Citizens for Chemtool Accountability

01/29/2026

PFAS Study Informational Zoom scheduled for 2/3/26

The Center for Environment and PFAS Cancer Toxicology (CEPaCT) is pleased to provide an update on their efforts in developing a center on environmental effects, detection, remediation, and role of PFAS on human health with a specific focus on Cancer.

The CEPaCT led by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a collaborative effort with researchers from the University of Illinois (Chicago), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Clarkson University, and University of California.

We will also discuss some of the results obtained on PFAS levels in samples collected from Rockton through our community engagement efforts.

We look forward to seeing you at the webinar on Feb 3rd (7-8 pm). A Teams link will be forthcoming so you can join the webinar. We look forward to seeing you on Feb 3rd. If you have any questions, please contact: (Prof. Mary Turk) [email protected] or Eve Pinsker ([email protected]), or (Dr. Tor Jensen) [email protected].

Send a message to learn more

07/27/2023

What’s right and what the law requires are two different things. This was always completely Chemtool’s fault.

ROCKTON — For two years, it's been known that Chemtool didn't have fire suppression equipment in the manufacturing area which caught fire in 2021, but now, new details show the

11/29/2022

Chemtool demolition scheduled to be completed by December, air and waste water monitoring continues, class certification for the state lawsuit was certified as anyone owning property within 3 miles of the Chemtool site. Thank you to Rockton-Roscoe News for the continued coverage.

A class action lawsuit could include anyone within a three-mile radius of Chemtool.

07/26/2022

ROCKTON (WREX) — The Rockton community was eager for answers on Monday ahead of a major release from Chemtool.

04/25/2022

“Within ninety days after the date of entry of this Agreed Order, the Defendant shall provide to the Plaintiff a written report identifying the contaminants released, including PFAS, with a detailed calculation of the amount of each contaminant discharged as a result of the Fire, and all assumptions made by the Defendant in performing such calculations and supporting documentation.”

Within the next 30 days Chemtool will be required to provide its plan for cleanup, and within 90 days they are required to release lists including PFAS and amount of chemicals discharged into the environment.

Illinois' Attorney general makes several orders in court which require Chemtool to pay for several things related to the June 14 2021 fire.

12/14/2021

Today is officially 6 months post-disaster, and I had hoped to have an eloquent and well thought out form letter for supporters to send to our government officials; To ask for more support, more answers, more anything. Unfortunately it has become very clear the outrage is gone. The media moved on. And the litigation has stalled or is entirely private. (Remember those answers we were promised in September?)

Never forget that Chemtool poisoned our city, the Rock River, and 1000’s of attendees at OSD through their negligence.

I appreciate everyone’s initial support for the Chemtool Accountability group. And I hope that one day we will get the answers we collectively sought. I will be donating any leftover funds from our citizen water testing to the Rockton Food Pantry. Peace.

-Evan

11/29/2021

What we know, almost 6 months later, is next to nothing. On the 6th month anniversary we will be providing a template for residents to email and mail blast our local, state, and federal government officials. Justice may move slowly, but answers to the lingering questions should not.

What took several days to burn is going to take several months, if not longer, to clean up.

09/14/2021

29.
Because, after the citizens meeting near Rockton last night
My breath caught short when I stepped outside.
I could smell the sour campfire, a stench I remember
Like someone had tossed the plastic marshmallow bag in the embers
After eating the s'mores....and then pi**ed on it.

29.
Parce que, après la réunion des citoyens près de Rockton la nuit dernière,
J'ai eu le souffle coupé quand je suis sorti.
Je pouvais sentir l'odeur du feu de camp, une puanteur dont je me souviens.
Comme si quelqu'un avait jeté le sac plastique dans les braises
Après avoir mangé les s'mores?... et avoir ensuite pissé dessus.

After the first citizens meeting last night.
I went home, sat down and I cried.

Après la première réunion des citoyens hier soir.
Je suis rentré chez moi, je me suis assis et j'ai pleuré.

by Citizen Activist 6/22/21

09/14/2021

28.
And because of the warnings suppressed for a decade.
Yes there were explicit warnings this disaster could come to be.
And there were those who made sure of its inevitability.

28.
Et à cause des avertissements ignorés pendant une décennie.
Oui, il y avait des avertissements explicites sur la possibilité d'un tel désastre .
Et il y a eu ceux qui se sont attelés à le rendre inévitable.

09/11/2021

“And, it’s not just the PFAS. For Olivia Dorothy at American Rivers, any pollutants present in the Rock River could adversely affect ecosystems, including wildlife, that depend on healthy waters.

“You know, any type of contamination that might be spilling into the river, whether it's old or new, you know, that needs to be carefully examined, and actions should be taken to make sure that that that gets cleaned up properly,” said Dorothy.

For Dorothy this incident is especially frustrating. Because Lubrizol has not released the list of chemicals and additives present in the facility during the fire earlier this summer, there is no clear roadmap for testing of the Rock River.”

Meanwhile lubrizol refuses to release the inventory of chemicals on-site until required to by the judge, and our county’s leaders leave cleanup and oversight to the very company that allowed this disaster to occur.

Environmental groups concerned the Rock River not sufficiently tested.

09/02/2021

In the aftermath of two devastating chemical fires in different countries, Lubrizol has made a change in leadership.