ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
July 11, 2002
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Complainant,
v.
GULCO CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation a/k/a GUTMANN LEATHER
COMPANY, INC.,
Respondent.
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PCB 99-192
(Enforcement - Air)
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by R.C. Flemal):
On June 30, 1999, the Office of the Attorney General, on behalf of the People of the
State of Illinois (People), filed a complaint against Gulco Corporation (Gulco).
See
415 ILCS
5/31.1(c) (2000); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 108.202(c). The People allege that Gulco violated
Sections 9(a), 9(b), 39.5(6)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act (Act) (415 ILCS 5/9(a),
(b), 415 ILCS 5/39.5(6)(b)), 35 Ill. Adm. Code 201.141, 201.142, 201.143, 205.310(a), and
218.926 of the Board’s air pollution regulations.
1 The People further allege that Gulco
violated these provisions by failing to obtain a construction and operating permit, causing air
pollution, operating without a Clean Air Act Permit, and failing to submit a timely earned
reduction management system application. The complaint concerns Gulco’s leather
manufacturing facility at 1503-21 Webster Avenue, Chicago, Cook County.
On June 11, 2002, the People and Gulco filed a stipulation and proposed settlement,
accompanied by a request for relief from the hearing requirement of Section 31(c)(1) of the
Act (415 ILCS 5/31(c)(1) (2000)). This filing is authorized by Section 31(c)(2) of the Act (415
ILCS 5/31(c)(2) (2000)).
See
35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.300(a). The Board provided notice of
the stipulation, proposed settlement, and request for relief. The newspaper notice was
published in the
Chicago Sun-Times
on June 13, 2002. The Board did not receive any requests
for hearing. The Board grants the parties’ request for relief from the hearing requirement.
See
415 ILCS 5/31(c)(2) (2000); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.300(b).
Section 103.302 of the Board’s procedural rules sets forth the required contents of
stipulations and proposed settlements. 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.302. These requirements
include stipulating to facts on the nature, extent, and causes of the alleged violations and the
nature of Gulco’s operations. Section 103.302 also requires that the parties stipulate to facts
1 The Board notes that a violation of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 270.201(c) of the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency rules was also alleged.
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called for by Section 33(c) of the Act (415 ILCS 5/33(c) (2000)). The People and Gulco have
satisfied Section 103.302. Gulco admits the violations regarding Sections 9(b) and 39.5(6)(b)
of the Act, and 35 Ill. Adm. Code 201.142, 201.143, and 205.310(a) and agrees to pay a civil
penalty of $15,000. The Board accepts the stipulation and proposed settlement.
This opinion constitutes the Board’s findings of fact and conclusions of law.
ORDER
1.
The Board accepts and incorporates by reference the stipulation and proposed
settlement.
2.
Gulco Corporation must pay a civil penalty of $15,000 no later than August 12,
2002, which is the 30th day after the date of this order. Gulco Corporation
must pay the civil penalty by certified check or money order, payable to the
Environmental Protection Trust Fund. The case number, case name, and Gulco
Corporation’s social security number or federal employer identification number
must be included on the certified check or money order.
3.
Gulco Corporation must send the certified check or money order to:
Illinois
Environmental
Protection
Agency
Fiscal
Services
Division
1021
North
Grand Avenue East
P.O.
Box
19276
Springfield,
Illinois
62702-9276
4.
Penalties unpaid within the time prescribed will accrue interest under Section
42(g) of the Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS 5/42(g) (2000)) at the rate
set forth in Section 1003(a) of the Illinois Income Tax Act (35 ILCS 5/1003(a)
(2000)).
5.
Gulco Corporation must cease and desist from the alleged violations.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Section 41(a) of the Environmental Protection Act provides that final Board orders may
be appealed directly to the Illinois Appellate Court within 35 days after the Board serves the
order. 415 ILCS 5/41(a) (2000);
see also
35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.300(d)(2), 101.906,
102.706. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 335 establishes filing requirements that apply when the
Illinois Appellate Court, by statute, directly reviews administrative orders. 172 Ill. 2d R. 335.
The Board’s procedural rules provide that motions for the Board to reconsider or modify its
final orders may be filed with the Board within 35 days after the order is received. 35 Ill.
Adm. Code 101.520;
see also
35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.902, 102.700, 102.702.
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I, Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, certify that the
Board adopted the above opinion and order on July 11, 2002, by a vote of 5-0.
Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board