovered”
    character on
    some previous
    day,
    and
    it
    remained
    in
    that
    form
    for many
    days
    thereafter.
    Further
    guidance
    on
    this
    matter
    may
    be
    obtained
    through
    examination of the underlying Board regulation.
    As the Board has
    previously
    noted,
    there
    is
    a
    nexus
    between
    the
    Administrative
    Citation procedure of the Act and the Board regulations; this nexus
    is
    that
    the
    Administrative
    Citation
    procedure
    was
    designed
    to
    expedite the regular enforcement process by
    identifying
    a subset
    of the larger waste disposal regulations which may be prosecuted
    through the Administrative Citation procedure
    (In the Matter of:
    Dan
    Heusinkved,
    County
    Clerk,
    County
    of
    Whiteside,
    State
    of
    Illinois,
    AC
    87—25,
    85
    PCB
    247;
    In
    the
    Matter
    of:
    Village
    of
    Rantoul,
    AC 87-100,
    92 PCB 539).
    Thus,
    the underlying regulation
    serves as guidance for actions covered
    in the citation procedure.
    The underlying regulation
    at issue
    is found
    at
    35
    Ill.
    Adm.
    Code 607.305(a), which states
    in pertinent part that cover “shall
    be
    placed
    on
    all
    exposed
    refuse
    at
    the
    end
    of
    each
    day
    of
    operation”
    (emphasis added)
    .
    In the matter at hand, exposed refuse
    clearly
    existed
    in
    the gulleys,
    and
    it
    was
    allowed
    to
    remain
    uncovered at the end of not only one operating day, but through at
    least the period from October
    24,
    1988 to November 28,
    1988.
    The
    Board notes that Section 807.305(a)
    states ~
    exposed refuse must
    I
    I
    I
    1
    4
    7

    6
    be
    covered.
    It
    makes
    no
    distinction
    as
    to
    the
    cause
    of th~
    exposure
    (e.g.,
    whether the refuse
    was newly disposed,
    or lateL
    uncovered due
    to
    erosion,
    operation of vehicles,
    digging
    of new
    trenches,
    scavenging, etc.)
    In the alternative, J&R argues that the erosion and uncovered
    refuse was caused by “uncontrollable rainfall events.”
    (J&R R.
    at
    132)
    .
    The Board finds this construction strained.
    While rainfall
    events are clearly “uncontrollable”,
    and the gulleying caused by
    the rainfall events was arguably “uncontrollable”3, the persistence
    of
    uncovered
    refuse
    within
    the
    gullies
    was
    clearly
    rig~j
    uncontrollable.
    It
    is
    the evidence
    of persistence of uncovered
    refuse upon which Complainant made its determination of violation,
    not the uncontrollability of the action which lead to the exposure
    of the refuse.
    It was well within the control of J&R to take some
    rectifying action,
    and to thereby meet its responsibility to cover
    refuse.
    In
    fact, J&R’s witness offered one simple solution:
    fill
    the
    washouts
    with
    dirt
    (i.e.,
    replace
    the
    cover
    removed
    by
    erosion)
    .
    There
    is
    no
    evidence
    that
    this
    was
    done
    or
    even
    attempted
    in
    the
    time
    between
    the
    October
    24
    and
    November
    28
    inspections,
    the
    presence
    of
    nearby
    piles
    of
    cover
    material
    notwithstanding.
    Based
    on
    the
    above,
    the
    Board
    upholds
    the
    Complainant’s
    determination
    of violation
    of Section
    21(p)(5)
    for November
    28,
    1988,
    and
    finds
    that
    the
    violation
    was
    not
    the
    result
    of
    uncontrollable circumstances.
    Uncovered Refuse
    Count C
    Mr.
    Brannon also
    inspected the J&R facility on
    December
    1,
    1988
    between
    3:50
    and
    4:25
    PM,
    and
    again
    on
    December
    2,
    1988
    between
    5:20
    and
    7:15
    AN.
