ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
July 24, 2003
ANTHONY and KAREN ROTI, PAUL
ROSENSTROCK, and LESLIE WEBER,
Complainants,
v.
LTD COMMODITIES,
Respondent.
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PCB 99-19
(Citizens Enforcement – Noise)
DISSENTING OPINION (by T.E. Johnson and M.E. Tristano):
We respectfully dissent from the Board's opinion and order issued today in this matter.
We do not believe the record supports the remedial measures as imposed by the Board. While
we agree that some of the ordered measures are both economically reasonable and technically
feasible, we are loath to order, even conditionally, that LTD Commodities (LTD) cease nighttime
trucking operations.
The Board’s order directs LTD,
inter alia
, to cease trucking operations from 10:00 p.m.
and 6:00 a.m. unless a continuous noise wall that is 25 feet tall and 520 feet in length is
constructed. The record indicates that the construction of a noise wall is, at best, uncertain. The
height of the wall is 19 feet in excess of that allowed by the Village of Bannockburn’s zoning
code. Because the village only allows a variance from up to 20% of the height allowed by
ordinance, a text amendment changing the ordinance would be required. Thus, obtaining village
approval for the construction of the noise wall is questionable. When coupled with the estimated
cost of constructing the noise wall – anywhere from $623,350 to $3,000,000 – it becomes more
likely that the Board is in effect directing LTD to cease nighttime trucking operations.
We do not believe that imposing such a drastic limitation on LTD’s operations is
appropriate. Instead, we believe, as did the Board in its February 15, 2001 interim order, that
eliminating LTD's nighttime operations would not be economically reasonable. Roti v. LTD
,
PCB 99-19 slip op. at 30 (Feb. 15, 2001). The fact that LTD has voluntarily ceased nighttime
trucking operations is not persuasive in this instance, and directing LTD to permanently continue
this cessation is not warranted.
For these reasons, we respectfully dissent.
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Thomas E. Johnson
Chairman of the Board
Michael E. Tristano
Board Member
I, Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, certify that the above
dissenting opinion was submitted on July 24, 2003.
Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board