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* Michael Hawthorne…
Nearly every major industrial source of ethylene oxide makes it relatively easy for Americans to know how much of the cancer-causing gas drifts into surrounding communities.
The only outliers are two Illinois-based companies that for years have failed to report emissions to the Toxics Release Inventory, a Tribune review of federal records found.
A Medline Industries plant in north suburban Waukegan last appeared in the inventory during the mid-2000s, even though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency later determined the facility has been responsible for some of the nation’s highest cancer risks from air pollution.
Oak Brook-based Sterigenics stopped filing annual reports with the EPA in 2018, the same year neighbors and political leaders fought to shut down one of the company’s sterilization plants in west suburban Willowbrook.
Sheesh.
*** UPDATE *** Jesse Greenberg at Medline…
Illinois has the toughest ethylene oxide restrictions in the country. Our emissions data is public and available on the IEPA website for anyone to access at any time. Our Waukegan facility didn’t submit reports to the Toxic Release Inventory because federal rules didn’t require it. The USEPA recently changed that reporting requirement, which we welcome, and as a result the company will file reports moving forward.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 18, 21 @ 3:47 am
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Turnaround agenda
Comment by Rabid Tuesday, May 18, 21 @ 5:52 am
The fine for failing to disclose the leak is neglegible which is why it is essential that the state provide robust funding to our IEPA and fully staff the agency which is the opposite of what we are currently doing. Even having unpaid fines assessed by the IEPA often times results in little or meaningful consequences for the business or the corporate officers.
If we’re not regularly inspecting and taking measurements we just have to take these companies at their word for being perfect. At this time I doubt anyone operating within the State of Illinois finds our regulatory posture or process to be intimidating enough to avoid giving people cancer to improve their bottom lines.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, May 18, 21 @ 9:19 am
“failed to report emissions to the Toxics Release Inventory” okay, but they have reported them to the IEPA which is short FOIA away.
Comment by Air Guy Tuesday, May 18, 21 @ 9:25 am
Medline comms shop rapid response is a little lacking. Hope Goldman Sachs cleans that up.
Comment by 2Long Tuesday, May 18, 21 @ 3:35 pm
To the update:
I’m disappointed that’s not a link to 2 decades worth of data, but it’s nice to know that they have gotten a permit approved to build something to do better going forward.
If you’re going to make a boast like that in your public response you should be bold enough to be specific.
Comment by Candy Dogood Tuesday, May 18, 21 @ 3:52 pm