The company has the right to appeal the notice of violation to the Zoning Hearing Board within ten days.Ī statement from American Contract Systems sent on Tuesday argued that the inclusion of the Butler County facility in the list of facilities with concerning ethylene oxide levels was “misplaced.” The statement said that the sterilization process used at ACS facilities uses less ethylene oxide than its competitors. The violation must be corrected or removed within 60 days. That has an impact on the construction and overall safety from the fire code.”Īccording to the zoning violation letter sent to the company, ACS must begin actions to correct or remove its “heavy industrial” use at the site within 30 days of the notice.
“From a building code standpoint, you’re looking at chemicals that are classed as potentially caustic or volatile. We sent an enforcement notice (Monday), basically saying to cease and desist,” Rearick said. “We’re taking the position that it doesn’t fit the zoning district, based on the recent classification of the risks being greater than established. As such, the facility is in violation of Chapter 27 of the Jackson Township code of ordinances, as such a use is not permitted within the Commercial Corridor zoning district. Ethylene oxide can cause cancer over time, and if people breathe it in over the course of many years, it may increase their risk of cancers of the blood or breast cancer, the EPA’s web page on the chemical explains.Īt a meeting Monday night, Jackson Township manager Chris Rearick said because of the emission of ethylene oxide, the facility would be considered a heavy-industry facility as opposed to a light-industry facility, and as such would not fit the zoning district. Environmental Protection Agency as releasing potentially carcinogenic chemicals.Īmerican Contract Systems, Inc., a company based in Minneapolis with a facility in the township at Jackson’s Pointe Commerce Park, 4050 Jackson Pointe Court, is among companies in 23 communities nationwide whose emissions of the chemical ethylene oxide were identified as being at concerning levels for their communities, according to the EPA.Įthylene oxide, or EtO, typically is used to “make other chemicals and products like antifreeze and plastic bottles, or to sterilize items that can’t be sterilized by steam, such as some types of medical equipment,” according to a statement from the EPA. JACKSON TWP - Township officials are moving to enforce zoning restrictions on a facility within the township cited by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency as releasing potentially carcinogenic chemicals. Shown is the exterior of a Jackson Township American Contract Systems facility, a portion of which has been cited by the U.S.
0 kommentar(er)
