ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
October 4, 2007
COUNTY OF MACON,
ILLINOIS,
Complainant,
v.
ANNETTE TOPPS and RICHARD JONES,
Respondents.
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AC 08-05
MCSWMD File No. 2007-002-AC
(Administrative Citation)
OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD (by G.T. Girard):
On August 13, 2007, County of Macon (Macon) timely filed an administrative citation
against Annette Topps (Topps) and Richard Jones (Jones).
See
415 ILCS 5/31.1(c) (2006); 35
Ill. Adm. Code 101.300(b), 108.202(c). The administrative citation concerns a site located on
Bender Road in Oakley Township, Macon County, with the Illinois Environmental Protection
Agency Site Code No. 1158125008. For the reasons below, the Board finds that Topps violated
the Environmental Protection Act (Act) (415 ILCS 5 (2006)) and orders Topps to pay $4,500 in
civil penalties.
Under the Act, an administrative citation is an expedited enforcement action brought
before the Board seeking civil penalties that are fixed by statute. Administrative citations may
be filed only by the Agency or, if the Agency has delegated the authority, by a unit of local
government, and only for limited types of alleged violations at sanitary landfills or unpermitted
open dumps.
See
415 ILCS 5/3.305, 3.445, 21(o), (p), 31.1(c), 42(b)(4), (4-5) (2006); 35 Ill.
Adm. Code 108.
In this case, the Agency alleges that Jones and Topps violated Sections 21(p)1, (p)(3),
(p)(7) of the Act (415 ILCS 5/21(p)(1), (p)(3), (p)(7) (2006)) by causing or allowing the open
dumping of waste in a manner resulting in (1) litter, (2) open burning, and (3) the deposition of
general or clean construction or demolition debris. The Agency asks the Board to impose a
$4,500 civil penalty on Jones and Topps. As required, the Agency served the administrative
citation on Jones and Topps individually within “60 days after the date of the observed
violation.” 415 ILCS 5/31.1(b) (2006);
see also
35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.300(c), 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.
See
415 ILCS 31.1(d)(1) (2006); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 101.300(b),
108.204(b), 108.406. Jones timely filed a petition to contest the administrative citation on
September 6, 2007. In an order of September 20, 2007, the Board accepted Jones’ petition and
directed the Agency and Jones to proceed to hearing. Any petition for review from Topps was
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due on September 17, 2007. Topps failed to timely file a petition. Accordingly, the Board finds
that Topps violated Sections 21(p)(1), (p)(3), (p)(7) of the Act (415 ILCS 5/21(p)(1), (p)(3),
(p)(7) (2006)).
The civil penalty for violating any provision of subsection (p) of Section 21 is $1,500 for
each violation, except that the penalty amount is $3,000 for each violation that is the person’s
second or subsequent adjudicated violation of that provision.
See
415 ILCS 5/42(b)(4-5) (2006);
35 Ill. Adm. Code 108.500(a). Because there are three of violations of Section 21(p) and no
allegation of any second or subsequent adjudicated violation, the total civil penalty is $4,500.
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 regarding
Topps.
ORDER
1.
The Board finds that Topps violated Sections 21(p)(1), (p)(3), and (p)(7) of the
Act (415 ILCS 5/21(p)(1), (p)(3), (p)(7) (2006))
2.
Topps must pay a civil penalty of $4,500 no later than November 5, 2007, which
is the first business day following the 30th day after the date of this order. Topps
must pay the civil penalty by certified check or money order, made payable to the
Macon County Solid Waste Management Department. The case number, case
name, and Topps’ social security number or federal employer identification
number must be included on the certified check or money order.
3.
Topps must send the certified check or money order and the remittance form to:
Darlene K. Powell
Macon County Solid Waste Management Department
141 South Main Street
Room 212
Decatur, Illinois 62523-1293
4.
Penalties unpaid within the time prescribed will accrue interest under Section
42(g) of the Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS 5/42(g) (2006)) at the rate
set forth in Section 1003(a) of the Illinois Income Tax Act (35 ILCS 5/1003(a)
(2006)).
5.
Payment of this penalty does not prevent future prosecution if the violations
continue.
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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) (2006);
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, John Therriault, Assistant Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, certify that the
Board adopted the above opinion and order on October 4, 2007, by a vote of 4-0.
___________________________________
John Therriault, Assistant Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board
