ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    June 7, 2007
    KYLE NASH,
    Complainant,
    v.
    KAREN SOKOLOWSKI,
    Respondent.
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    PCB 07-96
    (Citizens Enforcement - Noise)
    ORDER OF THE BOARD (by N.J. Melas):
    On March 26, 2007, Kyle Nash filed a complaint (Comp.) against Karen Sokolowski.
    See
    415 ILCS 5/31(d) (2004); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.204. Nash alleges that Sokolowski violated
    Section 24 of the Environmental Protection Act (Act) (415 ILCS 5/24 (2004)). Nash further
    alleges that Sokolowski violated these provisions by placing wind chimes on her front porch and
    in the back yard. The complaint concerns Nash’s property located at 1630 W. 33rd Place,
    Chicago, Cook County. The Sokolowski property is located at 1634 W. 33rd Place, Chicago,
    Cook County.
    Section 31(d)(1) of the Act allows any person to file a complaint with the Board. 415
    ILCS 5/31(d)(1) (2004). Section 31(d)(1) further provides that “[u]nless the Board determines
    that such complaint is duplicative or frivolous, it shall schedule a hearing.”
    Id
    .;
    see also
    35 Ill.
    Adm. Code 103.212(a). A complaint is duplicative if it is “identical or substantially similar to
    one brought before the Board or another forum.” 35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.202. A complaint is
    frivolous if it requests “relief that the Board does not have the authority to grant” or “fails to state
    a cause of action upon which the Board can grant relief.”
    Id
    . Within 30 days after being served
    with a complaint, a respondent may file a motion alleging that the complaint is duplicative or
    frivolous. 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.212(b). The Board has not received such a motion from
    Sokolowski. However, for the reasons stated below, the Board today reserves ruling on whether
    Nash’s complaint is frivolous or duplicative.
    The Board’s procedural rules provide that “[p]roof of service of initial filings must be
    filed with the Board upon completion of service.” 35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.304(b). The rules
    further provide that “[p]roof of proper service is the responsibility of the party filing and serving
    the document.” 35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.304(d). With the complaint, Nash filed a form certificate
    indicating that Nash served Sokolowski by personal service on March 25, 2007. That form
    certificate directed Nash to either attach an affidavit or file it later with the Board’s clerk. To
    date, the Board has not received proof that Nash has served Sokolowski with a copy of the
    complaint.
    Accordingly, the Board directs Nash to file proof of service by July 9, 2007, which is the
    first business day after the 30th day from the date of this order. If Nash fails to file proof of
    2
    service on or before that date, the Board may dismiss this proceeding.
    See
    35 Ill. Adm. Code
    101.304(d).
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    I, John T. Therriault, Assistant Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, certify that
    the Board adopted the above order on June 7, 2007, by a vote of 4-0.
    John T. Therriault, Assistant Clerk
    Illinois Pollution Control Board

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