Illinois Developer's Fine Supports Local Programs

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced today that a settlement between her office and a Madison County, Ill., developer will provide financial help for area environmental projects and require the developer to ensure that erosion controls are in place on its sites.

The Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) approved the settlement in October. Under its terms, Four S Properties Inc. of Edwardsville, Ill., must pay a civil penalty of $2,500 and contribute an additional $2,565 to the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District, which will distribute the money to three local environmental projects: Envirothon ($1,115), Nature Day ($500) and Erosion and Sediment Control Field Day ($950).

Envirothon is an environmental competition for teams of high school students. Each team of five students receives hands-on training in five natural resource areas. The competition is part of a statewide event sponsored by local soil and water conservation districts. Students will take an exam to test their knowledge, and the winning team will move on to a statewide competition.

Nature Day, an outdoor event for Madison County fifth graders, gives students the opportunity to hear from natural resource professionals about recycling, rocks and minerals, soils, fishing, wildlife habitats and more. As part of the presentation, the World Bird Sanctuary will show the students live birds of prey.

Erosion and Sediment Field Control Day is an annual demonstration at Southern Illinois University , Edwardsville, where developers, contractors and municipal employees are invited to participate in a field demonstration of current erosion control and sediment retention techniques.

The legal settlement resolves a complain that Madigan's office field in August 2007. The ICPB alleged that Four S Properties violted its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit by failing to put adequate erosion control measures in place during construction of Madison County Commons--a development situated on 13 acres of steep, sloped terrain along Rte. 159 and Glenwood Drive in Glen Carbon.

Beginning in March 2004, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency inspectors visiting the Madison County Commons site observed erosion and silt-laden discharges into a ditch which leads to Cahokia Creek. On one occasion, according to the complaint, the Illinois Department of Transportation was called to remove mud from the highway shoulders and ditches due to runoff from the site.

Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Bonkowski is handling the case for Madigan's Springfield Environmental Bureau.

Source: Illinois Attorney General