More Legislation Introduced After Willowbrook Cancer Report

BURR RIDGE, IL — State Sen. John Curran has filed legislation in the Senate on Wednesday that seeks to provide greater protections and more communications to residents in the event of a hazardous air emission, according to Curran's office.

The legislation is in response to a recent report from the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registryabout ethylene oxide emissions from Sterigenics International Inc., a facility located in Willowbrook. The conclusion of the report states, "If measured and modeled data represent typical EtO ambient concentrations in ambient air, an elevated cancer risk exists for residents and off-site workers in the Willowbrook community surrounding the Sterigenics facility. These evaluated risks present a public health hazard to these populations."

“The legislation I have filed would create new notification protocols to better alert residents of any air emission leak, as well as ensure residents have their voices heard regarding public health in their communities,” Curran said in a release.

According to his office, the legislation would specifically reopen Sterigenics' current air permit or an additional public comment period and hearing process at Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The bill also requires that if a facility, at any time, is emitting ethylene oxide at a level higher than the standards set forth by specified provisions of the federal Clean Air Act or by the IEPA under specified provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, then the facility shall immediately cease operations until sufficient changes are made to reduce the level of such emission.

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