MADIGAN: AGREEMENT SHOULD IMPROVE AIR QUALITY NEAR JOSLIN PACKING PLANT

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS WILL BENEFIT AREA ENVIRONMENT, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES

Springfield - Attorney General Lisa Madigan today said an agreement with beef producer Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. should result in better air quality for neighbors of its meat packing plant in Rock Island County while providing much needed funding for area schools and community projects.

            An agreement entered in Rock Island Circuit Court resolves a lawsuit containing allegations of air pollution violations, creating a public nuisance and construction and constructing equipment at the plant without State environmental permits.  The Attorney General’s office filed the lawsuit against IBP, Inc., now known as Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., a subsidiary of Tyson Foods.  The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) referred the case to the Attorney General after receiving complaints from local citizens about offensive odors generated by IBP during operations at the facility located on Route 92 near Joslin.  Approximately 3,000 head of cattle are slaughtered and processed each day at the plant.
           
“With this agreement, Tyson Fresh Meats and its neighbors should be able to coexist in an environment that promotes a healthy environment and a healthy economy,” Madigan said.
             
Under the agreement, Tyson will install additional air pollution control equipment to treat emissions from the plant, at an anticipated cost of $750,000.

The company also will fund several environmentally beneficial projects including:

• $100,000 to the Rock Island County Regional Superintendent of Schools to fund environmental initiative projects for Rock Island County schools.  Examples of proposed projects include asbestos and hazardous material removal at school buildings, environmental classroom curriculum materials and an Eco-Camp program, in which students learn about soils, forestry management, ecosystems and water resources in an outdoor setting.

• $50,000 to the City of Rock Island for construction of a children’s garden at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island.  Center officials say the garden will provide a setting where young people can learn about the ecology unique to the Mississippi River and the Quad Cities region.

• $45,000 to the City of Moline to fund environmental cleanup work underway at the Bass Street Landing mixed use redevelopment project on Moline’s downtown riverfront.  This project will provide added economic and environmental benefits to the immediate area as the contaminated former industrial site is converted to retail, commercial and residential uses and the creation of jobs that can result from such renewal.

• $600,000 will be spent to reduce emissions from Tyson trucks used for deliveries to and from the Joslin plant.

“Meritorious projects such as these are very deserving of the funds that will be contributed as part of this settlement,” Madigan said. 

In addition to funding other environmental projects, Tyson will pay a civil penalty of $30,000 in connection with alleged releases of ammonia from its Joslin plant.  The penalty will be paid to the IEPA for deposit into the Environmental Protection Trust Fund.

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