Letter to the Hon. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Duckworth, Durbin and Kelly Request Independent Review of Southeast Side Metal Recycling Plant's Health Risks

Letter

Dear Dr. Walensky:

We write to request that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) conduct a health consultation to review and analyze particulate matter and metal exposures in the air at the Reserve Marine Terminals facility and the South Shore Recycling facility located at 11600 S Burley Avenue, Chicago, IL 60617.

As you are aware, ATSDR health consultations -- verbal or written responses to specific requests for information about health risks related to a specific site, a chemical release or presence of hazardous material -- may help prevent or mitigate harmful exposures by leading to specific actions to safeguard public health. This includes, but is not limited to: restricting use of or replacing water supplies; intensifying environmental sampling; restricting site access; or removing the contaminated material. ATSDR health consultations may also inform and result in additional public health measures, such as health surveillance and exposure studies.

There is an urgent need for an ATSDR health consultation at this site because the City of Chicago Department of Public Health is currently evaluating a permit application by a company that seeks to construct and operate a car- and metal shredding facility at this location. It is critical that local officials have a clear, independent and expert evaluation of the existing public health hazard posed by these facilities and the potential to increase or lower public health hazard risks as a result of permitting this construction to move forward.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of our request for an ATSDR health consultation.

Source