Villa law finalizes closure of Kerr-McGee in West Chicago

SPRINGFIELD - A new law spearheaded by State Senator Karina Villa will finalize the closure of Kerr-McGee, a rare earths facility in West Chicago, aiming to bring peace of mind to residents after radioactive material originating from the site contaminated hundreds of residences during the facility's years of operation.

"This has been a battle that residents of West Chicago have been fighting for decades," said Villa (D-West Chicago). "The community needs to know that their health and safety is secured."

From 1932 to 1973, Kerr-McGee produced large amounts of radioactive materials, which later contaminated 676 residential properties in West Chicago. Since 1994, the facility has been in the process of decommissioning and is currently in the final phase of remediation. This phase involves the treatment of groundwater at the location of the factory site, which is set to conclude by fall 2026.

The new law allows the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security to approve the request of terminating Kerr-McGee's radioactive materials license using municipal and county ordinances, which restrict ground water use to protect public safety.

"After a lengthy process, our community deserves closure and to be able to say 'it's over,'" said Villa. "This environmental tragedy continues to effect residents who unknowingly purchased contaminated properties. At minimum, we must ensure that our community is protected from additional harm."

Senate Bill 3279 was signed last Friday and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025.