CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit on Monday against the owners of a rural Murphysboro, Ill., business for alleged open dumping violations.

Madigan alleges that Richard L. Holmes, doing business as Rich's Towing, dumped approximately 7,750 cubic yards of stored or abandoned waste. Holmes operates a towing business and two vehicle impound yards on eight acres off of Highway 51 North, west of Murphysboro, as well as a nearby second facility located on five acres at 56 Airport Road. Linda L. Holmes is named as a co-owner of the Airport Road site in the lawsuit.

"With the filing of this lawsuit, we're working to ensure that this business will be held accountable for the damage caused to the local environment," Madigan said.

The Illinois Environment Protection Agency conducted site inspections at both locations. The lawsuit alleges that old vehicles, used and waste tires with some still on the rims, old mobile homes, construction debris and assorted trash were strewn throughout the properties and that some of the waste was clearly visible from Highway 51.

Madigan's suit asks the court to issue an injunction that would require the defendants to remediate the area, a civil penalty for $50,000 for each violation and an additional $10,000 for each day the violations continue.