Illinois EPA refers Ellinor Trucking 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 Ellinor Trucking and River Rock Logistics, operated out of Lanark.  The Illinois EPA alleges an inadequate transfer hose was used when an Ellinor employee prepared to offload anhydrous ammonia to an above ground storage tank, which resulted in the release of an estimated 38,000 -40,000 lbs. of anhydrous ammonia gas from an Ellinor tanker truck at the Seward Agricultural Supply facility.  The release occurred in Seward, about 16 miles west of Rockford, and caused the evacuation of hundreds of residents and the death of several animals.

 

The Illinois EPA's decision to refer the case to the Attorney General was due to the threat of air pollution that was potentially life-threatening to local citizens and the livestock in the surrounding area.  The Illinois EPA also requests that Ellinor immediately cease using inadequate hoses and only use transfer hoses that are U.S. DOT approved for the relevant chemicals.

 

On April 23, residents of Seward were evacuated from their homes and ten individuals went to local hospitals complaining of throat irritation.  On April 24, Illinois EPA learned that three cows and four pigs in a holding pen within about 200 yards of the facility were killed from exposure to the anhydrous ammonia plume.  The death of the animals indicates the very severe risk that was posed to citizens in the surrounding area when the incident occurred.

 

The Illinois EPA will continue to provide the Attorney General with technical and legal support as needed. 

 

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