    During
    the
    first
    of
    these
    two
    inspections Mr.
    Brannon observed and photographed
    (Exhs.
    7-3 and
    8—3) what he considered to be uncovered refuse located at the toe
    of
    the
    active
    face
    (R.
    at
    29)
    .
    On
    the
    second
    of
    the
    two
    inspections,
    Mr.
    Brannon again observed and photographed
    (Exhs.
    4-
    4 and 6-4)
    the same area.
    Mr. Brannon testified that the December
    2
    photographs
    likewise
    show
    uncovered
    refuse
    from
    a
    previous
    operating day
    (R.
    at 29-30).
    On the basis of the photographs and
    inspections,
    Complainant
    issued
    the
    citation
    for violation
    of
    Section 21(p) (5) occurring December
    2,
    1988.
    J&R responds with several observations and conclusions.
    These
    are that
    J&R’s
    extended
    working
    hours
    somehow
    cause
    an
    unusual
    3The
    Board
    notes
    that
    the
    record
    does
    not
    indicate
    the
    magnitude
    of
    the offending
    rainfall
    events.
    Neither
    does
    the
    record indicate when the rainfall events occurred, other than that
    by inference they preceded October
    24,
    1988,
    a.date on which the
    gullies caused by the rainfall events were
    in evidence.
    I
    11
    I
    ‘~
    S

    7
    standard of cover application to apply at its facility, that cover
    material had been and was being applied in the areas photographed
    during
    inspection,
    and
    that
    such
    failure
    of
    cover
    as may
    have
    existed was due to the poor ground and weather conditions occurring
    at the time of inspection.
    The Board addresses these in turn.
    The J&R facility
    is permitted to maintain gate hours of 7:00
    AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays,
    and 7:00 AM to noon on Saturdays
    (R.
    at
    57).
    That J&R’s operating hours,
    in the sense of the hours it
    is
    open
    to
    the
    public,
    are
    less
    than
    24-hours
    a
    day
    is
    further
    affirmed by Ms. Quinn
    under direct examination:
    Q.
    You asked the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to
    extend the
    hours
    to which you were open to the public,
    correct?
    A.
    Yes.
    Q.
    They adjusted your hours at one time,
    is that right,
    for
    you?
    A.
    I don’t believe they did.
    Q.
    Okay.
    Did they deny your request to go for a twenty-four
    hour a day operation?
    A.
    Yes.
    Q.
    Was that
    request
    to
    be
    open
    to
    the public twenty-four
    hours a day?
    A.
    Yes.
    (R. at 124—125)
    Nevertheless, J&R implies that it
    is somehow
    a 24-hour
    a day
    operation
    (R.
    at
    58,
    98).
    The
    Board
    fails
    to
    see
    how
    this
    conclusion
    is reached,
    since although J&R continually alludes
    to
    this
    conclusion,
    it
    never
    coherently
    lays
    out
    a
    rationale
    in
    support.
    The
    Board
    can
    only
    presume
    that
    J&R
    bases
    it
    characterization
    on
    the
    fact
    that employees
    sometimes work
    into
    the night, even though this
    is not necessarily always the case nor
    does the night work
    necessarily extend throughout the night
    (See
    R.
    at
    117—119)
    .
    The
    Board
    fails
    to
    see how this
    raises
    J&R’s
    operation to
    a “24—hour a day operation”.
    Assuming arguendo that J&R’s
    operation
    is
    somehow
    properly
    characterized as
    a 24—hour
    a day operation, the Board still
    fails
    to see where this characterization reaches.
    J&R seemingly implies
    that since J&R workers sometimes work late into the night, perhaps
    even sometimes around the clock, J&R’s “operating day” has no end,
    the phrase
    “at the conclusion
    of
    any operating
    day”
    of Section
    I 11—149

    8
    21(p) (5) has no meaning as applied to J&R’s operations, and J&R
    i~
    thereby
    exempt
    from
    the
    daily
    cover
    requirements
    of
    Section
    21(p) (5).
