Madigan's Office Files Injuction Against Smelter

By aaroncynic in News on Sep 7, 2011 4:00PM

Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a complaint last week against the H. Kramer copper smelter in Pilsen over dangerous levels of lead emissions. Fox News Latino reports air monitors placed on the nearby Manuel Perez Jr. Elementary School registered .24 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air. The federal limit is .03. “The emissions coming from the H. Kramer facility pose serious health risks to the surrounding community,” said Madigan via press release.

On Friday, the Cook County Circuit Court issued an injunction requiring H. Kramer to conduct a ventilation study by an outside engineering expert. H. Kramer must also meet with Madigan, along with state and federal officials in 10 days to look over a proposal to install new pollution control technologies. Madigan's office reported H. Kramer has already implemented some steps, including reducing lead-containing production process and repairing holes in the roof, after meeting with her and federal environmental authorities.