title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE CURRENT UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S APPROVAL OF STERIGENICS' OPERATION AND PROTECTING SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY RESIDENTS FROM TOXIC AIR POLLUTION
WHEREAS, a recent federal report shows that some Cook County and DuPage County residents are exposed to "the country's highest cancer risks from toxic air pollution;" and
WHEREAS, according to the report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Sterigenics International Inc. ("Sterigenics") is emitting elevated levels of a cancer-causing chemical called ethylene oxide in its Willowbrook, Illinois, facilities; and
WHEREAS, data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2014 National Air Toxins Assessment map shows that residents are exposed to elevated levels of ethylene oxide in and surrounding Willowbrook, including in the Cook County municipalities of Burr Ridge, Indian Head Park, Hinsdale, Willow Springs, Justice, Western Springs, La Grange, La Grange Park and Brookfield; and
WHEREAS, the current permit authorizing Sterigenics gives the United States Environmental Protection Agency the authority to declare the facility a threat to public health and seek a court order to immediately shut it down; and
WHEREAS, the current permit authorizing Sterigenics gives the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency the authority to declare the facility a threat to public health and seek a court order to immediately shut it down; and
WHEREAS, in response to this crisis, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner stated: "This is not an emergency. This is not a public health immediate crisis;" and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned federal report states that ethylene oxide is "highly reactive, readily absorbed, and easily distributed in the human body" and is "carcinogenic to humans;" and
WHEREAS, the health of residents in Willowbrook and surrounding communities in ...
Click here for full text