Friends Joins Environmental & Conservation Groups Call for Legal Action on Siting of General Iron

March 11, 2021

We stand with the community advocates who are challenging the siting and operation of the General Iron metal scrapping facility on the Southeast Side of Chicago. General Iron was no longer allowed to continue operating in the Lincoln Park community largely due to its pollution actions and violations. General Iron is now attempting to move its facilities to the Southeast Side.

The Southeast Side community has long been burdened by an excessive number of highly-polluting facilities and contaminated sites that cause unacceptable public health harms and environmental toxic threats.  We urge you and the City of Chicago, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois EPA, and EPA Region 5 Acting Administrator Newton to take appropriate legal actions to stop the siting and operation of the General Iron metal shredding facility on the Southeast Side of Chicago.  Thank you for your consideration.

Signed,

Active Transportation Alliance

Alliance for the Great Lakes

Audubon Great Lakes

Calumet Collaborative

Center for Neighborhood Technology

Chicago Audubon

Current

Earthjustice

Elevate

Environmental Law & Policy Center

Faith in Place

Friends of the Chicago River

Friends of the Forest Preserves

Illinois Environmental Council

Metropolitan Planning Council

Natural Resources Defense Council

Nuclear Energy Information Service

Openlands

Respiratory Health Association

Shared Use Mobility Center

Sierra Club

The Conservation Foundation

The Nature Conservancy

The Wetlands Initiative