Chemical safety measures under attack

The Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has developed modest but important updates to safety rules for industrial facilities that use or store large amounts of highly dangerous chemicals. These lifesaving safety measures are under attack by chemical companies, Big Oil, and Big Oil's lap dog, Scott Pruitt.

I remember when the Clark refinery in Blue Island caught fire. The whole South Side of Chicago stunk with poisonous fumes. The communities near the refinery were in lockdown. Millions of dollars were lost, especially from the small businesses that are the core of job creation in Chicago's Southwest suburbs.

Housing values collapsed. It took years to recover. Some of the poorer communities - like Ford Heights - never did. (Nobody wants to live next to an exploding refinery.)

Do not remove or neutralize chemical safety measures. Safety measures are essential to the growth of these communities.

Jim Arneberg

Hoffman Estates