Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued the following announcement on Sept. 9.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has referred an enforcement action to the Illinois Attorney General's Office against Devansoy, Inc., located at 10014 North Rock City Road, Rock City (Stephenson County). The referral cites violations resulting from a release of wastewater from the facility, impacting Rock Run Creek in Stephenson County.
On August 30, 2019, Illinois EPA was contacted by a representative of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police concerning a fish kill on the Rock Run Creek. Illinois EPA staff inspected the site in response and learned from Devansoy staff that a hose attached to a portable pump used to transfer wastewater between the main and auxiliary storage lagoons broke on August 27, allowing a discharge to the creek. During the inspection, there were still visible signs of pooling from where the wastewater was released and additional staining from the wastewater along the route to Rock Run Creek and along the creek banks. Wastewater was also being discharged from a "leak off hose" connected to the portable pump, which was allowed to drain into the woods and flow into Rock Run Creek.
Illinois EPA's referral alleges the facility has been utilizing two auxiliary lagoons after the time allowed by their operating permit, in violation of Illinois Pollution Control Board regulations. It also cites violations of the Environmental Protection Act for causing water pollution by discharging wastewater from the facility into waters of the State.
The referral asks the Attorney General's Office to represent the Agency and seek immediate injunctive relief to require Devansoy to immediately cease and desist from releasing wastewater to the environment and fully develop and implement a plan with Illinois EPA review and approval that would address wastewater disposal at the facility.
Original source can be found here.
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