Sierra Club to present Filter Test results at LaSalle City Council meeting Monday, March 6 – will test more filters

Posted on by Protect Starved Rock and the Illinois Valley

FILTER & SOIL TESTING!!!

We are working with Sierra Club to test furnace/air filters & soil for contaminants from the chemical fire & Carus’ plumes.

Contact Jamie Hicks 815-252-4417 for information.

Sierra Club Illinois will be present at the LaSalle City Council meeting on Monday, March 6th to discuss these chemicals, health effects and results of previous air filter tests.

Please attend if you’re available.

City Hall Meeting

City of LaSalle Building

745 2nd St, LaSalle, IL

Monday, March 6, 2023, 6:30pm

Below is a list of contaminants w/ health effects that were found in the last round of testing. Check out our blog for more information about EPA & Sierra Club testing. https://protectstarvedrock.wordpress.com/…/epa-test…/

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Barium compounds (except for barium sulfate (CAS No. 7727-43-7))

Cardiovascular: Referring to the heart and blood vessels. Effects may include arrhythmia, changes in blood pressure, heart failure and/or disorders of the peripheral blood vessels.

Renal: Referring to the kidneys. Effects may include decreased filtering capacity/ efficiency, blood in the urine and/or increased/decreased blood pressure.

Mercury compounds

Developmental: Referring to growth, differentiation and maturation. Effects may occur from conception through sexual maturation, and may include altered growth, structural abnormalities and/or functional deficiencies.

Neurological: Referring to the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Effects may include impaired sensory and motor signaling.

Other Systemic: Effects not otherwise categorized.

Renal: Referring to the kidneys. Effects may include decreased filtering capacity/ efficiency, blood in the urine and/or increased/decreased blood pressure.

Lead compounds

Cancer: Probable human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals only applies to inorganic lead compounds

Cardiovascular: Referring to the heart and blood vessels. Effects may include arrhythmia, changes in blood pressure, heart failure and/or disorders of the peripheral blood vessels.

Developmental: Referring to growth, differentiation and maturation. Effects may occur from conception through sexual maturation, and may include altered growth, structural abnormalities and/or functional deficiencies.

Hematological: Referring to the blood. Effects may include alterations of blood composition, clotting and/or the production and function of blood cells, e.g., red blood cell production within bone marrow, red blood cell ability to carry oxygen.

Neurological: Referring to the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Effects may include impaired sensory and motor signaling.

Copper compounds

Gastrointestinal : Referring to all parts of the digestive tract. Effects may include inflammation, ulcers, reflux and/or vomiting.

Respiratory: Referring to the exchange of oxygen for carbon dioxide. Effects may include inflammation of the lungs or associated airways, increased/decreased breathing rate, insufficient oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange and/or respiratory failure.

Carus Chemical Apollo Warehouse – LaSalle Police Reports

Posted on by Protect Starved Rock and the Illinois Valley

On January 11, 2023, the Carus Chemical manufacturing plant in LaSalle, Illinois had an explosion & started on fire. Chemicals rained down onto the neighborhood and damaged homes and cars.

Jamie Hicks and other residents have been complaining since 2017 to the City of LaSalle and Carus about the building behind their homes and semi-truck traffic on their dead-end road.

Despite many complaints and asking what the building was used for, they were never told there was a tier 2 chemical storage facility in the crumbling building in their backyards. After the fire, residents demanded answers.

The City of LaSalle has been more concerned with the chemical company’s ability to reach its illegally stored product than it is about the neighbors who are being put in harms way by the chemical company.

Below are police reports involving Carus Chemical, along with a video taken by Jamie Hicks showing what happened. Jamie’s video and comments conflicts with the reports written by the officers.

Our request for body cam footage from the officers who were at the scene was denied. We have also requested body cam footage showing what is in the building, but were denied.

