ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    September 20, 2007
    JOE’S MIDTOWN AUTO REPAIR,
    Petitioner,
    v.
    ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL
    PROTECTION AGENCY,
    Respondent.
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    )
    PCB 07-143
    (UST Appeal)
    ORDER OF THE BOARD (by G.T. Girard):
    On June 21, 2007, at the parties’ request, the Board extended until September 11, 2007,
    the time period for Joe’s Midtown Auto Repair (Joe’s) to appeal a May 9, 2007 determination of
    the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Agency). On September 10, 2007, Joe’s timely
    filed a petition asking the Board to review the Agency’s determination.
    See
    415 ILCS 5/40(a)(1)
    (2006); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.300(b), 105.402, 105.406. The Agency’s determination concerns
    Joe’s leaking petroleum underground storage tank (UST) site located at 1 South Main Street,
    Princeton, Bureau County. For the reasons below, the Board accepts Joe’s petition for hearing.
    Under the Environmental Protection Act (Act) (415 ILCS 5 (2006)), the Agency decides
    whether to approve proposed cleanup plans for leaking UST sites, as well as requests for cleanup
    cost reimbursement from the State’s UST Fund, which consists of UST fees and motor fuel
    taxes. If the Agency disapproves or modifies a submittal, the UST owner or operator may appeal
    the decision to the Board.
    See
    415 ILCS 5/40(a)(1), 57-57.17 (2006); 35 Ill. Adm. Code
    105.Subpart D. In this case, the Agency assessed, from Joe’s UST Fund reimbursement request,
    a deductible that Joe’s maintains had “already been charged for this project.” Petition at 1-2.
    Joe’s appeals on the grounds that the Agency lacks the authority to “charge another deductible.”
    Id
    . at 2. Joe’s petition meets the content requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 105.408.
    The Board accepts the petition for hearing. Joe’s has the burden of proof.
    See
    35 Ill.
    Adm. Code 105.112(a). Hearings will be based exclusively on the record before the Agency at
    the time the Agency issued its determination.
    See
    35 Ill. Adm. Code 105.412. Accordingly,
    though the Board hearing affords petitioner the opportunity to challenge the Agency’s reasons
    for its decision, information developed after the Agency’s decision typically is not admitted at
    hearing or considered by the Board.
    See
    Alton Packaging Corp. v. PCB
    , 162 Ill. App. 3d 731,
    738, 516 N.E.2d 275, 280 (5th Dist. 1987); Community Landfill Co. & City of Morris v. IEPA,
    PCB 01-170 (Dec. 6, 2001),
    aff’d sub nom.
    Community Landfill Co. & City of Morris v. PCB &
    IEPA, 331 Ill. App. 3d 1056, 772 N.E.2d 231 (3rd Dist. 2002).
    Hearings will be scheduled and completed in a timely manner, consistent with the
    decision deadline (
    see
    415 ILCS 5/40(a)(2) (2006)), which only Joe’s may extend by waiver (
    see
    2
    35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.308). If the Board fails to take final action by the decision deadline, Joe’s
    may deem its request granted.
    See
    415 ILCS 5/40(a)(2) (2006). Currently, the decision deadline
    is January 8, 2008, which is the 120th day after the Board received the petition.
    See
    35 Ill. Adm.
    Code 105.114. The Board meeting immediately before the decision deadline is scheduled for
    December 20, 2007.
    Unless the Board or the hearing officer orders otherwise, the Agency must file the entire
    record of its determination by October 10, 2007, which is the 30th day after the Board received
    Joe’s petition.
    See
    35 Ill. Adm. Code 105.410(a). If the Agency wishes to seek additional time
    to file the record, it must file a request for extension before the date on which the record is due to
    be filed.
    See
    35 Ill. Adm. Code 105.116. The record must comply with the content requirements
    of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 105.410(b).
    Finally, the Board notes that on September 17, 2007, the Agency filed a motion to
    dismiss this appeal. The Board reserves ruling on that motion to allow Joe’s response time to
    run.
    See
    35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.500(d).
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    I, John Therriault, Assistant Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, certify that the
    Board adopted the above order on September 20, 2007, by a vote of 4-0.
    ___________________________________
    John Therriault, Assistant Clerk
    Illinois Pollution Control Board

    Back to top