Lawsuit filed over Caterpillar oil spill

JOLIET -- State and county authorities filed a lawsuit Monday against Caterpillar Inc. after thousands of gallons of oil overflowed from company waste treatment tanks earlier this month and spilled into the adjacent Des Plaines River.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow filed the seven-count complaint at the Will County Circuit Court in Joliet alleging several violations, including endangering the environment.

Six counts of the complaint seek $50,000 per violation from the Peoria-based maker of construction and mining equipment and $10,000 for each day the violation continues. The seventh count seeks $10,000 per day of violation.

Around 65,000 gallons of oil escaped from the Joliet facility, with 6,500 gallons streaming downhill and into the river.

Caterpillar said in a short statement that it was aware of the lawsuit.

"Caterpillar has cooperated and continues to cooperate with state and federal authorities, and will respond to this complaint in due course," it said.

Glasgow acknowledged Caterpillar acted quickly to report the Feb. 8 incident and then to help clean up the spill. And federal authorities have said there does not appear to have been major environmental damage.

Still, Glasgow said the lawsuit intended to ensure Caterpillar takes steps to prevent any such spills in the future.

"Caterpillar must be held accountable for the oil spill that threatened the public health, our environment and our waterways," he said.