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Friday, March 29, 2024

Ill. food processor settles allegations over dairy waste dumping

Lmadigan

CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced an agreement on Tuesday with a Bureau County food processor to resolve allegations of water pollution and open dumping violations.

In 2012, Madigan filed a lawsuit against the Walnut, Ill.-based Avanti Foods Co. alleging the company violated the Illinois Environmental Protection Act.

In November 2011, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency conducted an inspection of Avanti's plant and allegedly witnessed a tank truck illegally discharging dairy waste in a field north of the village. After issuing a violation notice to Avanti, the IEPA conducted a follow-up inspection in March 2012. During that inspection, the IEPA allegedly detected residue from discharged dairy waste on the Avanti plant's floor drains and sewer inlets, which had the potential to contaminate the community's sewer system.

Under the terms of a consent order, Avanti admitted to water pollution and open dumping violations and agreed to pay a civil penalty of $39,000. The consent order also requires that Avanti apply to the IEPA for a permit to discharge the facility's wastewater into the village's sewer system and cease and desist from future violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act.

"This order will ensure the company is held responsible for violating the state's environmental protection laws, which are in place to ensure the community's health and safety," Madigan said.

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