Governor praises quick action on Evanston Hospital's
incinerator shutdown
IEPA permit change allows boiler retrofit to
provide heat
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[OCT. 2, 2004]
CHICAGO -- In response to
community concerns and Gov. Rod Blagojevich's recent call for
voluntary shutdowns of Illinois' 11 remaining hospital incinerators,
Evanston Hospital has taken action to begin quickly dismantling its
medical waste incinerator and retrofitting it as a heating source.
To facilitate this, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
expedited its review and approval of Evanston Hospital's permit
application, which was received on Sept. 17, just days after the
governor's request.
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"Evanston Hospital is the first to step
up and do the right thing and is setting a great example for the
other hospitals that will follow," Gov. Blagojevich said. "I'm
pleased to see that Illinois EPA and the hospital have worked
quickly on the changes necessary to keep the incinerator's heating
capacity."
"Illinois EPA staff is ready and
willing to work cooperatively with other hospitals to provide
guidance, address alternatives and expedite any necessary permits,
just as we have done with Evanston Hospital," said Illinois EPA
Director Renee Cipriano.
The Illinois EPA issued a joint
construction and operating permit Tuesday night that allows Evanston
Hospital to add natural gas-fired burners on its existing
incinerator's heat recovery unit. This retrofit will provide the
steam needed for heating, cooking and other daily hospital
activities. The permit paves the way for Evanston Hospital to shut
down its incinerator but still use the former waste boiler as
stand-alone heating equipment.
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On Sept. 13, Gov. Blagojevich called on
11 hospitals across the state to voluntarily shut down their
incinerators. For those that don't comply, the governor will seek
legislation during the fall veto session to ban all hospital
incinerators. He also instructed Illinois EPA to work with the
hospitals on implementing cleaner disposal methods. ["Blagojevich
calls for voluntary shutdowns of hospital incinerators"]
The action
came in response to growing concerns raised by communities near
hospital incinerators and emerging scientific data about the health
effects of exposure to toxic emissions from them. The governor
offered Illinois EPA's assistance to the hospitals as they
transition to the cleaner, safer and cost-effective alternatives now
available.
[News release from the
governor's office] |