Back in 2018, the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago was sued by the state of Illinois for failing to comply with environmental regulations related to the water it used from the Chicago River for heating and cooling. The facility was the only building that used river water for its HVAC that had failed to file the proper documentation.
Last week, in a one-page ruling, a Cook County judge ruled that the organization is liable for violating state environmental laws. The Trump organization could face fines up to $12 million, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The exact amount of the fines will be determined at a March 11 hearing. And while Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is seeking fines of $50,000 for each of two violations and then $10,000 per day for every day of violation, which would add up to about $12 million, the Washington Post reports that the fines will likely amount to much less than that.
This post was submitted by Greg Zimmerman, editor, Building Operating Management and FacilitiesNet.com.
