REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

 

April 1, 2008

 

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Present:

Vice Chairman Silvestri, Commissioners Beavers, Gorman, Peraica and Steele (5)

 

Absent:

Chairman Quigley and Commissioner Moreno (2)

 

Also Present:

Kevin N. Givens, MBA, MIT, Director of Environmental; Control Mark Kilgallon - Chief Administrative Officer.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

        Your Committee on Environmental Control of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at the hour of 1:30 P.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

 

        Your Committee has considered the following item and upon adoption of this report, the recommendation is as follows:

 

296493

RESOLUTION REGARDING INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS BY COOK COUNTY ON THE COUNTY’S TEN WORST POLLUTERS ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 

(PROPOSED RESOLUTION). 

Submitting a Proposed Resolution sponsored by Peter N. Silvestri, County Commissioner; Co-Sponsored by Mike Quigley, William M. Beavers, Jerry Butler, Forrest Claypool, Earlean Collins, John P. Daley, Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman, Gregg Goslin, Roberto Maldonado, Joseph Mario Moreno, Joan Patricia Murphy, Anthony J. Peraica, Timothy O. Schneider, Peter N. Silvestri, Deborah Sims, Robert B. Steele And Larry Suffredin, County Commissioners

 

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

 

RESOLUTION REGARDING INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS BY COOK COUNTY ON THE COUNTY’S TEN WORST POLLUTERS ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

 

WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency rated 16,405 facilities across the nation on a health risk score based on chemicals released into the air and the surrounding population density; and

 

 

 

WHEREAS, seven of the top one hundred facilities are located in Cook County, Illinois, giving Cook County the highest risk level in the United States, and

 

WHEREAS, these facilities are located across the county, and are rated as follows:

            Chicago Castings Co. (5th) - Cicero

            Corn Products Argo (18th) - Bedford Park

            Avery Dennison (19th) - Niles

A. Finkl & Sons (21st) - Chicago/ Southport and Armitage Avenues

Temtco Steel (67th) - Chicago/ Cicero and Bloomingdale Avenues

Owens Corning (69th) - Summit

and ISG Riverdale (87th) -135th and Perry Avenues; and

 

WHEREAS, the chemicals sent into the air by these industries include manganese, which affects the nervous system, sulfuric acid, which causes irritations, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, dilsocyanates, which causes irritations, gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, chromium, which affects lower lung functions, asthma, risk of lung cancer and other functions, nickel, which creates a higher risk of lung cancer, dermatitis and bronchitis, and lead, which effects the nervous system and results in low sperm counts, and impacts blood pressure and kidney functions; and

 

WHEREAS, this report and rating is of importance to the health and safety of the people of Cook County, Illinois.

 

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby direct the Cook County Department of Environmental Control to review the reports of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, present such report and its analysis to the Board, and in addition, present any potential remedies provided to County government, through its Environmental Control Committee, no later than December 1st, 2008.

 

*Referred to the Environmental Control Committee on 10/1/08.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri asked the Director of the Environmental Control Department, Mr. Kevin Givens, whether he had reviewed the proposed resolution and whether the County of Cook has any jurisdiction to review these issues.

 

Mr. Givens responded:  regarding the sites located in Suburban Cook County “yes;” however, regarding the two sites located in the City of Chicago “no.”

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri asked whether these companies comply with federal law.

 

Mr. Givens answered yes the facilities listed either have Title V permits, where these facilities can emit over 100 tons of air pollution, or a permit allowing the facilities to pollute between 25 and 100 tons per year.  The companies listed in the ordinance are in compliance with the federal and state regulation guidelines for air permitting.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri asked for a recommendation from Mr. Givens.

 

Mr. Givens responded that the County of Cook should continued to review the progress of the facilities as to what they are doing to be in compliance with air pollution in Suburban Cook County.  From an operational standpoint the Environmental Control Department is very restrictive in terms of conducting additional inspectional activities due to our staff deficiencies.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri asked the Secretary to the Board to call upon the registered public speakers, in accordance with Cook County Code, Sec. 2-108(dd):

 

1)         George Blakemore

 

Commissioner Beavers, seconded by Commissioner Peraica, moved to Receive and File Communication No. 296493. The motion carried.

 

Vice Chairman Silvestri moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Gorman.  The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned.

 

 

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTION

WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:

 

Communication Number 296493                               Received and Filed

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Committee on Environmental Control

 

 

 

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Peter N. Silvestri, Vice Chairman

 

 

Attest:

 

 

 

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Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary

 

 

 

** The audio recording for this meeting is available from the Office of the Secretary to the Board, 118 North Clark Street, Room 567, Chicago, IL 60602.