    This
    pos.ition
    is patently untenable
    in the context of
    Section 21(p) (5).
    Section 21(p) (5),
    as well
    as the general Board
    regulation
    found
    at
    35
    Ill.
    Adxa.
    Code
    807.305,
    is
    premised
    on
    covering refuse as soon as is practicable,
    and certainly does not
    excuse failure to cover simply because persons may have been on the
    property
    on
    a
    continuous
    basis.
    If
    anything,
    the presence
    of
    nighttime
    operators would seem
    to allow expanded
    opportunity
    to
    meet the cover obligation, rather than stand as basis for excusing
    it.
    J&R
    further
    notes
    that
    cover material
    was being applied
    in
    the areas
    photographed
    during
    the
    December
    1,
    1988
    inspection.
    This fact was supported by Mr.
    Brannon
    (P.
    at
    55)
    .
    However,
    J&R
    argues
    that
    due
    to
    rainfall
    occurring
    around
    the
    dates
    of
    inspection, the cover material was wet and therefore
    difficult
    to
    apply, thus presumably causing some refuse to remain uncovered into
    the next day.
    J&R also noted that under those conditions refuse
    protrudes through cover material even though six inches
    of
    cover
    is
    applied
    and that
    this
    is
    unavoidable
    (R.
    at
    93—95)
    .
    J&R’s
    witness
    testified
    that
    there
    had
    been
    “much
    rainfall”
    between
    November 28 and December
    1
    (R.
    at
    89),
    but no other evidence was
    introduced to indicate how much rain had fallen.
    J&P argues that
    because this wet cover problem
    is unavoidable,
    the violation was
    the result of uncontrollable circumstances
    (J&R at 135—136)
    Mr.
    Brannon conceded
    that refuse may
    still
    protrude and be
    visible although
    six inches of cover has been applied
    (R.
    at 66—
    69)
    A.
    You can have something poking out
    and still
    comply with
    the regulations.
    The regulation says you should have six
    inches
    of
    compacted
    cover.
    .
    .
    .
    When
    you
    inspect
    a
    landfill you could
    tell
    whether
    or not
    it
    is adequately
    covered.
    You
    don’t have to count paper,
    look
    at
    pieces
    of paper.
    You can go on a landfill and there can be paper
    sticking out
    in
    a lot of areas but you would not charge
    them
    with
    inadequate
    cover.
    (P.
    at
    68—69)
    However,
    Mr.
    Brannon
    did
    not
    believe
    J&R
    had
    applied
    adequate
    cover
    to the areas he observed on December
    2
    (P.
    at 66—69)
    .
    Complainant
    argues
    that J&R
    did not
    present
    sufficient
    evidence
    that
    “the
    conditions were so bad that J&R
    could not do ar~ythingabout
    it~t,
    but only stated that
    it rained
    (Conpl.
    P.
    at
    142)
    The
    Board
    notes that
    J&P. appears
    to
    be
    initially
    asserting
    that
    adequate
    cover
    was
    applied,
    hence
    the
    determination
    of
    violation was improper,
    and that the appearance of
    a lack of cover
    was due
    to the wet
    conditions,
    which were
    uncontrollable.
    The
    Board
    first addresses whether the record supports
    a
    finding
    that
    111-159

    9
    uncovered
    refuse
    remained
    from
    any
    previous
    operating
    day.
    Although photographs 8—3
    (taken December 1) and 6—4
    (taken December
    2)
    show that some cover had been applied to portions of the refuse
    piles,
    other
    refuse
    appears
    untouched.
    Photographs
    7—3
    (taken
    December
    1) and 4—4
    (taken December 2) Show uncovered refuse in an
    area where some cover had been applied, yet some’uncovered refuse
    is
    visible
    in
    the
    same
    location
    in
    both
    sets
    of
    photographs,
    indicating
    no cover had been
    applied
    to
    some
    refuse during
    the
    intervening
    period.
