* I was tagged in this tweet about a recent IEPA hearing on Sterigenics during my break, but I watched the video anyway and was appalled…
My tweeted response: “Dean Studer is paid by the state to run public hearings for the IEPA. Go to about the :50 mark to see what Illinois is paying for. Not acceptable. The folks living, working and going to school near the Sterigenics plant deserve much better treatment than this.”
* I went to the governor’s press conference later that day and here’s part of what he said about the video…
Our hearings should be orderly. We should have people accepting comments from the public in an appropriate way. I understand that that worker in particular has been suspended from engaging in those kinds of hearings and there’s disciplinary action that’s being considered by the EPA.
* From IEPA Director John Kim…
This behavior was not appropriate and does not reflect our commitment to listening to and respecting the communities we serve. This employee will no longer be conducting these types of hearings and appropriate disciplinary action is being considered.
* But I also asked Gov. Pritzker if the IEPA should hold another hearing in Willowbrook “to give people a legitimate chance this time to express their grievances.” Pritzker’s response…
I didn’t listen to the whole hearing, to be honest. I don’t know whether that incident that you’re referring to which I saw a clip of is something that occurred throughout the hearing or whether people got an opportunity to stand up and say what they wanted to. So, obviously people need to be heard and I believe strongly that action needs to be taken.
The Stop Sterigenics group then called yet again for an immediate special session to address the issue.
Thoughts?
* Related…
* Illinois Cities Consider Eminent Domain to Stop Sterigenics: Illinois communities are contemplating using eminent domain to block the reopening of a Sterigenics U.S. LLC medical-device sterilization facility that emits harmful gases. The mayors of Burr Ridge, Darien, Hinsdale, and Willowbrook are scheduled to meet late Aug. 9 to develop strategies to keep closed the Sterigenics facility, which emits ethylene oxide. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency ordered the Sterigenics facility shut down in February over concerns about its emissions.
* Illinois lawmaker accuses state EPA of working with Sterigenics to reopen, reveals past brain tumor
* Can a company accused of ‘killing’ people sue for defamation? Bar is high, even then, attorneys say
* Waukegan blocks taller stack at Medline while other ethylene oxide controls move forward
* The Fight to Keep Sterigenics Closed in Willowbrook
