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For Immediate Release
Date: February 22, 2019
Contact: Hannah Goering
hgoering@lakecountyil.gov
(847) 377-8099
Brian Louie
blouie@lakecountyil.gov
(847) 377-8356
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Ethylene Oxide in Lake County – February 22, 2019 Update
Waukegan, Ill. — On November 2, 2018, the Lake County Health Department learned of concerns surrounding ethylene oxide emissions from Medline Industries in Waukegan and Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee. The Health Department immediately initiated communication with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to better understand the situation and express the public’s desire for appropriate air monitoring and timely and transparent communication. The Health Department has maintained regular communication with these agencies, which have sole jurisdiction for regulating emissions.
Lake County Health Department officials have since visited Medline and Vantage to gather information and convey the public’s concerns. Along with the Village of Gurnee and City of Waukegan, the Health Department is taking measures to assure air monitoring will occur and has urged the U.S. EPA to conduct a town hall meeting in Lake County. The Health Department will continue to use all available resources to protect the health of Lake County residents and will continue to share information as it becomes available.
For more information regarding ethylene oxide in Lake County, visit www.epa.gov/il/addressing-ethylene-oxide-emissions-lake-county-illinois. Questions and concerns can be sent via email to the U.S. EPA at eto@epa.gov.
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