    The
    Board therefore
    finds
    that
    the
    record
    supports
    the determination
    of
    violation
    of
    Section
    21(p) (5)
    on
    December
    2,
    1988,
    in
    that
    some
    refuse
    deposited
    on
    or
    before
    December
    1,
    1988 remained uncovered on December
    2,
    1988.
    The Board now turns to the issue of whether the violation was
    due to uncontrollable circumstances.
    The Board finds that J&R has
    shown that it was difficult to cover refuse with wet cover material
    and under wet conditions, and that some of the refuse material may
    continue to be visible though six inches of cover may be applied.
    However,
    the record discloses
    that some
    refuse
    remained totally
    uncovered from a previous operating day.
    J&R has failed to show
    that
    the
    allowing
    of
    this
    refuse
    to
    remain
    uncovered
    from
    a
    previous
    operating day was due
    to uncontrollable
    circumstances.
    The record sufficiently shows that daily cover could be placed
    in
    spite
    of conditions,
    and
    shows that some cover had
    in
    fact been
    applied.
    Here, refuse remained uncovered from a previous operating day
    and J&R has not shown that the violation
    of
    21(p) (5)
    was due
    to
    uncontrollable circumstances.
    Therefore,
    the
    Board upholds
    the
    finding
    of
    violation
    of
    Section
    21(p)(5)
    occurring
    December
    2,
    1988.
    Litter
    -
    Counts B and D
    Complainant
    registers
    two
    counts
    of
    violation
    of
    Section
    21(p) (12),
    failure to collect and contain litter from the site by
    the end of each operating
    day.
    These two counts,
    B
    and
    D,
    are
    based on Mr.
    Brannon’s inspections
    of November
    28 and December
    1
    and
    2,
    1988.
    Mr.
    Brannon testified
    that on November
    28,
    1988
    he observed
    litter on the top portion
    of the site
    (R.
    at
    22)
    ,
    as depicted
    in
    photographic Exhibit
    14-2.
    Mr.
    Brannon further testified that on
    December 1, 1988 and again on December 2,
    1988 he observed the same
    litter that
    he had seen
    on
    November
    28,
    1988
    (P.
    at
    24)
    .
    The
    latter
    two
    occurrences
    of
    litter
    are depicted
    in
    photographic
    Exhibits 10-3
    and 7—4,
    respectively.
    The Board notes that these
    photographs show litter on the ground and
    in vegetation,
    some
    of
    which
    is
    the
    same litter as
    that depicted
    in
    photographs
    taken
    November 28 and December
    1.
    111—151

    10
    J&R does not dispute the existence of the litter
    (P.
    at
    116-
    117).
    Rather,
    3&R contends
    that
    the
    litter
    remained
    due
    to
    uncontrollable
    circumstances.
    Ms.
    Quinn
    testified
    that
    the
    persons she employs to pick up litter could not walk through the
    area of the landfill photographed by Mr.
    Brannori because of mud,
    water,
    and frozen ground
    (P.
    at
    91,
    123),
    and that she had also
    tried to walk in that area and became stuck in the mud
    (P. at 88)
    She said that this was due to much
    rain that had
    fallen between
    November
    28 and December
    1,
    1988
    (P.
    at
    89).
    She also said that
    she
    observed
    the
    litter
    pieces
    in
    the
    area
    and
    that they
    were
    frozen “to the ground and grass there”
    (P. at 87—89).
    She further
    described the soil conditions as wet,
    frozen, and cold
    (P.
    at 91)
    She said litter pickers attempted to pick litter between November
    28 and December 1, and again on December 2,
    1988, and that they did
    not collect litter in the area photographed, only collecting litter
    in the active area
    (P.
    at 91).
    Ms. Quinn
    further described the
    situation:
    A.
