On April 22nd, the Chicago Tribune published two stories concerning cash from the federal government going to environmental improvements within the State of Illinois.
The first story reported that "the U.S. Department of Energy awarded $25 million to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. It'll put the money into a program called the Chicago Region Retrofit Ramp-up Program, which aims to retrofit both commercial and residential buildings. Plans include setting up a one-stop-shop info center where building owners can arrange and finance the energy efficiency projects."
The second story reported that Illinois communities, including Rock Island, Vermilion County, Rockford, North Chicago, Franklin Park, Lena and Vandalia, are to receive $2.65 million in grants from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean contaminated waste sites in the state.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
$16,000 Settlement of State Enforcement Action Alleging CCDD Violations
On April 15th, the Illinois Pollution Control Board accepted the parties' settlement in People v. R.A. Cullian & Sons, Inc., No. PCB 09-105, which concerned the defendant's clean construction and demolition debris ("CCDD") fill operation at the Farmdale Pit facility, located at 22493 Farmdale Road, in East Peoria, Tazewell County, Illinois.
The State alleged that the defendant violated the Illinois Environmental Protection Act by allowing waste material that does not meet the definition of CCDD to commingle with the facility’s CCDD fill material, failing to inspect incoming loads of clean construction and demolition debris at the site with a photo ionization detector (PID) device, failing to maintain CCDD records for the facility, and disposing of CCDD without a permit.
As part of the terms of the settlement, the defendant admits the alleged violations and agrees to pay a civil penalty of $16,000.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
The State alleged that the defendant violated the Illinois Environmental Protection Act by allowing waste material that does not meet the definition of CCDD to commingle with the facility’s CCDD fill material, failing to inspect incoming loads of clean construction and demolition debris at the site with a photo ionization detector (PID) device, failing to maintain CCDD records for the facility, and disposing of CCDD without a permit.
As part of the terms of the settlement, the defendant admits the alleged violations and agrees to pay a civil penalty of $16,000.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
Monday, April 26, 2010
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Asian Carp Case Brought by State of Michigan
The Asian carp case in the U.S. Supreme Court officially ended on April 26th with a two sentence order by the Court: "The motion of Michigan to reopen and for a supplemental decree is denied. The alternative motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied."
The State of Michigan had filed an action in the Supreme Court to order the State of Illinois, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers "to immediately take all available measures within their respective control, consistent with the protection of public health and safety, to prevent the migration of bighead and silver carp into Lake Michigan." The Supreme Court's latest ruling comes after extensive briefings by the parties and two prior orders denying Michigan's motions for a preliminary injunction, which sought to immediately close the locks.
What will happen next? It seems unlikely, although possible, that Michigan will file a new action in federal district court to continue litigation. The most likely solution is a political one--one in which the Obama administration works with the governors of the Great Lakes states to come up with a middle-of-the-road solution. What is clear is that the locks will not be closed in the immediate future.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
The State of Michigan had filed an action in the Supreme Court to order the State of Illinois, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers "to immediately take all available measures within their respective control, consistent with the protection of public health and safety, to prevent the migration of bighead and silver carp into Lake Michigan." The Supreme Court's latest ruling comes after extensive briefings by the parties and two prior orders denying Michigan's motions for a preliminary injunction, which sought to immediately close the locks.
What will happen next? It seems unlikely, although possible, that Michigan will file a new action in federal district court to continue litigation. The most likely solution is a political one--one in which the Obama administration works with the governors of the Great Lakes states to come up with a middle-of-the-road solution. What is clear is that the locks will not be closed in the immediate future.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Developer to Pay $8,000 to Settle Alleged Water Pollution Violations
On April 15th, the Illinois Pollution Control Board accepted the settlement in People v. Andalusia Ventures, LLC, No. PCB 09-75, which concerned the defendant's residential housing development, known as Fancy Creek Crossing, located at 101st Street West and Andalusia Road (Route 92) in Andalusia, Rock County, Illinois.
