Sunset Strong
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
September 21, 2022
AB SPECIALTY SILCONES HAS REACHED A SETTLEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOLLOWING 2019 TRAGEDY
AB Specialty Silicones General Manager Mac Penman issued the following statement after reaching a settlement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding the May 3, 2019 incident:
AB Specialty Silicones has reached a settlement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding the tragedy that occurred at our Waukegan facility on May 3rd, 2019. Immediately following the event, we worked closely with both the USEPA and the IEPA on clean-up and remediation, which has now been completed. We conducted a thorough emergency removal action under daily USEPA oversight, and an environmental investigation found no lingering environmental impact. We have also received a No Further Remediation (NFR) letter from the Illinois EPA.
This settlement reimburses the EPA for its costs to oversee these efforts. While we are pleased to settle this matter, we will always remember the tragic events that occurred in 2019, and our hearts remain with the victims and their loved ones.
MAY 3RD, 2019
Tragically, on the night of May 3rd, 2019 we lost four members of our AB family in an explosion at our plant:
Byron Biehn, 53, of Union Grove, WI. Byron was the 2nd Shift Production Supervisor, had been with AB Specialty Silicones for 9 years, and was an owner of the company.
Jeff Cummings, 57, of Kenosha, WI. Jeffrey was the 3rd Shift Production Supervisor and spent 7 years with AB Specialty Silicones.
Allen Stevens, 29, of Paddock Lake, WI. Allen was the 2nd Shift Chemical Operator, had spent 2 years with AB Specialty Silicones, and was an owner of the company.
Daniel Nicklas, 24, of Beach Park, IL. Daniel was a Quality Control Chemist and had been with AB Specialty Silicones for 8 months.
