CPC International, Inc. v. Pollution Control Board

336 N.E.2d 601, 32 Ill. App. 3d 747, 1975 Ill. App. LEXIS 3043
CourtAppellate Court of Illinois
DecidedSeptember 23, 1975
Docket59312
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 336 N.E.2d 601 (CPC International, Inc. v. Pollution Control Board) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Court of Illinois primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
CPC International, Inc. v. Pollution Control Board, 336 N.E.2d 601, 32 Ill. App. 3d 747, 1975 Ill. App. LEXIS 3043 (Ill. Ct. App. 1975).

Opinion

Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE DOWNING

delivered the opinion of the court:

Com Products Corporation International, Inc. (CPC), appeals pursuant to the Administrative Review Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 110, par. 264 et seq.) from an order entered by the Illinois Pollution Control Board (Board) finding it in violation of the Environmental Protection Act (Act) (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. IIIV2, par. 1009(a) 1 ) in its operation of feed dryers and in violation of Rule 3 — 3.112 2 of the Board’s Rules and Regulations Governing Air Pollution in its operation of boilers at its Bedford Park, Illinois, plant. The Board assessed penalties of $7,500 for the statutory violation and $2,500 for the rule violation.

The issues presented for review are:

(1) whether the Board erred in finding CPC in violation of section 9(a) of the Act and assessing a penalty without clearly indicating its consideration of the factors set forth in section 33(c) of the Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 111%, par. 1033(c));

(2) whether the Board erred in finding CPC in violation of Rule 3— 3.112 and assessing a penalty without clearly indicating its consideration of the factors set forth in section 33(c) of the Act;

(3) whether the Board erred in finding CPC in violation of Rule 3— 3.112 in that such finding is not supported by the evidence; and

(4) whether the Board erred in imposing fines totaling $10,000 where the imposition of a penalty will not aid in the enforcement of the Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 111%, par. 1001 et seq.).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the Attorney General of Illinois, on February 9, 1972, filed a complaint with the Board against CPC alleging that odorous emissions from its com wet milling plant in the Village of Bedford Park, Illinois, violated section 9(a) of the Act. The complaint, further alleging that particulate emissions from the plant’s boilers violated the Board’s Rule 3 — 3.112, sought a hearing and prayed for an order both requiring CPC to cease and desist its violations and assessing penalties. A hearing was held and evidence taken. Subsequent to the hearing and prior to the entry of the order, CPC and the EPA entered into and filed with the Board a stipulation and proposal for settlement which was incorporated by reference into the order.

CPC employs 2,150 people at the plant in issue, 90 of whom are employed in the operation of the feed, germ, gluten and other process dryers. Though the emissions originated, apparently inherent to dryer operation, from all the dryers, the main source of emission and the sole concern of the proceedings below was the feed dryers.

In the summer of 1971, CPC began a comprehensive development of alternatives to reduce the odorous nature of these emissions. These investigations disclosed, in the summer of 1972, that odorous emissions could be reduced by 50% by changing the functions of the dryers. Instead of each of the four feed dryers independently drying all the various byproduct ingredients at an average inlet temperature of 1000°, two dryers would be used to pre-dry fibrous materials at a higher inlet temperature —since such material elicited less odor. The other two dryers would be subsequently used to finish drying the fibrous materials and other byproducts at a lower inlet temperature. Evidence was presented as to the difficulties encountered and expected with other control methods and experiments CPC was conducting to improve these methods.

As to the boilers, three are coal-fired and were installed in 1954. Two boilers installed in 1968 are gas-fired and replaced 10 coal-fired boilers which were no longer safe. Due to local ordinances 3 passed in 1970 limiting sulfur emissions from boilers, CPC attempted to convert to gas. These efforts were unsuccessful because of the unavailability of fuel which, indeed, prevented CPC from operating its existing gas-fired boilers at full capacity. Subsequently, CPC was able to obtain low sulfur coal from Appalachia at a higher ash content (a source of particulates) than was desired, promised or anticipated. This problem combined with a coal strike in October and November of 1971 created a situation where partúndate emission was well in excess of the rate allowed by Rule 3 — 3.112. By March of 1972, this rate was reduced to below the allowed rate.

The area surrounding the plant is “pedominantly residential” to the east, northeast and southeast of the plant. The areas to the south, west and north of the plant are. “predominantly industrial.” At the hearing, 11 citizen witnesses for the EPA testified to smelling burnt food or com odors two to three times a week, and that such emissions interfered with then- health or enjoyment of life and property. Five citizen witnesses for CPC alleged the burnt com odor did not bother them or interfere with their health or enjoyment of life and property.

In the stipulation and proposal for settlement incorporated by reference into the Board’s opinion and order, CPC agreed to modify its feed drying operations by changing the functions as described above. Explicitly left to the discretion of the Board was whether the operation of the boilers had violated Rule 3 — 3.112 and whether penalties should be assessed for any violations involving either the feed dryers or boilers. The Board did find violations as to both the feed dryers, for which it assessed a $7,500 civil penalty and the boilers, for which it assessed a $2,500 civil penalty. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 111%, par. 1042.

I.

The first issue presented to this court is whether the Board erred in finding CPC in violation of section 9(a) of the Act and assessing a penalty without clearly indicating its consideration of the factors set forth in section 33(c) of the Act. CPC contends the Board did so err and that such failure provides the appellate court with no basis for a thorough review. EPA contends the Board did not so err since it can be assumed from evidence in the record, as to each of these factors, that it did take these factors into account.

Section 9(a) of the Act prohibits the discharge of emissions which cause air pollution. Section 33(c) of the Act reads:

“(c) In making its orders and determinations, the Board shall take into consideration all the facts and circumstances bearing upon the reasonableness of the emissions, discharges or deposits involved including, but not limited to:
(i) the character and degree of injury to, or interference with the protection of the health, general welfare and physical property of the people;
(ii) the social and economic value of the pollution source;
(iii) the suitability or unsuitability of the pollution source to the area in which it is located, including the question of priority of location in the area involved; and

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336 N.E.2d 601, 32 Ill. App. 3d 747, 1975 Ill. App. LEXIS 3043, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cpc-international-inc-v-pollution-control-board-illappct-1975.