The State alleged that the defendant violated the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, beginning in 2006 through at least July 2009, by discharging sediment of other than natural origin into a receiving stream, thereby causing or threatening to cause water pollution, and by failing to submit accurate incidents of noncompliance letters and reports, and failing to have on site storm water pollution prevention plan and rainfall reports.
Under the terms of the settlement, the defendant admits the alleged violations and agrees to pay a civil penalty of $8,000.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
The State alleged that the defendant violated the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, beginning in 2006 through at least July 2009, by discharging sediment of other than natural origin into a receiving stream, thereby causing or threatening to cause water pollution, and by failing to submit accurate incidents of noncompliance letters and reports, and failing to have on site storm water pollution prevention plan and rainfall reports.
Under the terms of the settlement, the defendant admits the alleged violations and agrees to pay a civil penalty of $8,000.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
Chicago's Green Roofs
There was an interesting article in the Chicago Tribune on April 20th concerning the building of green roofs in Chicago. According to the article, the city "now boasts about 500 green roofs that are either finished or underway, according to Department of Environment spokesman Larry Merritt, and they cover 7 million square feet — roughly double the amount of floor space in the Willis Tower."
According to the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities North America organization, a green roof is "an extension of the existing roof which involves a high quality water proofing and root repellent system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants. Green roof systems may be modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth, growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids, or, each component of the system may be installed separately. Green roof development involves the creation of 'contained' green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the 'ground'. Green roofs can provide a wide range of public and private benefits."
Mayor Daley and his colleagues at the city should be congratulated for their leadership on green roofs. It all started with a green roof on City Hall. Between 2005 and 2007, the city also gave out grants to help finance green roof projects.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
According to the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities North America organization, a green roof is "an extension of the existing roof which involves a high quality water proofing and root repellent system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants. Green roof systems may be modular, with drainage layers, filter cloth, growing media and plants already prepared in movable, interlocking grids, or, each component of the system may be installed separately. Green roof development involves the creation of 'contained' green space on top of a human-made structure. This green space could be below, at or above grade, but in all cases the plants are not planted in the 'ground'. Green roofs can provide a wide range of public and private benefits."
Mayor Daley and his colleagues at the city should be congratulated for their leadership on green roofs. It all started with a green roof on City Hall. Between 2005 and 2007, the city also gave out grants to help finance green roof projects.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Steel Company to Pay $120,000 to Resolve Alleged Hazardous Chemical Reporting Violations
On April 16th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the settlement of a federal enforcement action alleging hazardous chemical reporting violations against Alro Steel Corp., which has a facility in Melrose Park, Illinois.
Federal law requires that state and local authorities be notified of hazardous chemical storage. In the event of a fire or emergency, responders need to know what they are dealing with so they can take steps to protect people living or working in the area.
The defendant paid $120,000 to resolve the EPA notice that it failed to submit to state and local authorities required chemical inventory forms for a variety of hazardous chemicals. The hazardous chemicals used in the processing of steel include hydrogen, cutting fluid, acrylic enamels, chemtane, methane, propylene, propane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide gas, oxygen, argon and acetylene. The defendant also has sulfuric acid and lead in its lead-acid batteries that must be reported.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
Federal law requires that state and local authorities be notified of hazardous chemical storage. In the event of a fire or emergency, responders need to know what they are dealing with so they can take steps to protect people living or working in the area.
The defendant paid $120,000 to resolve the EPA notice that it failed to submit to state and local authorities required chemical inventory forms for a variety of hazardous chemicals. The hazardous chemicals used in the processing of steel include hydrogen, cutting fluid, acrylic enamels, chemtane, methane, propylene, propane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide gas, oxygen, argon and acetylene. The defendant also has sulfuric acid and lead in its lead-acid batteries that must be reported.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Environmental Register for March 2010
The Illinois Pollution Control Board has issued its Environmental Register publication for March 2010.
The Environmental Register features a letter from Chairman Girard, a rulemaking update, a summary of actions of the Board, a summary of new cases, and the Board's calendar.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
The Environmental Register features a letter from Chairman Girard, a rulemaking update, a summary of actions of the Board, a summary of new cases, and the Board's calendar.
Stay tuned to the Illinois Environmental Law Blog for more news and developments.
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