ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
April 21, 1988
WASTE MANAGEMENT OF ILLINOIS, INC.
Petitioner,
v.
)
PCB 88—39
MCHENRY COUNTY BOARD,
Respondent.
ORDER OF THE BOARD (by LI. Anderson):
This action involves the appeal by Waste Management of
Illinois, Inc. (WMI) of the County Board’s denial of S8172
approval, which denial was based on a finding that criteria 2 & 3
only had not been satisfied. On March 11, 1988, the McHenry
County Defenders (Defenders) filed a cross—appeal of the County’s
finding that criterion 1 had been satisfied.
On March 24, 1988, the Board issued an Order dismissing the
Defenders’ cross—appeal based on Section 40.1 of the Act, as
interpreted by the Illinois Appellate Court (Second District) in
McHenry County Landfill v. Pollution Control Board, 154 Ill. App.
3d 89 506 N.E.2d 372 (2d Dist. petition for leave to appeal
denied, 511 N.E.2d 430 (1987). The Court found that Section 40.1
“does not allow cross—appeals by objectors in the case of a
denial of an SB172 site location suitability approval.” The
Board’s Order also forbids the Defenders from filing an amicus
curiae brief on criterion #1 issues. Id. at 3.
On April 6, 1988, the Defenders moved the Board to certify
for immediate interlocutory appeal pursuant to Supreme Court Rule
308(a), two specific questions of law flowing from the March 24
Order. WMI filed a response in opposition on April 13, 1988.
Supreme Court Rule 308(a) provides that a “certificate of
importance” may be granted where an order “involves a question of
law as to which there is substantial grounds for difference of
opinion and that an immediate appeal from the order may
materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation.”
Ill. Rev. Stat., ch. llOA, Section 308(a), 335. The Board has
authority to issue such certificates, and has occasionally done
so. City of Rockford v. Winnebago County Board, PCB 87—92,
Order, p. 1 (November 25, 1987; People of the State of Illinois
v. Santa Fe Park Enterprises, PCB 76—84, Order, pp. 1—2 (December
29, 1983); See, Getty Synthetic Fuel v. PCB~T04 Ill. App. 3d 285
(1st Dist. 1982).
88—319
—2—
In this case, the Board finds that neither of the 308(a)
tests have been met, and so denies the motion.
The Defenders have failed to persuade the Board that the
interpretation of Section 40.1 made by the Board in accordance
with the Second District’s decision in the McHenry County case
involves a question as to which “there is substantial ground for
difference of opinion”. The statute by its terms does not permit
cross—appeals. As WMI points out, it is well established that
appeal rights are only those which are articulated in the
statute. The Board may not extend or infer such rights. Given
the availability of enforcement actions pursuant to Section 31,
it has been further held that due process requirements are
satisfied even if no right to appeal permit grants exists, a
situation which is analogous to that presented here. Landfill
Inc. v. PCB, 74 Ill.2d 541, 387 N.E.2d 258, 262—64 (1978); see
also E & E Hauling, Inc. v. PCB, 107 Il1.2d 33, 481 N.E.2d
664,667 (1985) (citing Landfill, Inc.
Since entry of the Mdllenry County decision in March, 1987,
no other Court has addressed this issue, so that this matter does
not present conflicting judicial interpretations in need of
resolution.
The Defenders have similarly failed to persuade the Board
that certification of its proposed questions will “materially
advance the termination of the litigation”. The Defenders assert
that immediate resolution of its appeal status would promote
“more efficient and orderly administrative
proceedings and by avoiding piecemeal
litigation. An expedited appeal could be
completed prior to the PCB’s 120—day statutory
deadline for reviewing the County Board’s
decision. If the Defenders succeed in that
“immediate appeal,” the PCB could rule at one
time on all relevant issues (including
criterion #1) and avoid a second proceeding to
review criterion #1 alone that would be
necessary if the Appellate Court were to hear
the Defenders’ appeal later and then reverse
the PCB’s Order dismissing the Defenders’
cross—appeal.”
Decision in this matter is due on June 23, 1988, roughly 60
days from today, and the hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, April
22. Certification of issues for interlocutory appeal would
seriously prejudice the Board’s ability to render a timely
decision in this matter, as the Board’s timeclock is not
automatically tolled during the pendancy of any appeal. Based on
experience, the Board doubts the accuracy of the Defenders
assertion that an interlocutory appeal can be heard within 60
88— 320
—3—
days. The Board further doubts that WMI would be willing to
waive the decision date to allow for an appeal which it opposes.
Additionally, the Board agrees with WMI’s observation that
review of the County’s decision on criterion #1 will in no way
advance the Board’s deliberation on criterion 2 & 3.
Again, for all of the foregoing reasons, the Defenders’
motion to certify is denied.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
B. Forcade concurred.
3. T. Meyer dissented.
I, Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
Board, hereby certify that the above Order was adopted 9fl
the ~/44day
of
______________,
1988, by a vote of
_________
Dorothy M. dunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board
88—321