Illinois EPA refers Northern Illinois Towing to Attorney General for enforcement

SPRINGFIELD—Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott has asked the Illinois Attorney General's office to proceed with enforcement action against Northern Illinois Towing for open dumping and for illegal management of waste tires, which contained disease carrying mosquito larvae.

 

Northern Illinois Towing is an auto towing and wrecking facility located at 2501 Kishwaukee Street, Rockford, in a mixed residential and commercial area. The owner of record is Michael Fitzgerald. 

 

During a July 13, 2009 site visit, an Illinois EPA inspector found approximately 1000 waste tires.  Some of the waste tires were not on rims, and contained stagnant water, considered an ideal breeding ground for mosquito larvae.  Water samples that apparently contained the larvae were collected and sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health for confirmation and proper identification.  Along with the larvae, an adult mosquito also collected was identified as Aedes triseriatus, a breed that transmits LaCrosse encephalitis.  This mosquito typically breeds in tree holes and in discarded tires and other containers.

 

In addition to the tires, significant open dumping was reported, including empty gas containers, used batteries, drums containing unknown materials, evidence of burnt debris, landscape waste and various types of general waste and debris.  The City of Rockford has condemned all of the buildings at the site.  The Illinois EPA has requested the owner to remove all of the contents from the building prior to demolition.

 

Due to the imminent health risk from the mosquitoes and larvae, the Illinois EPA requests that the Attorney General seek an immediate injunction to require the owner take necessary action at the Northern Illinois Towing facility to address the threats to public health or the environment posed by the mosquitoes that have been found at the site.