Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow filed a lawsuit against MPG Industries, Inc. (MPG) following a massive fire at the company’s Will County facility that resulted in air contamination and water pollution.
Raoul and Glasgow filed the lawsuit in Will County Circuit Court following an Aug. 3 fire in the company’s warehouse located in New Lenox, Ill. MPG manufactures chemicals using petroleum and oil-based products.
According to the complaint, the fire caused smoke, odors, and unknown chemicals and materials to be released into the air.
Additionally, water and foam used to extinguish the fire mixed with unknown chemicals, seeped into soil and also drained into a drainage ditch, storm sewers and a farm field.
Raoul and Glasgow allege that the released and burned materials remaining at and around the site continue to significantly jeopardize the environment and public health.
The case is being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office in cooperation with the Will County State’s Attorney’s office, based on a referral from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
“The fire at MPG’s New Lenox facility continues to impact the community even after the flames were extinguished,†Raoul said.
“I appreciate the continued partnership between my office and the Will County State’s Attorney’s office as we work to protect the environment and residents of Will County.â€
In the lawsuit, Raoul and Glasgow allege that, while the fire caused the release of chemicals into the air, the water and foam used to fight the fire mixed with chemicals at MPG resulted in an unknown amount of chemicals migrating into storm sewers and reaching a soybean field north of I-80.
The runoff that reached the soybean field impacted an area of approximately 2,000 feet by 20 feet, and Raoul and Glasgow allege that all of the affected soybeans died.
Raoul and Glasgow are seeking a preliminary injunction that requires MPG to act immediately to correct the situation.
The lawsuit also seeks to require MPG to remediate any remaining contamination, as well as civil penalties, the maximums of which are defined in state statute. ■