The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a community meeting Monday at the Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta to address an EPA report on levels of a toxic gas in parts of Cobb and Fulton counties.
U.S. Census tracts near the Sterigenics sterilization facility in Smyrna were among several locations flagged in Georgia by the EPA last year for elevated cancer risk from ethylene oxide. The gas, which was reclassified in 2016 as a carcinogen, is used by the company to sterilize medical equipment and other products.
Sterigenics has said it is in full compliance with state and federal emissions regulations and is in the process of upgrading its emissions controls. Sources of the gas also include petroleum refining and vehicle exhaust, and its presence in the atmosphere has been found to be more pervasive than previously thought.
Cobb commissioners approved $40,000 for air testing and will partner with Smyrna and potentially the city of Atlanta to pay for the tests.
Monday’s EPA meeting will be held in two parts. From 5 to 6:45 p.m., local, state and federal health and environmental protection officials will hold an open house and answer questions one-on-one from residents.
Previously: Cobb residents dig in for fight over Sterigenics plant emissions
Also: Residents, officials outraged over toxic emissions from Cobb plant
From 7 to 9 p.m., officials will hold a forum with presentations by health and environmental experts and overviews of recent government reports. Questions must be submitted here in advance for the 7 p.m. forum.
The civic center is located at 548 South Marietta Parkway SE in Marietta.
Ethlyene Oxide community meeting
When: Open House with local state and federal officials from 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.; formal presentation from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Cobb County Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta
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