ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD

May

23, 1972

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

)

#72—86

v.

)

REX

CHAINBELT, INC.

)

OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (BY SAMUEL T. LAWTON, JR.)

Complaint was filed by the Environmental Protection Agency against

Rex Chainbelt, Inc., alleging that Respondent, in

the operation of

its Downers Grove bearing manufacturing facility, on May 27, 1971,

permitted the escape of cyanide and/or cyanogen compounds so as to

violate Sanitary Water Board Regulation SWB-5, and further, that on

May 27, .1971, Respondent caused or allowed the discharge of effluent

containing cyanide and heavy metals into a storm sewer which flows

into the St. Joseph’s Creek so as to cause, or tend to cause, water

pollution, in violation of Section 12(a) of the Environmental Protec-

tion Act (“Act”),

A penalty in the maximum statutory amount and the entry of such

other and further Orders as may be proper wererequested of the Board.

A stipulation and proposal for settlement was entered into between

the parties, which acknowledges that on or about May 27, 1971, Respon-

dent permitted cyanide and heavy metals to escape from its plant into

a drainage ditch on its property which flows into St. Joseph’s Creek.

Representatives of the Agency and Respondent took samples of the flow

in the ditch on May 27, which analysis is appended to the stipulation

and which notes the presence of cyanide and heavy metals, particularly

copper, cadmium, nickel, zinc, chromium and iron in the ditch. Inves-

tigation by Respondent disclosed that a leak had occurred in the

copper plating tank running to the floor drain and ultimately into

a line connected with the drainage ditch.

On May 28, 1971, Respondent blocked the floor drain line leading

to the drainage ditch and installed a holding tank to contain any fu-

ture spillage. The plating tanks were replaced with polyethylene lined

fiberglass tanks equipped with alarms to guard against undetected leaks.

Respondent contracted for a survey of the plant plumbing and made

corrections limiting future sources of water pollution. Respondent is

considering the possibility of adopting different manufacturing techniques

which will eliminate the present plating room activities.

4

—

549

---

Periodic sampling of the flow into the ditch subsequent to

May

27, 1971 through

February 14, 1972, disclose an absence of cya-

nide

in

the effluent. Subsequent sampling by the Agency indicates

an

absence of cyanide and satisfactory heavy metal

levels.

The terms of settlement provide that Respondent admits that the

violations complained of did, in fact, take place as

set

forth in

the

stipulation~

but

that

it is

now in compliance with all provisions of

the

Act and all rules and regulations of the Act pursuant thereto,

Respondent agrees to the payment

of

a penalty in the amount of

$2~OOO,O0

for the violations aforesaid, and agrees not to repeat the

violations admitted. The Agency will be given the right of reasonable

;in~pectionof Respondent~sfacilities

in

‘accordance with Section 4(d)

of the Act. The stipulation, both

in

the undertakings of the Respom-

dent and the amount of penalty, appear satisfactory and we will enter

our Order accordingly.

This

opinion constitutes the findings of

fact

and conclusions of

law

of the Board.

IT IS THE

ORDER of the Pollution Control Board:

1.

Rex Chainbelt, Inc., Respondent, shall cease and desist

the

discharge of cyanide and heavy metals, in violation

of the

Rules and Regulations of the Pollution Control

Board

and the Environmental Protection Act.

2.

Penalty in

the

amount of $2,000.00 is assessed against

Rex Chainbelt, Inc. for violation of SWB-5 and Section

12(a) of the Environmental Protection Act, payable

to

the State of Illinois and sent to the Environmental

Protection Agency, Fiscal Services Division,2200 Church-

ill Drive, Springfield, Illinois 62706.

I,

Christan Moffett, Clerk of the Pollution Control Bo~d, certify

that the above Opinion and Order was adopted on the~~3~”dayof May,

1971 by a vote of 4—0.

I,