Illinois EPA refers Stampede Meat, Inc., to Attorney General for enforcement

SPRINGFIELD—Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Interim Director Lisa Bonnett has asked the Illinois Attorney General's office to proceed with an enforcement action against Stampede Meat, Inc., Bridgeview, for the release of harmful chemicals into the air from its Bridgeview facility, placing workers and potentially putting nearby public at risk.

The address of record for Stampede Meat is 7351 South 78^th Avenue, Bridgeview.  Its president is listed as Edward L. Ligas.  Stampede Meat, Inc. is a beef and pork processing facility. 

 

The alleged incident occurred in the early morning hours of April 5, 2011, and was reported to the Illinois EPA through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.  An Illinois EPA emergency response specialist was dispatched to the site, as were other emergency responders from the area. Reports indicate that citric acid and sodium chlorite were improperly mixed causing a cloud of chlorine dioxide and hydrogen chloride gas to be formed.  This resulted in the hospitalization of an estimated 17 workers and the evacuation of approximately 200 other workers and the closing of nearby roads for several hours.  There are residents and other businesses in the immediate vicinity of the Stampede facility. 

 

Chlorine dioxide and hydrogen chloride gasses are acute respiratory irritants that can impact the eyes, nose throat, mucous membranes and lungs. At high enough concentrations, they can lead to irreversible lung damage and potentially death.

 

The Bridgeview Fire Department quickly diluted the reacting chemicals with large quantities of water, which also helped suppress vapors inside the building.  Representatives from the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Metropolitan Water and Reclamation District were present to ensure the safety of the meat in the facility, and of the runoff of the dilution waters, respectively. 

 

The Illinois EPA requested the Attorney General require a root cause analysis of the incident and submit the resulting report, along with proposed revised operational procedures, to the Illinois EPA for approval.  The Illinois EPA will continue to provide technical and other support, as needed, to the Attorney General.