NORTH SALT LAKE — Gov. Gary Herbert ordered an investigation into the potential health risks of a controversial medical waste facility located in North Salt Lake.
Residents in the area want the facility to go, and numerous protests have been held regarding the facility, including one attended by environmental activist Erin Brockovich.
In a letter to Stericycle sent Thursday, Herbert said the company is in full compliance with Utah law, but “…residents’ growing concern, coupled with a formal request from the mayor of North Salt Lake City for a health study, have necessitated more investigation.”
Herbert also sent letters to the Salt Lake County Council and North Salt Lake mayor Len Arave regarding the issue. The governor has directed the Utah Department of Health and the Davis County Health Department to conduct a three-tiered study to: identify the potential health effects of dioxin and furan released from the facility, analyze existing soil samples from the Stericycle site, and assess the health effects in the area surrounding the facility.
Arave told FOX 13 News Wednesday Stericycle is actively looking for a new location for the facility.
The letters are available for download as PDFs below.
Gov. Herbert’s letter to Stericycle