The below photos are of chemicals that came out of the Apollo building, located behind Jamie’s home, being unloaded at the South Towne Mall in Ottawa, Illinois, Carus’ new tier 2 chemical storage facility. As of March 3, thirteen truckloads have been transported out of the Apollo building behind his home.

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2023204526_responseDownload

Jamie Hicks discussing the police reports and how the events unfolded: https://fb.watch/j23aQ8ZTMl/

FOIA Emails between City of LaSalle and Carus Chemical

Posted on by Protect Starved Rock and the Illinois Valley

Below are email communications between the City of LaSalle and Carus Chemical that were obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, regarding the Carus Chemical explosion and fire.

city-of-lasalle-and-carus-chemicals-emails-foiaDownload
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Former La Salle Alderman Mark Schneider questions the integrity of our local and state governments, and the EPA after Carus Chemical Fire

Posted on by Protect Starved Rock and the Illinois Valley

Thank you, Mark Schneider, for standing behind residents of LaSalle who are affected by Carus’ carelessness and for having the courage to speak up.

LaSalle City Council Meeting Full Audio 2-21-23 – Carus Chemical Fire

Posted on by Protect Starved Rock and the Illinois Valley
La Salle Town Hall Meeting 2-23-23

Carus Chemical says it will remove materials from La Salle warehouse within 2 weeks

City says company initially provided misinformation during an email exchange

LaSalle News Tribune/ Shaw Local News: https://www.shawlocal.com/news-tribune/news/2023/02/22/carus-chemical-says-it-will-remove-materials-from-la-salle-warehouse-within-2-weeks/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_NewsTrib&fbclid=IwAR2Hb_8tSLhxVhGkSelYndbQZh31Qum5ksWzlg3BbUCB-leXMTE5vi_rcg4

La Salle to test 6 more residences for chemicals in the aftermath of Carus fire

‘We can start moving forward,’ La Salle resident says of testing

LaSalle News Tribune/ Shaw Local News: https://www.shawlocal.com/news-tribune/news/2023/02/22/la-salle-to-test-6-more-residences-for-chemicals-in-the-aftermath-of-carus-fire/?fbclid=IwAR1eeHM1RdcGLtT3wXSDCldUkldJ6MCJtlwYhNrTKsSNiB2V5KfVqmNdfAQ

    LaSalle 4th Ward former Alderman Speaks up about Carus Chemical Explosion and Fire

    Posted on by Protect Starved Rock and the Illinois Valley

    Mark Schneider, 4th Ward former alderman for LaSalle, Illinois, is speaking up about how Carus Chemical is not being a good community partner after their chemical manufacturing plant exploded and rained toxic chemicals onto the LaSalle neighborhood.

      Sierra Club calls on the EPA to step up in the aftermath of the Carus Chemical Disaster

      Posted on by Protect Starved Rock and the Illinois Valley

      The Sierra Club has been a wonderful resource for the community as we navigate through the fallout of the Carus Chemical disaster.

      As Hannah and Sonya wrote in the below article, what happened that day was straight out of a disaster movie – a chemical cloud covered the sky and rained down on the City of LaSalle, Illinois.

      Residents who live closest to the chemical plant had the most fallout.

      Emails obtained through FOIA revealed that Carus Chemical instructed the City how to handle the situation and when to inform residents as the events unfolded that day.

      Residents were not made aware of the situation until approximately 45 minutes after the explosion of chemicals and the fire broke out.

      They were told to shelter in place and not evacuate the area as toxic smoke filled the air.

      Despite having a chemical plant next to a residential neighborhood, there was not a hazmat plan in place.

      Brownfield, the company the City of LaSalle hired to perform tests to determine cleanup efforts, did not test for the full spectrum of chemicals and metals and released only partial results at the LaSalle city council meeting last Monday, February 6, 2023.

      Thankfully, one LaSalle resident, Jamie Hicks, who lives in the neighborhood hit hardest, was not accepting their explanations or results.

