'People's Lives Are At Risk:' Sterigenics Reopening Stuns Victims

WILLOWBROOK, IL — Attorneys representing victims who are suing Sterigenics spoke out against the recent deal that could mean the sterilization company reopening its Willowbrook plant in a news conference Thursday. Instead of reopening, those speaking on behalf of the victims said the plant should have been shut down permanently, and a proposed law could do just that.

"To say that we are disappointed that Sterigenics is reopening would be an understatement," said Patrick Salvi Jr., one of the attorneys.

Salvi Jr. is part of the Salvi Schostok & Pritchard law firm.

"What is most troubling is that Sterigenics as a company — rather than idea or notion — that their actions have been harming the community. Rather than that being enough to help, it took them being shut down by the Illinois EPA for them to go through the necessary effort to do everything they can to reduce Co emissions."

The lawyer is referring to the company's statement, criticized by many as a plug for the company rather than an acknowledgment of any responsibility whatsoever.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement, which creates a path for our Willowbrook facility to resume its safe operation and includes no finding of wrongdoing on the company's part nor theimposition of any financial penalties," Sterigenics President Philip Macnabb said.

The new requirements Sterigenics will need to adhere to in the agreement are to limit emissions from one of its buildings to 85 pounds a year compared to the 2,890 pounds it released in 2017, according to a Chicago Tribune report.

"Its' a situation where the company is not doing this voluntarily. They are being forced to do it," Salvi Jr. said.

Other attorneys described the reaction from the community of the planned reopening has been that of "outrage."

“The community has made it abundantly clear they do not want Sterigenics in their backyard any longer. If ethylene oxide is going to continue to be your trade, consider the health of thousands of residents and go elsewhere,” said attorney Steve Hart of the Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge law firm.

The planned reopening only applies to Sterigenics' Quincy facility and will not effect the one on Midway Drive, the village of Willowbrook said in a news release. Several lawyers and groups have vowed that despite the agreement for Sterigenics to reopen they will continue to fight back.

A family member of a cancer victim says the plant reopening will only cause more devastation.

"Sterigenics will put more lives in danger if they reopen,” said Colleen Haller, widow to Matt Haller, who passed away from stomach cancer earlier this year. “If they want to continue to be in the medical sterilization business, they can do it elsewhere or use any of the alternatives that the FDA and other groups have discussed. There are safer alternatives out there.

"People's lives are at risk.”

Watch the attorneys speak about the issue below: