ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
June 3, 2004
CITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT,
Complainant,
v.
SAMUEL ZEPEDA SR.,
Respondent.
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AC 04-74
(CDOE No. 04-01-AC)
(Administrative Citation)
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by J.P. Novak):
On April 23, 2004, the City of Chicago Department of Environment timely filed an
administrative citation against Samuel Zepeda Sr. (Samuel Zepeda).
See
415 ILCS 5/31.1(c)
(2002); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 108.202(c). The City of Chicago Department of Environment alleged
that Samuel Zepeda violated Section 21(p)(1), (p)(4), (p)(5), and (p)(7) of the Environmental
Protection Act (415 ILCS 5/21(p)(1), (p)(4), (p)(5), and (p)(7) (2002)) (Act). The City of
Chicago Department of Environment further alleges that Samuel Zepeda violated these
provisions by causing or allowing the open dumping of waste in a manner that resulted in (1)
litter, (2) deposition of waste in standing or flowing waters, (3) proliferation of disease vectors,
and (4) deposition of general construction or demolition debris or clean construction or
demolition debris at 9613 South Torrence Avenue, Chicago, Cook County.
As required, the City of Chicago Department of Environment served the administrative
citation on Samuel Zepeda within “60 days after the date of the observed violation.” 415 ILCS
5/31.1(b) (2002);
see also
35 Ill. Adm. Code 108.202(b). To contest an administrative citation, a
respondent must file a petition with the Board no later than 35 days after being served with the
administrative citation. If the respondent fails to do so, the Board must find that the respondent
committed the violations alleged and impose the corresponding civil penalty. 415 ILCS
31.1(d)(1) (2002); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 108.204(b), 108.406. Here, Samuel Zepeda failed to timely
file a petition. Accordingly, the Board finds that Samuel Zepeda violated Section 21(p) of the
Act.
The civil penalty for violating Section 21(p) is $1,500 for a first offense and $3,000 for a
second or subsequent offense. 415 ILCS 5/42(b)(4-5) (2002); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 108.500(a).
Because there are four violations of Section 21(p) and these violations are first offenses, the total
civil penalty is $6,000. Under Section 31.1(d)(1) of the Act, the Board attaches the
administrative citation and makes it part of the order below.
This opinion constitutes the Board’s finding of fact and conclusions of law.
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ORDER
1.
Samuel Zepeda must pay a civil penalty of $6,000 no later than July 3, 2004,
which is the 30th day after the date of this order.
2.
Samuel Zepeda must pay the civil penalty by certified check or money order,
made payable to the City of Chicago. The case number, case name, and Samuel
Zepeda’s social security number or federal employer identification number must
be included on the certified check or money order.
3.
Samuel Zepeda must send the certified check or money order and the remittance
form to:
City of Chicago Department of Environment
Permitting and Enforcement Division
30 North LaSalle Street
Suite 2500
Chicago, Illinois 60602
4.
Penalties unpaid within the time prescribed will accrue interest under Section
42(g) of the Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS 5/42(g) (2002)) at the rate
set forth in Section 1003(a) of the Illinois Income Tax Act (35 ILCS 5/1003(a)
(2002)).
5.
Payment of this penalty does not prevent future prosecution if the violations
continue.
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) (2002);
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 June 3, 2004, by a vote of 5-0.
Dorothy M. Gunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board