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July 21, 2003
 

Citing History of Explosions, Releases of Poisonous Gases and Injured Workers, Watchdogs Urge Regulators to Close Toxic Waste Incinerator 

Chicago, IL East St. Louis - Sierra Club, American Bottom Conservancy and Metro HOPE called on State and Federal officials today to deny new air pollution permits to a Sauget toxic waste incinerator and to shut the facility down. The environmental and watchdog groups pointed to a dismal twenty-year safety record that has included multiple incinerator explosions and dozens of other violations that have repeatedly released clouds of poisonous gases into the St. Louis metro area and even hospitalized workers.

"For more than twenty years this toxic waste incinerator has repeatedly put its workers and our families at risk, and it has one of the worst compliance records in Illinois," said Jack Norman of the Sierra Club's Kaskaskia Group. "Approving their permit would be as reckless as renewing the license of Illinoisí worst driver -- someone who causes harmful accidents on a regular basis. Because it continues to present a clear and present danger to families in surrounding communities, the only responsible option is to shut the facility down."

Urging from the groups comes just two weeks after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan slapped the incinerator with a $500,000 fine for violations that occurred before 2000, and one day before the Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA host a public hearing to decide whether or not to grant the facility the permits it needs to continue operation.

The incinerator is owned by Onyx Environmental Services (formerly Trade Waste Incinerator) and receives toxic waste from throughout the United States and overseas. The incinerator currently stores toxic waste on-site and burns some of the most dangerous chemicals known to science. It is even considering receiving "army-surplus" nerve gas.

"Every time this incinerator spews out clouds of poisonous gases, parents in Metro East, in particularly East St. Louis, Sauget and Cahokia, are forced to question whether their children are safe," said Kathy Andria, American Bottom Conservancy. "Allowing the company to continue operating with such a terrible compliance record raises disturbing environmental justice questions. These residents are overwhelming poor and minority, and their children's air should be as safe and healthy as anywhere else. Would this incinerator have been allowed to illegally pollute for so long if it were located in a wealthy part of Chicago or St. Louis?"

According to the US EPA 62,892 people, including 19,000 children and 4,400 seniors, live within three miles of this toxic waste incinerator. Sixty-three percent of these residents are African American.

Even when it is not having explosions, the incinerator is consistently releasing large amounts of arsenic, dioxin and other highly-toxic air pollutants. It is also contributing to the smog levels that are plaguing the entire St. Louis metro area. Last summer, parts of St. Louis recorded code orange or code red smog warnings on at least 35 days. Smog pollution causes a host of breathing problems, including more frequent and more severe asthma attacks. Based on this smog pollution most of the St. Louis metro counties received an "F" grade from the American Lung Association in its 2003 State of the Air Report.

"This toxic waste incinerator threatens our families and our future, but there's a better way," said Aaron Maxey of Metro HOPE. "Every person, no matter where they live, deserves a safe and clean community. Fortunately, technologies exist to manage our hazardous waste in a responsible manner without incinerator. We can do better, and this danger should be shut down permanently."

The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, July 22 at 7pm at the Cahokia Village Hall, 103 Main Street in Cahokia, Illinois.