Following Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s Call For Federal Oversight And Mitigation, EPA Launches an Investigation into Foul Odors Around the St. Charles Smithfield Foods Plant
ST. CHARLES, IL – Today, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi announced that the Environmental Protection Agency has informed him that it launched an investigation “into the wastewater treatment processes and equipment at the Smithfield Foods facility” in St. Charles, following his August 18th letter to the EPA requesting it to “take steps to remediate the situation, including an immediate inspection of the Smithfield Foods facility in St. Charles.” However, while the Congressman specifically requested that “the findings of the inspection be made available to my office and the public,” the EPA says it is “not able to share findings from ongoing investigations.”
“I welcome the news that the EPA has launched an investigation into the malodors surrounding the Smithfield Foods facility in St. Charles. While I am disappointed by the EPA’s initial refusal to share its findings so long as the investigation is ongoing, I will continue to work with local authorities to address this issue while pressing the EPA to disclose any investigatory findings pertinent to the health and wellbeing of St. Charles residents.”
Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s August 18th letter to the EPA is available here.
The EPA’s September 12th response to Congressman Krishnamoorthi is available here.