    ..
    .
    Whenever
    it
    is
    really
    muddy
    and
    raining
    and
    it’s
    cold,
    they will not go up there.
    You cannot go up there
    and pick it up when it’s that
    cold.
    (P.
    at
    123)
    Respondent argues on the basis of Ms. Quinn’s
    testimony that
    the litter depicted in the December
    1 and 2 photographs was stuck
    and
    frozen
    into
    the
    weeds
    and
    grass
    and
    that
    the
    area
    was
    impassable
    from mud.
    Therefore,
    J&R submits that the violations
    on December
    1 and
    2, 1988 were due to uncontrollable circumstances
    (J&P.
    at 133—134)
    The
    inspection
    report
    of
    December
    1,
    1988
    indicates
    that
    weather
    conditions
    were
    clear
    and
    sunny
    with
    the
    approximate
    temperature
    45
    degrees,
    and
    soil
    conditions
    were
    muddy
    in
    low
    areas.
    The inspection
    report of December
    2,
    1988
    indicates that
    the weather conditions were clear and
    sunny
    with the approximate
    temperature
    27 degrees
    (See also
    P.
    at 70)
    Upon examination
    of the
    record,
    the Board
    finds that J&R’s
    facility was operated
    in
    a manner which
    resulted
    in
    failure
    to
    collect
    and
    contain
    litter
    from
    the
    site
    by
    the
    end
    of
    any
    operating day, and that such violations occurred December
    1 and
    2,
    1988.
    The
    Board
    next
    addresses
    the
    issue
    of
    uncontrollable
    circumstances.
    J&R has shown that
    it was generally
    not possible
    for litter pickers to walk
    in the area
    in question due to
    muddy
    conditions.
    These
    conditions
    were
    worsened
    by
    the
    area’s
    topography which retained water and remained muddy longer than the
    rest of the site.
    3
    &
    P has also shown that at other times some or
    all of
    the litter became
    frozen
    in place and could
    not be picked
    up by hand.
    These conclusions are amply supported by the pictorial
    record.
    While adverse weather will not normally excuse an operator
    111-152

    from
    compliance
    with
    these
    provisions
    (see
    Heusinkved,
    supra)
    the
    particular circumstances
    in
    this situation warrant
    a finding of
    uncontrollable circumstances.
    In Heusinkved,
    the complainant
    rebutted the ‘landowners contentions by submitting evidence
    that
    the ground in question was workable.
    (85 PCB 252)
    Here,
    J
    & R’s
    testimony has gone largely unrebutted.
    Based
    on
    the
    foregoing,
    the
    Board
    finds
    that,
    while
    the
    alleged violations
    of
    Section 2l(p)(l2)
    on December
    1 and
    December
    2,
    1988 occurred,
    respondent has demonstrated the
    violations were ~e
    resulted
    from uncontrollable circumstances;
    pursuant
    to Section 31.l(d)(2)
    of the Act,
    the Board makes
    no
    finding
    of
    violation
    and
    imposes
    no
    penalty
    for
    Counts
    B
    and
    D.
    DOCKET
    B
    Pursuant
    to Section 42(b)(4)
    of the Act, any person found
    to
    have violated Section
    21(p)
    of
    the Act
    is required to pay hearing
    costs incurred by
    the Board and by
    the agency which
    issued the
    administrative citation.
    The Clerk of the Board and Complainant
    will therefore be ordered to each
    file
    a statement
    of costs
    (supported
    by affidavit)
    with the Board and with service upon
    J&R.
    Upon
    receipt and subsequent
    to appropriate review,
    the:
    Board will issue
    a separate final order
    in which the issue of
    costs
    is addressed.
    Additionally, Docket
    B will be opened
    to
    treat all matters pertinent
    to the issue of
    costs.
    This Opinion constitutes
    the Board’s findings of
    fact and
    conclusions of law in
    this matter.
