Environmental

Attorney General Madigan Recovers More Than $2.2 Million From Companies Illegally Dumping in Harvey


Chicago–(ENEWSPF)–November 30, 2010. Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced today that her office has recovered more than $2.2 million as a result of ongoing lawsuits against companies accused of dumping waste at two illegal construction debris sites in Harvey. Madigan filed lawsuits in 2004 and 2007 for the illegal dumping on the west side of Campbell Ave., between 151st and 155th Streets and at an adjacent, undeveloped public park on the east side of the street.

“Companies that damage the environment and our communities by illegal dumping must be held accountable for their actions and pay to clean up the pollution they have caused,” said Madigan.

To date, Madigan’s office has recovered $2,153,000 for waste removal and restoration of the sites and an additional $62,500 in civil penalties for a total of $2,215,500.

In 2004, Attorney General Madigan filed suit against Excavating & Lowboy Services, Inc. and owner Daniel Serritella for using the site on the west side of Campbell Ave., between 151st and 155th Streets as an unpermitted construction demolition debris waste dump.

An Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) investigation also discovered a second illegal dumping site at an undeveloped public park located just across the street, on the east side of Campbell Ave. As a result of this discovery, Madigan filed a second suit in 2004 against Excavating & Lowboy Services for illegal dumping at the public park. That suit added as co-defendants the city of Harvey and the Harvey Park District. The second site is owned by the Park District and used as a police gun range by the city of Harvey.

Madigan’s office and the IEPA searched records to determine whether other companies were involved in the illegal dumping at the sites. Madigan’s office sent subpoenas in 2006 to approximately 30 companies requesting information and records of dumping at the Harvey sites. Based on the subpoenaed records, in 2007, Madigan filed another suit, this time naming 15 construction and excavation companies accused of dumping more than 19,000 truckloads of construction waste between 2001 and 2003. That suit, People vs. K-5 Construction Corp. et al, alleged the unpermitted waste included, among other things, dirt, brick, broken asphalt and concrete, landscape waste and other waste material from construction and demolition projects.

“The money we have collected and continue to collect will go directly toward cleaning up these sites and remedying this community eyesore,” said Madigan.

Madigan said the remaining cases related to the illegal dump sites are pending in Cook County Circuit Court.

Assistant Attorneys General Christopher Grant and Nancy Tikalsky are handling the cases for Madigan’s Environmental Bureau in Chicago.

 

Source: illinoisattorneygeneral.gov


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