By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – The state EPA’s decision to seal the Sterigenics plant at Willowbrook is a good first step, but only a first step, says State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove).
The federal EPA, on the other hand, has been practically no help at all, Curran said at a statehouse news conference. “There was such hope and optimism when this process started six or seven months ago with first commnuication from the U.S. EPA. Since then, it has been nothing but missed deadlines (and) having to go back and re-test because of mistakes.”
The company’s accused of polluting the air with the carcinogen ethylene oxide.
Gabriela Tejeda Rios represented the group Stop Sterigenics at the event.
“For 34 years, the residents of Willowbrook have seen our spouses, parents, brothers, sisters, and children succumb to leukemia, breast cancer, lymphoma, and other cancers,” Rios said. “We’ve held our spouses’ hands as they’ve taken their last breaths. We’ve given our parents medicine in an attempt to relieve their pain and suffering. We’ve cradled our children in our arms while their bodies were ravaged by cancer and tumors.”
Among the suggestions written up in legislation: provide notice of an ethylene oxide leak; reopen the public hearing process; and ban uncontrolled, untempered sterilization emissions.
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
