RMG Expansion latest update: CDPH shares no permits have been filed
Screenshot of photo shared on social media platforms such as facebook and instagram.
CHICAGO - The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) revealed that the scrap metal recycler, General Iron, has not applied for its final permits to operate on Chicago’s Southeast Side.
At the “RMG Expansion Proposal” virtual town hall, CDPH made the announcement as residents continued to express concern over General Iron's proposed relocation to RMG (Group Reserved Management) facilities located in the 10th Ward at South Burley Avenue. Around 150 participants – city residents, public officials, and environmental activists – joined the two-hour long meeting at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 25.
Ald. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th Ward) and the CDPH hosted the meeting in response to the increased public demand for the city of Chicago to deny construction permits after the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) issued a construction permit to General Iron in June. The IEPA’s decision to issue the construction permit was the first step toward General Iron relocating to RMG facilities where the company has conducted metal and electronics recycling for about 20 years. RMG’s plan to have General Iron move to its facilities was first announced in 2018 when RMG bought General Iron, officially becoming its parent company in that partnership.
During the meeting, Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady introduced new large metal recycler rules, which is one solution to help mitigate the air quality problems in low-come areas. The Lightfoot administration acknowledged that some areas are affected more than others according to the Public Health section on the city of Chicago’s website, The Air Quality and Health Report found “air pollution disproportionately burdens neighborhoods on the South and West Sides, with parts of the City bisected by major highways and high concentrations of industry facing significant impacts.” The Lightfoot administration shared the report and findings to inform the city residents about Chicago’s air quality agenda.
The new rules that General Iron and any other large metal recycler company would have to follow according to CDPH and Dr. Arwady’s presentation are:
Screenshot of the new recycling rules that CDPH Commissioner Dr. Arwady explained during a town hall on RMG proposal.
Air impact study and ongoing air monitoring for particulate matter
Traffic studies for new facilities
Real-time notification of airborne particulate matter and a mitigation plan to prevent public health impacts
Noise impact assessment and monitoring
Enclosure of post processed auto-fluff and auto shredder equipment at new and expanding facilities
More stringent record keeping
Public notice and opportunity to comment on permit variances
The CDPH commissioner also explained that although General Iron and RMG have received the IEPA construction permit, the now merged companies will have to apply for the Air Pollution Control permit (APC) and Recycling Facility permit before they can operate in their Southeast facilities. These permits can only be approved if RMG meets zoning and environment requirements as well as permit specific requirements. According to Dr. Arwady, CDPH does have limits to their authority. CDPH can not deny permits if RMG or any other companies meet the requirements. The government agency also can neither impose emissions restrictions that are stricter than the ones imposed by IEPA nor collect data on emissions like the IEPA does annually. Lastly, if there are no violations of laws then the CDPH has no authority to close facilities.
However, in May, the Chicago Department of Buildings did force General Iron to shut down following an explosion at their previous plant. Before the explosion, due to an agreement with the Lightfoot administration, the company was set to continue operations at the plant until the end of 2020.
The recent explosions and other violations, led some residents at the town hall to express that the rules for large recycling establishments are not the problem. One resident shared that the continuous violation of the rules is the problem. Meeting notes about residents feedback states, “A resident of the North Side commented on the 30 violations in 8 months at the existing facility. Said there is a lack of enforcement, and that regulations are only useful if they are enforced.”
Others residents during the resident feedback section expressed distrust of the permit process. The meeting notes read, “A resident of the 10th Ward and member of the Southeast Environmental Task Force (SETF), commented that calling the proposal an expansion is misleading and that the permitting process is not transparent. This is to cause confusion. There were problems with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) evaluation process.”
At the meeting and in the past, some 10th Ward residents expressed distrust of Ald. Garza. On her website there is a statement that read, “Since I first learned of this proposal in 2018, I have worked with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Chicago Department of Planning and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, as well as city and state officials in order to protect our neighborhood.” She continued, “Clean air and clean water are a basic human right. I will continue to advocate for an inclusive and transparent process for neighborhood development.”
Ald. Garza and other city officials concluded the meeting telling participants there will be further opportunities for residents to share input during the RMG expansion process. CDPH does plan to make residents aware of when RMG submits its application for permits. General Iron aims to move into the RMG facilities at the end of this year.