ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    December 20, 2007
    PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,
    Complainant,
    v.
    ARONA CORPORATION, an Iowa
    corporation d/b/a AARON’S SALES &
    LEASE OWNERSHIP,
    Respondent.
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    PCB 08-8
    (Enforcement – Water, Land)
    ORDER OF THE BOARD (by N.J. Melas):
    On July 18, 2007, the Attorney General, on her own motion and at the request of the
    Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (People), filed a four-count complaint against Arona
    Corporation, an Iowa corporation, d/b/a, Aaron’s Sales & Lease Ownership (Arona or
    respondent).
    See
    415 ILCS 5/31(c)(1) (2006); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.204. The complaint
    concerns the August 16, 2006 discharge of between 2 and 20 gallons of gasoline into a storm
    sewer and onto the ground of respondent’s facility at 3730 East State Street, Rockford,
    Winnebago County. The parties now seek to settle without a hearing. For the reasons below, the
    Board directs the Clerk to provide public notice of the parties’ stipulation, proposed settlement,
    and request for relief from the hearing requirement.
    Under the Environmental Protection Act (Act) (415 ILCS 5/1
    et seq
    . (2006)), the
    Attorney General and the State’s Attorneys may bring actions before the Board to enforce
    Illinois’ environmental requirements on behalf of the People.
    See
    415 ILCS 5/31 (2006); 35 Ill.
    Adm. Code 103. In this case, the People allege that respondent violated Sections 12(a), 12(d),
    21(a), and 21(e) of the Act (415 ILCS 5/12(a), 12(d), 21(a), and 21(e) (2006)). The People
    further allege that respondent violated these provisions by causing or tending to cause water
    pollution, depositing any contaminant upon land so as to create a water hazard, causing or
    allowing open dumping, and the improper disposal of waste.
    On November 14, 2007, the People and Arona filed a stipulation and proposed
    settlement, accompanied by a request for relief from the hearing requirement of Section 31(c)(1)
    of the Act (415 ILCS 5/31(c)(1) (2006)). This filing is authorized by Section 31(c)(2) of the Act
    (415 ILCS 5/31(c)(2) (2006)), which requires that the public have an opportunity to request a
    hearing whenever the State and a respondent propose settling an enforcement action without a
    public hearing.
    See
    35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.300(a). Under the proposed stipulation, Arona
    admits the alleged violations, and agrees to pay a civil penalty of $6,000.
    Unless the Board determines that a hearing is needed, the Board must cause notice of the
    stipulation, proposed settlement, and request for relief from the hearing requirement. Any person
    2
    may file a written demand for hearing within 21 days after receiving the notice. If anyone timely
    files a written demand for hearing, the Board will deny the parties’ request for relief and hold a
    hearing.
    See
    415 ILCS 5/31(c)(2) (2006); 35 Ill. Adm. Code 103.300(b), (c). The Board directs
    the Clerk to provide the required notice.
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    I, John Therriault, Assistant Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control Board, certify that the
    Board adopted the above order on December 20, 2007, by a vote of 4-0.
    ___________________________________
    John Therriault, Assistant Clerk
    Illinois Pollution Control Board

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