Burr Ridge board backs resolution opposing rollback of ethylene oxide rules

The Burr Ridge Board on Monday unanimously approved a resolution opposing any federal rollback of regulations governing ethylene oxide (ETO) emissions, a chemical used in some sterilization processes that trustees and residents said has been linked to elevated cancer risks in communities near emitters.

Evan, summarizing the history, said Burr Ridge and neighboring communities were alerted in 2018 to emissions from a company across the street in Willowbrook. "Areas that have ethylene oxide emitters have higher cancer rates," Evan said, citing government studies released after that episode. He told trustees the resolution supports existing federal rules that require capture of ETO and opposes proposals that would create broader variances or exemptions.

Trustees and residents described a lengthy local effort to address the Willowbrook facility. "We all know people who we lost because of that," one trustee said, and a resident who spoke at the meeting tied the issue to recent local deaths in the community. Several speakers credited a regional volunteer group and neighboring municipalities, including Willowbrook, Hinsdale and Darien, for coordinating advocacy and legal action.

Trustees asked about local authority if federal rules change. Evan said Illinois state law (public act cited in the discussion) and the village's licensing program make it difficult for a new ETO-emitting facility to establish within the state without capturing either all fugitive emissions or reducing emissions to negligible levels.

The motion to adopt the resolution was moved and seconded and passed by roll call; all trustees present voted yes.

What passed
Resolution opposing the continued allowance or rollback of federal regulations pertaining to ethylene oxide in local communities.
Outcome: Approved by roll call.
Vote: Trusty Smith ' yes; Trusty Frances ' yes; Trusty Skappa ' yes; Trusty Pavvesa ' yes; Trusty Snider ' yes; Trusty Matal ' yes.

Next steps
The village plans to submit public comment to the EPA process and coordinate with DuPage County health officials and neighboring municipalities on unified comments and advocacy.