Recently the blog McKinley Park News published a post titled “Neighbors, Environmental Group Tour Asphalt Plant.” After careful review we have concluded this post is biased, inaccurate, and irresponsible. It downplays serious concerns expressed by hundreds of local residents over the last 18 months. It contains what we believe is misinformation, and does not attempt to present a balanced perspective to our community.
AN ASPHALT-LIKE ODOR WAS DETECTED AT THE INTERSECTION OF S. WINCHESTER AVENUE AND W. 38TH STREET. CDPH THEN COMPLETED A SITE INSPECTION OF THE MAT ASPHALT FACILITY WITH THE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT. CDPH NOTED TO THE GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT THAT THE ODOR WAS DETECTED BEYOND THE SITE BOUNDARY.
UPON ARRIVING AT THE EASEMENT ENTRANCE AT 2075 W. 43RD ST., I WAS BLOCK BY AN EMPLOYEE OF T B LIMITED, IN A DARK COLORED TOYOTA CAMRY. I TOLD THE EMPLOYEE THAT I WAS A CITY INSPECTOR HERE TO DO A FOLLOW-UP COMPLAINT, BUT HE WOULDN?T LET ME IN. I THEN CALLED THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT (CPD) TO GET ASSISTANCE TO ENTER THE PROPERTY.
UPON ARRIVAL AT THE SITE, A DUMP TRUCK WITH M.T. TRANSIT SIGNAGE ARRIVED AND IMMEDIATELY DUMPED A LOAD (7 CUBIC YARDS) OF CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS WASTE. INSPECTOR SINGLER PROVIDED TO THE DRIVER, CITY OF CHICAGO CREDENTIALS. THE DRIVER WAS ASKED TO REMAIN ON SITE, BUT DROPPED THE BUCKET AND SPED OFF DURING THE CONVERSATION.
Bokeh Plot
This air monitoring data includes all monitors from the end of October to Dec 31, 2018. The graph is interactive,…
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) is allowing controversial polluter MAT Asphalt to keep operating despite the expiration of their permit on July 2nd. Furious residents say the agency is ignoring its own rules and dozens of air quality complaints filed in the first year of the plant’s operation.
You can read the emails from the IEPA here. According to the Illinois EPA’s Environmental Justice Public Participation Policy: Illinois EPA defines…
Detailed emails to/from Illinois EPA about MAT Asphalt (obtained by Freedom of Information Request) Highlights: July 18, 2017: “This facility…