For immediate release

CONTACT:

Andrew Boron

December 26, 2000

312/814-6062

Illinois Pollution Control Board Grants 15-day Provisional Variance to U.S.

Chrome Corporation of Illinois

Chicago

- The Illinois Pollution Control Board granted a 15-day

provisional variance to U.S. Chrome Corporation of Illinois for its facility located

in Boone County, Illinois. The provisional variance will allow U.S. Chrome to

continue accumulating hazardous waste for a period in excess of 90 days.

This action, docketed as PCB 01-95, was taken by the Board upon

notification by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency that compliance

with the accumulation time requirements set forth at 35 Ill. Adm. Code 722.134

would impose an arbitrary or unreasonable hardship on Abbott Laboratories.

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