Sterigenics Public Forum

Sterigenics Public Forum

Special Community Report

Hundreds of local residents attended a public meeting hosted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) regarding a construction permit that would allow Sterigenics to reopen one of its two local facilities at Ashton Place in Willowbrook on Aug. 1. The IEPA had issued a seal order to force the embattled company to cease operations in Willowbrook on Feb. 15, following public outcry against increased levels of ethylene oxide, believed to be a carcinogenic substance, said to be emanating from its facilities. But the state and Sterigenics have been negotiating a consent order that would essentially nullify the seal order, and thus allow the company to resume operations. This consent order could be approved as soon as Sept. 6, when it comes before DuPage County Circuit Court judge Paul Fullerton. Meanwhile, the Illinois General Assembly and Gov. J.B. Pritzker approved a law, dubbed the “Matt Haller act,” on June 21, which prohibits the renewal of any permits for facilities that violate federal or state standards for ethylene oxide emissions. In addition, the Haller act prevents new medical sterilization facilities that emit ethylene oxide from opening within ten miles of a school or park in counties with a population exceeding 50,000, and within 15 miles of counties with fewer than 50,000 people. Local legislators said they believe the law is the strictest in the nation with regard to ethylene oxide gas. Willowbrook mayor Frank Trilla said he thought the Haller act would be sufficient to permanently remove Sterigenics from the community, but was disappointed to find that state officials and the company had been negotiating a construction permit and consent order in the meantime. The construction permit application, which was the subject of the IEPA public forum on Aug. 1, was submitted by Sterigenics on June 24, just three days after the Haller act was signed into law. Last month, Sterigenics released the following statement from president Philip Macnabb. “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 the imposition of any financial penalties. The state government has gone to great lengths to set new standards for the protection of the public that are more stringent than any other location in the country. While our Willowbrook operations have consistently complied with and outperformed the state’s requirements, we have repeatedly stated our support for evolving regulations and our commitment to enhancing our operations in the interest of protecting public health. We remain committed to abiding by the new regulations established by the state. By resolving this matter, we are one major step closer to resuming the critical work of sterilizing vital medical products and devices in Willowbrook for patients in Illinois and beyond.” Prior to the forum, protesters from the community action group “Stop Sterigenics” conducted a demonstration in the parking lot outside of Ashton Place. Leaders called for the firing of IEPA director John J. Kim, and exhorted residents to contact Pritzker, who ran on an anti-Sterigenics platform last fall. Protesters carried signs conveying their desire for the company to leave the community, while chanting “shut them down” repeatedly. Speaking to demonstrators, DuPage County Board member Julie Renehan branded Sterigenics “an environmental terrorist group.” Trilla addressed the protesters, and said the Village of Willowbrook “appreciates your support.” “It’s been 11 months, and it’s been a hell of a journey,” he said. “I appreciate you all being with us.” He announced that before the end of August, the village expected to introduce a municipal ban on ethylene oxide—a step that has already been taken by the neighboring City of Darien. “We will dare them to come and take us to court,” Trilla said. Inside Ashton Place, the IEPA conducted a forum that invited public comment concerning the construction permit application. Brad Frost, community relations coordinator for the IEPA, briefly presented on the application to provide a context for the audience. The application was made available for public view on July 15, and the public comment period concerning it closed on Aug. 15. Final action on said application must be taken by Sept. 22, or the permit will issue by default. Frost covered some of the provisions of the Haller act that Sterigenics must satisfy, including a limit on ethylene oxide usage. “The improvements are the capture of all emissions—100 percent capture—, increasing controlled emissions to 99.9 on all emissions,” he said. “Previously, the federal standard required emissions of 99 percent only on the chamber and the air emission room.” Frost said the IEPA’s models show that the public risk to resumed ethylene oxide emissions “will approach the one in 1 million mark.” His presentation, however, did not satisfy the elected officials who began the public comment portion of the forum with impassioned denunciations of the application. Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said the IEPA has “forgotten [its] core mission.” “We once again come together as a community under trying circumstances,” Durkin said. “We thought the nightmare we all have been living through was finally over, but unfortunately, this fight continues.” Durkin said the Haller act had bipartisan support, and he thought it possessed “the tools needed to keep a corporate polluter like Sterigenics closed for good.” “While the bill was being negotiated, Sterigenics and the EPA were working on a permit,” he said. ... “Instead of working to protect us, it seems they are working quickly to allow Sterigenics to open its doors, and start polluting again.” Durkin called the permit a “farce,” and said the monitoring system being proposed is “untested” and “not reliable.” “I don’t want them back here anymore,” he said. ... “I’m a pro-business Republican, but the fact is, I don’t defend this type of work.” In a separate comment to Downers Grove Magazine, state Sen. John Curran, R-Woodridge, said Sterigenics “should not be allowed to reopen.” “Ethylene oxide is a known carcinogen, and should not be released into communities,” Curran said. “Banning the emission of this deadly toxin will promote a cleaner, safer environment. The medical supply community and area hospitals need to move past using this cancer-causing gas, and further develop the alternative sterilizing processes that already exist.” Burr Ridge mayor Gary Grasso, a candidate for Illinois Attorney-General in 2018, exhorted the IEPA to protect its citizens. “You are the environmental protection agency,” Grasso said. “Please protect us.” Grasso said the Village of Burr Ridge opposes any proposed construction permit that would allow Sterigenics to reopen, as it has been proved that its ethylene oxide emissions have harmed its constituents in the past. “Rather than entertaining applications for the issuance of a permit to reopen, you should fine them millions of dollars, and make them establish a healthcare fund for the many who are ill,” he said. Grasso contended that the permit does not comply with subsection G of the Haller act, which is “a precondition to asking for a construction permit.” “How can you let them build a facility before they have any certifications from their suppliers?” he said. ... “Hold their feet to the fire, and make them come up with the supplier certifications first.” Grasso said he reached out to contacts at the DuPage County Board of Health, who produced alternatives that the federal EPA, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Illinois Medical Society have proposed for the sterilization of medical equipment instead of ethylene oxide. These substances include hydrogen peroxide gas plasma systems, hydrogen gas acid systems and steam for devices resistant to heat and moisture. “We don’t want this gas in our community,” Grasso said. “You must understand people live here.” ■