      EPA test results obtained through FOIA reveled much more than what the City of LaSalle and Carus Chemical released.

      Below is a list of chemicals and heavy metals found in samples taken by the EPA that were tested and had levels beyond what the EPA considers acceptable.

      These chemicals and metals are in peoples’ yards, where their pets and children play, on their homes, decks, and in their pools and garden beds.

      Some residents were outside when the cloud of toxins passed over.

      As chemicals and ash rained down from the sky, their bodies were covered in it.

      The Sierra Club has been incredibly helpful with helping us understand what this means.

      Below is an article published by Sonya Lunder, Senior Toxic Policy Advisor, and Hannah Lee Flath at the Sierra club.

      THANK YOU, Sierra Club for your support and knowledge.

      2-Butanone (MEK)
      Acetone
      Aluminum
      Antimony
      Arsenic
      Barium
      Boron
      Cadmium
      Chromium
      Cobalt
      Copper
      Cyanide
      Lead
      Magnesium
      Manganese
      Mercury
      Nickel
      Potassium
      Selenium
      Sodium
      Strontium
      Thallium
      Vanadium
      Zinc

      #rural#ruralamerica#contamination#cancercluster#Illinois#ResourceCurse

      Read: Toxic Ash Is Raining Down in Illinois. It’s Time for the EPA to Step Up: The nation’s environmental watchdog needs to enact the strongest possible protections for workers and fenceline communities. By Hannah Lee Flath and Sonya Lunder at the Sierra Club:

      Link to Sierra Club Article: https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/toxic-ash-raining-down-illinois-it-s-time-epa-step?fbclid=IwAR2Ym6AibmnbrRCiFslT99Ps6qKRmAEEVZ7BnP-8agqAat3VMBMpb5gvqXc

      EPA test results: https://protectstarvedrock.wordpress.com/2023/02/16/epa-test-results-sierra-club-analysis/

        WLPO Interview – Carus Chemical Explosion aftermath w/ LaSalle resident

        Posted on by Protect Starved Rock and the Illinois Valley

        LaSalle resident, Jamie Hicks was interviewed on WLPO, Starved Rock News-Talk radio about the aftermath of the Carus Chemical disaster. Jamie was outside when the explosion happened, which caused chemicals to rain down on to a LaSalle neighborhood. Jamie’s body was covered in purple chemicals as was his home, truck and yard.

        He says the city is not standing behind citizens and that he was escorted out of a news conference by the fire chief and police chief.

        The WLPO interviewer then mentioned that LaSalle’s Mayor Jeff Grove was heard bragging about Carus at a recent luncheon, despite this incident.

        Listen to the full interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpRgMNA5idM

          From Clothing to Chemicals: Ottawa South Towne Mall is now a tier 2 chemical storage facility.

          Posted on by Protect Starved Rock and the Illinois Valley
          Chemical storage ordinance for Carus Chemical at Ottawa South Towne Mall

            Ottawa’s city council met in July 2022 and approved Carus Chemical to use the Ottawa South Towne Mall to store hazardous chemicals.

            Only one person went to the Ottawa City Council meeting when this proposal was being discussed.

            According to Shaw Local News, the only reason he came was because he was concerned about the lawn getting mowed at the mall near his home.

            Nobody came to ask questions about safety precautions, hazmat plans, or anything else about the proposal to store Carus’ chemicals at the Ottawa South Towne Mall.

            Fast forward to January 11, 2023 when an explosion occurred at Carus Chemical’s manufacturing plant in LaSalle, Illinois, that caused chemicals to rain down on the neighborhood and a massive fire to break out and release plumes of toxic smoke into the air.

            The chemical, potassium permanganate, that blew up all over the LaSalle neighborhood is the same chemical that was approved for storage at the mall by Ottawa City Council, and is now being stored there.

            Potassium permanganate is almost always presented by Shaw News, local politicians and Carus chemical as being for water treatment.

