Burr Ridge Accuses EPA Of 'Appalling Cover-up'

BURR RIDGE, IL — Burr Ridge officials have joined their counterparts in Darien and Willowbrook in condemning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's handling of Sterigenics' air pollution.

The three local governments issued a news release Wednesday in reaction to a federal inspector general's report released last week. It alleged the EPA withheld information from the public about ethylene oxide emissions from the Sterigenics plant in Willowbrook.

"On behalf of our communities, we are outraged by this blatant breach of trust and appalled by the (EPA's) reckless disregard of the health, safety and welfare of our residents, businesses and property," the news release said.

The towns said they have consulted their lawyers to review their legal options. They said they want to determine whether the Illinois EPA and Sterigenics colluded with the U.S. EPA in the "appalling cover-up."

"We promise our residents that this is just the beginning of our reckoning for the truth regarding ethylene oxide in our communities and holding those accountable for these failures," the release said.