City health officials in Pilsen announced Wednesday that they will conduct a comprehensive citywide study to assess the cumulative effects of pollution on Chicagoans, in an attempt to get ahead of another big fight in a community already overburdened by environmental hazards.
The study is part a larger program that will spend $188 million from Chicago Recovery Plan on climate preparedness and environmental justice.
The announcement was made right before a Pilsen community meeting at St. Pauls Catholic Church that attracted around 400 residents against Sims Metal Management scrap steel business. Sims Metal Management seeks multiple government permits to keep operating at its longtime location at 2500 S. Paulina St.
Sims is the latest environmental justice case in Chicago. In February, Sims was denied a bid by the city for a scrap-metal shredding facility and a similar junked car operation to be opened on the Southeast Side.
According to a city statement, the impact study will include an exhaustive inventory of pollution sources. The city reiterated its initiative to increase air pollution monitoring.
At the Pilsen meeting Theresa McNamara, an activist, asked government officials to come up with a plan to restore to us our God-given right of breathing clean air.
Tanya Lozano a Pilsen resident, activist gave a fiery speech where she demanded, “We want Sims to shut down.”
She stated that Sims should not receive any government permits before a cumulative health study has been conducted.
Megan Cunningham (managing deputy director for the city’s Health Department) stated in an interview, that the city would like the cumulative assessment to be completed by the end 2023.
She called the existence of a difference in life expectancy between black and brown residents unjust and unacceptable at the Pilsen gathering and stated that it can be prevented by reducing air pollution.
As the former General Iron was recently prevented from relocating on the Southeast Side Sims shreds junked vehicles, discarded appliances, and other large scrap metal items to resell it for recycling.
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency directed Sims to install an air monitor at its facility at 2500 S. Paulina St. in order to detect harmful metals being emitted.
This was in response to a lawsuit filed by the state last year, alleging that the company failed to show that it was containing polluting substances as required by law.
Sims is looking for permits from the state and cities to continue operating, as well as to build equipment that captures more pollutants.
A half-dozen children handed in a letter last month to Debra Shore, EPA Regional Administrator. They asked for a comprehensive health assessment to determine the impact of pollution on the community. Sims is in an industrial area near homes and at least three schools.
Apollonia Jackson, 8 years old, was one of those children who protested. She brought her asthma inhaler, along with medicine, to the crowd at St. Pauls.
She said that polluters are destroying our lungs, as she asked Shore if they were on her side or the side of polluters.
Debra Shore, EPA Regional Administrator for the West, vowed Wednesday night in St. Pauls that she would hold Sims and all other polluting businesses responsible.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Shore explained to the St. Pauls crowd how EPA will loan residents handheld monitors for their air quality monitoring and promised to hold Sims, and other polluting companies accountable. She stated that she would work with the city to complete the cumulative impact study.
The Illinois environmental officials have a lot of responsibility. Sims will be granted two permits by the state, but Sims residents want to see a health study before any decisions are made.
Lori Lightfoots administration cited a health impact study on Southeast Side when the General Iron permit to relocate was denied in February.
Sims released a statement saying that since the 1980s, they have been a trusted community partner in Pilsen and that they are committed continuing to be a good neighbour. We value and respect the concerns of our community members. We are working towards making improvements to address these concerns.
A grant from The Chicago Community Trust made possible Brett Chase’s reporting on environment and public health.