            This makes it sound benign, like Carus is making these chemicals so we can have safe drinking water, as if they’re some kind of hero. 🐂💩

            According to Carus’ website, potassium permanganate is used for treating fracking wastewater, separating metals in mining and in refining crude oil.

            This is a hazardous, dangerous chemical that was approved for storage near a residential neighborhood and senior apartment complex in Ottawa, Illinois.

            Last week, a neighbor next to Carus photographed and filmed semis hauling 7 loads of chemicals out of their warehouse in LaSalle, and followed them to the South Towne Mall, where they unloaded barrels and pallets for storage.

            How will the City of Ottawa handle a situation like what happened in LaSalle when this same chemical started on fire and exploded?

            As Jamie Hick’s said, “You’ve got our bomb now, Ottawa.” 💣

            Ordinance for Ottawa Chemical Storage at South Towne Mall:

            ordinance-carus-chemical-storage-at-south-town-mall-lotzDownload
            exhibit-b-list-of-chemicals-approved-for-storage-at-south-towne-mallDownload

            Shaw Local News: Request to use South Towne Mall in Ottawa as storage heads to City Council

            By Michael Urbanec, Shaw Local News. July 25,2022

            https://www.shawlocal.com/mywebtimes/2022/07/26/request-to-use-south-towne-mall-in-ottawa-as-storage-heads-to-city-council/?fbclid=IwAR0Yenr8Mz8o2rZggBs-iE6A95jSzmjltfHc0j8GrZnZbR_0E4E5iAKnNZo

            Chemical Safety Data Sheets for Chemicals being stored at the former Ottawa South Towne Mall, Lotz Storage.

            Chemicals being stored at this location include, but are not limited to the following:

            potassium-permanganate-sds-1Download
            sds-sodium-permanganate-1Download
            sodium-acid-pyrophoshate-sapp-sds-1Download
            sodium.fluorosilicate.solvay-sds-1Download
            manganese-sds-2Download
            manganese-sds-3Download
            zinc-oxide-sds-1Download
            copper-sulfate-sds-1Download
            soda_ash_sds-1Download
            sds-phosphate-buffer-salts-2-12-18-1Download
            mono-sodium-phosphate-sdsDownload
            caruse284a2-8500-1Download
            sodium-hexametaphosphate-shmp-sds-1Download
            sodium-trimetaphosphate-sds-1Download

            Carus Chemical Lied to the EPA about the Apollo Warehouse

            Posted on by Protect Starved Rock and the Illinois Valley

            Carus Chemical told the EPA they didn’t know what was inside the Apollo Warehouse, a building that is on their property, located next to a residential neighborhood, separated by a chain-link fence.

            Meanwhile, 4 days after this email exchange between Carus Chemical and the EPA, Carus was photographed and filmed hauling 7 truckloads of unlabeled barrels and pallets out of the Apollo warehouse building, and transporting them to a tier 2 chemical storage facility, formerly known as the the Ottawa South Towne Mall, as can be seen in this video. https://www.facebook.com/jamie.hicks.547/videos/1802914950093166

            Carus did not expect for neighbors to be so upset after their chemical plant blew up, and rained chemicals on the neighborhood, that the neighbors would learn how to use FOIA to gather evidence, then follow and photograph Carus’ every move.

            Watching Carus scramble in attempt to hide these chemicals and move them out of the building where they are being illegally stored has been somewhat amusing.

            Unfortunately, the City of LaSalle is helping Carus in their cover-up, as they provided a police escort for Carus’ semis to haul the illegally stored chemicals to a proper facility before the EPA came to inspect.

            In addition, the semis did not have hazmat placards on them.

            Emails obtained through FOIA have revealed that Carus contacted the chief of police and asked for off-the-clock officers to provide private security 24/7 for the next few weeks.

            The chief responded by saying he will check with the officers and put together a schedule.

            Who will these officers be loyal to in light of illegal activity – citizens or the polluter that is paying them?