GRAYSLAKE – State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) released the following statement in response to the Illinois Tollway Board’s decision to cut funding for the Route 53 environmental impact study:

“The future of the Route 53 project may be uncertain, but it doesn’t change the fact that Lake County residents need transportation solutions that improve public safety, and provide congestion relief while protecting our environment,” said Bush. “It's time we fixed the existing Route 120. It's a feasible, cost-effective solution that will provide tangible benefits to Lake County commuters. The State of Illinois needs to build on the work of our local mayors and implement the 120 Corridor Capacity Plan, including the grade level separation at 120 and the 83 railroad crossing.”

Senator Melinda Bush is hosting her 6th Annual Round Lake Area Job Fair on Tuesday, July 9, 2019 from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

Job seekers who are planning on attending can RSVP here.

Scroll down to see a list of participating employers.

If you have any questions, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 847-548-5631.

LIST OF PARTICIPATING EMPLOYERS

Senator Bush's office is hosting neighborhood office hours in July at the following locations:

Tuesday, July 16, 6:00-8:00pm
Zion-Benton Library, 2400 Gabriel Ave, Zion

Monday, July 22, 6:00-8:00pm
Round Lake Area Library, 906 Hart Rd, Round Lake

Wednesday, July 31, 2:30-4:30pm
Zion Township Office, 1015 27th Street, Zion

If you have a state-related issue that you need assistance with, or have any questions or concerns, stop by one of these events.

GRAYSLAKE – Illinois will now have the strictest limits in the nation on ethylene oxide emissions thanks to legislation from State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) that was signed into law today.

“This is a major step forward to ensure the air we breathe is safe,” Bush said. “Ethylene oxide emitters will now have to follow stricter guidelines and will be required to be better stewards of the environment.”

Senate Bill 1852 puts restrictions on facilities like Medline and Sterigenics that use ethylene oxide for sterilization. The measure requires facilities to reduce emissions by 99.9 percent; sets emissions, dispersion and ambient air testing protocols; strengthens seal order implications; and prevents future facilities from being built near schools and parks.

Senate Bill 1854 requires Vantage Specialty Chemicals, a Lake County manufacturer that uses ethylene oxide in its products, to put in place several environmental safeguards in order to continue operating. It requires Vantage to have an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency-approved emission monitoring plan and dispersion modeling in order to receive a site-specific permit for ethylene oxide emissions.

Last year, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry released a report showing that the areas around Sterigenics in DuPage County and Medline in Lake County have increased rates of cancer due to ethylene oxide emissions.

“Thank you to Gov. Pritzker for signing this legislation to keep Lake County residents safe,” Bush said. “These new regulations will allow the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to keep a close eye on Medline and Vantage and make sure they’re meeting these strict environmental safeguards.”

These laws have an immediate effective date.

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