Community Safety Report to be Unveiled at Metropolis, IL News Press Conference

Illinois Lawmakers Question Safety of Honeywell Plant

METROPOLIS, Ill., Jan. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new area-wide safety report titled, "Communities at Risk?" that cites potential hazards at the Honeywell uranium conversion processing plant and revelations from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has Illinois lawmakers joining USW leaders Tues., Jan. 18 for a 12:00 Noon news conference at the USW Local 7-669 union hall to kick off release of the report to community residents.

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"We've become gravely concerned for the safety of the greater Metropolis-Paducah community, especially since the Dec. 22 release of hydrofluoric acid, the NRC citations and the pending OSHA inspection of the Honeywell plant," said Darrell Lillie, USW Local 7-669 President, representing workers locked out by the company since Jun. 28.

Illinois State Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) and State Sen. Gary Forby (D-Benton) both point to the inexperienced, temporary workers as a source of concern. The report describes a 25-mile area that includes Paducah, KY, as vulnerable to a release of as little as 16 percent of the hydrofluoric acid in use that could impact 128,000 residents.           

WHO: Illinois State Sen. Gary Forby, D- Benton; Illinois State Rep.  Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg;  Jim Robinson, Director, USW District 7; Darrell Lillie, President, USW Local 7-669, representing locked out workers at Honeywell-Metropolis.

WHAT: United Steelworkers (USW) News Conference

WHEN: 12:00 p.m. CST, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

WHERE: USW Local 7-669 Union Hall; North U.S. Rte. 45; Metropolis, IL

WHY: Use of temporary workers at Honeywell Corp.'s uranium processing plant raises concerns about community safety during lockout by Honeywell Corp.

DIAL-IN UPDATE:  Out-of-state reporters covering the live press event can obtain a dial-in number by sending requests to: [email protected]/. 

Sen. Forby has been a state senator for the 59th district since 2003 and serves on committees for transportation; telecommunications & technology; consumer protection; and is Chairman of the Labor Committee. Rep. Phelps has been a state representative  for the 118th district since 2003. He serves on the Environment & Energy Committee; Least Cost Power Procurement; and is Chairman of the Rural Economic Development Committee. 

For more information and to read the USW community safety report to be released after the press conference: www.usw7-669.com

Contact:  John Paul Smith (618) 638-7894; [email protected]

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)