    ORDER
    1)
    By majority vote of
    the Board,
    Respondent, 3
    &
    R
    Landfill,
    Inc.,
    is hereby found
    to have been
    in
    violation of
    Ill.
    Rev.
    Stat.
    1987,
    ch. 111
    1/2,
    par.
    l021(p)(5)
    on November
    28 and December
    2,
    1988 as
    alleged
    in Counts A and B.
    The Board
    finds
    that
    the
    violations alleged
    in Counts
    B and D were due
    to
    uncontrollable circumstances.
    Respondent
    is,
    therefore,
    subject
    to
    a statutory penalty of
    $1,000.
    2)
    ;~ithin45 days of
    this Order of May
    10, 1990 Respondent
    shall,
    by certified check
    or money order,
    pay a civ:l
    penalty
    in the amount of
    S500 payable
    to
    the il1ino~s
    Environmental Protection Trust
    Fund.
    Such payment
    shall
    be sent
    to:
    Illinois Environmental Protection A~encv
    Fiscal Services Division
    2200 Churchill Road
    Springfield,
    IL 62706
    111—153

    3)
    Within
    45 days of
    this Order of May
    10,
    1990 Respondent
    shall,
    by certified check
    or money order,
    pay a civil
    penalty
    in the amount of
    $500 payable
    to the Landfill
    Citation Fund.
    Such payment shall be sent
    to:
    Paul Haas
    County Collector
    ~10 Public Square
    Belleville,
    IL
    62220
    4)
    Docket A in this matter
    is hereby closed.
    5)
    Within
    30 days
    of
    this Order of May
    10,
    1990
    St.
    Clair
    County shall
    file
    a statement
    of
    its hearing costs,
    supported
    by affidavit,
    with
    the Board and
    with
    service
    upon Respondent.
    Within
    the same
    30 days,
    the~Clerk of
    the Pollution Control Board shall
    file a statement of
    the Board’s costs,
    supported by affidavit and with
    service upon Respondent.
    Such filings shall
    be entered
    in Docket
    B of
    this matter.
    6)
    Respondent
    is hereby given leave
    to
    file
    a
    reply/objection to
    the filings
    as ordered
    in
    4) within
    45 days of
    this Order of May 10,
    1990.
    7)
    Section
    41 of the Environmental Protection Act,
    Ill.
    Rev.
    Stat.
    1987
    ch. 1ll~par.
    1041,
    provides for appeal
    of
    final Orders of
    the Board within
    35
    days.
    The Rules
    of the Supreme Court of Illinois establish filing
    requirements.
    The Board
    finds no violation of
    Ill.
    Rev.
    Stat.
    ch.
    111
    1/2,
    par.
    l021(o)(12).
    IT IS
    SO ORDERED.
    3.
    Dumelle,
    M.
    Narculli and 3. Ancerson d~ssenteoas
    to the
    findings of violation of Section 2l(p)(5)
    of
    the Act on November
    28,
    1988
    (Count A).
    J.T.
    Meyer,
    P. F~ema1 and
    B.
    Forcade
    dissented as
    to the finding of
    no violation of Section
    2l(p)(l2)
    of
    the Act on December
    1 and
    2,
    1988
    (Counts
    B and D).
    I, Dorothy
    M. Gum,
    Clerk of the :llinois Pollution Control
    Board, hereby certify
    that
    the above Order
    was adopted on
    the /
    day of
    -.--..
    ,
    1990,
    by
    a vote of
    -7~3
    with
    respect
    to Count
    A,
    a
    -/ote
    of
    ~
    with respect
    to Count
    B,
    a
    vote of
    7-~
    with respect
    to Count
    C,
    and a vote of
    -~~J
    with respect
    to Count
    D.
    ~
    ~_-;
    ~,
    /L~
    Dorothy
    ~.
    Gunn,
    Clerk
    Iliinois~?cllutionControl
    Board
    I
    I 1-iS 4

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