Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued the following announcement on April 22.
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director John J. Kim has referred an enforcement action to the Illinois Attorney General's office against Hilco Redevelopment LLC, conducting work at the Exchange 55 Business Park, located at 3501 South Pulaski Avenue, Chicago (Cook County). The referral cites violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and Illinois Pollution Control Board Regulations and terms and conditions of Hilco's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general stormwater permit for construction site activities.
On April 11, 2020, Hilco and its demolition contractor used explosive charges to implode a large smokestack at the former Commonwealth Edison Crawford Electric Generating Station. Photographs and videos taken during and following the implosion show a large cloud of dust and airborne material created by the implosion. Following the implosion, complaints were received from neighboring properties regarding the cloud of dust that traveled through the neighborhood.
As part of the demolition work at the site, Hilco was required to obtain an NPDES permit, which it did in 2019. Pursuant to the NPDES permit, Hilco was obligated to develop and implement a stormwater pollution prevention plan, which details dust control measures for the site. While some dust suppression controls were utilized, a substantial plume of dust exited the site from the implosion. Hilco submitted an Incidence of Noncompliance Report to the Illinois EPA on April 15, 2020 as required under the NPDES Permit. On April 16, 2020 Illinois EPA sent a Violation Notice to Hilco for air and water pollution-related violations stemming from the incident.
In the referral, the Agency cited violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, Illinois Pollution Control Board Regulations and the NPDES permit and asked the Attorney General to represent the Agency in the resolution of the matter. IEPA requested that Hilco be required to work with the Agency to prevent future dust control issues.
Original source can be found here.
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