Activists accuse company of polluting Chain O’ Lakes

An environmental group on Monday formally filed a notice of its intent to sue a Spring Grove company it accuses of polluting the Chain O’ Lakes and Nippersink Creek.

Friends of the Fox River claims Scot Forge Co. has continuously violated its discharge permit by excessively releasing solids, copper, grease, oil and nickel.

Scot Forge President John Cain couldn’t be immediately reached Monday for comment. The company, which bills itself as one of the country’s leading open die press and rolled ring shops, operates a 350,000-square-foot facility in Spring Grove.

The notice of intent to sue, filed in U.S. District Court, is the first step under federal Clean Water Act regulations to bring a citizen suit. Friends of the Fox now must wait 60 days to see whether the state of Illinois will take up its complaints against Scot Forge before pursuing litigation.

Friends of the Fox claims Scot Forge has been violating the Clean Water Act since 2007.

“The continuing permit violations at Scot Forge are endangering the water quality of Nippersink Creek and contributing to pollution problems downstream in the Chain O’ Lakes and the Fox River,” said the group’s executive director, Geoff Petzel.