ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
September 5, 2002
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Complainant,
v.
The PURDY COMPANY, an Illinois
Corporation, and INDIANA HARBOR BELT
RAILROAD, an Indiana Corporation,
Respondents.
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PCB 99-193
(Enforcement - Land)
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by N.J. Melas):
On June 30, 1999, the Office of the Attorney General, on behalf of the People of the
State of Illinois (People), filed a three-count complaint against the Purdy Company (Purdy) and
Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad (IHB RR).
See
415 ILCS 5/31(d) (2000)
amended by
P.A.
92-0574, eff. June 26, 2002; 35 Ill. Adm. Code
103.204
.
The People allege that Purdy and
IHB RR violated Sections 21(a), 21(p)(1), and 21(e) of the Environmental Protection Act
(Act). 415 ILCS 5/21(a), (21)(p)(1), and 21(e) (1998). The People further allege that Purdy
and IHB RR violated these provisions by open dumping, and by causing or allowing litter and
waste disposal at an unpermitted site. The complaint concerns respondents’ railroad freight car
wheel reconditioning operation located at 13830 Brainard Avenue, Burnham, Cook County, on
property which respondent Purdy leased from respondent IHR RR, owner of the site.
On July 22, 2002, the People and Purdy and IHB RR 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)
amended by
P.A. 92-0574, eff. June 26,
2002). This filing is authorized by Section 31(c)(2) of the Act (415 ILCS 5/31(c)(2) (2000)
amended by
P.A. 92-0574, eff. June 26, 2002).
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 Star Newspaper
on July 28, 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)
amended by
P.A. 92-0574, eff. June 26,
2002; 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 Purdy’s operations. Section 103.302 also requires that the parties stipulate to facts
called for by Section 33(c) of the Act (415 ILCS 5/33(c) (2000)
amended by
P.A. 92-0574,
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eff. June 26, 2002). The People and Purdy and IHB RR have satisfied Section 103.302.
Respondents neither admit nor deny the alleged violations. Respondent Purdy agrees to pay a
civil penalty of $10,000. Respondent IHB RR shall pay no penalty. Notwithstanding, the
respondents remain jointly and severally liable for the penalty. 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.
Purdy must pay a civil penalty of $10,000 no later than October 5, 2002, which
is the 30th day after the date of this order. Purdy must pay the civil penalty by
certified check or money order, payable to the Illinois Environmental Protection
Trust Fund. The case number, case name, and respondent’s social security
number or federal employer identification number must be included on the
certified check or money order.
3.
Purdy 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
62794-9276
4.
A copy of the check must be sent to:
Kendra
Pohn
Assistant
Attorney
General
Environmental
Bureau
188 West Randolph Street, 20th Floor
Chicago,
Illinois
60601
5.
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)).
6.
Respondents must cease and desist from the alleged violations.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
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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.
I, Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, certify that the
Board adopted the above opinion and order on September 5, 2002, by a vote of 7-0.
Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board