The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested that the state’s attorney general proceed with an enforcement action against H. Kramer, a Chicago smelter, concerning the company’s alleged release of lead in excess of federal air quality standards. Lisa Bonnett, the interim director of the Illinois EPA, made the request.
In January 2010, the Illinois EPA installed and began operating a lead monitor at a school near H. Gramer’s lead smelter. The installation of the monitor was prompted by the tightening of the federal National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for lead, which was revised to 0.15 micrograms per cubic meter of air from the previous standard of 1.5 micrograms per cubic meter. The new standard was implemented in January 2009.
In February 2011, the Illinois EPA received information indicating that data collected in October, November and December 2010 showed lead levels that exceeded the new NAAQS lead standard based on the three-month average of available samples.
The Illinois EPA and the U.S. EPA have been coordinating efforts to determine any and all emission sources contributing to the violation, including the inspection of facilities in the neighborhood and the analysis of monitoring and sampling data.
The Illinois EPA inspected the H. Kramer facility several times and in March installed a second, temporary lead monitor at the school with the intention of pinpointing the lead emissions from potential local sources. According to an Illinois EPA report, initial results received the middle of April indicate that H. Kramer is the primary contributor to the lead levels registered by the school’s monitor.
On the basis of the information gathered, the Illinois EPA has referred H. Kramer to the office of the Illinois attorney general for enforcement action. The Illinois EPA says it continues to monitor the air quality in the affected neighborhood and to gather information.
The Illinois EPA says it will work with the attorney general’s office to determine the appropriate technical remedies.