MAT Asphalt, Chicago Health Department Announce Settlement

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced on Friday, April 7, 2023, that it had reached a settlement agreement with MAT Asphalt, an asphalt plant located in Chicago’s Central Manufacturing District just south of McKinley Park.

The settlement includes both specific operating requirements for MAT Asphalt and additional fees, including “the maximum financial penalty allowed by law,” the statement said.

New measures mandated in the settlement include installation of condensers on liquid asphalt tanks to capture “blue smoke,” street sweeping and washing down roads to mitigate dust, misters at material storage piles, and cleaning truck wheels and pavement.

Operational Deadlines

“Within 21 days, MAT Asphalt must submit an odor control plan prepared by an independent, third-party environmental consultant for CDPH’s review and approval,” the statement said. Condensers at the top of the asphalt tanks must be installed by October 1, 2023, and at the bottom of the tanks by April 1, 2024, the statement said.

MAT Asphalt co-owner Michael Tadin Jr. noted that the business already had been implementing many of the measures outlined in the settlement.

Two Contracts for 2023

“In the coming year, we are also glad to install blue smoke controls faster than our industry peers,” he said. “Our state-of-the-art technology and commitment to stringent procedures throughout all our operations has made us one of the most environmentally friendly asphalt facilities in the nation.”

Awarded on April 7, 2023, two Chicago Department of Transportation contracts for up to $141,254,520 engage MAT Asphalt to provide asphalt materials for the city’s Central West and South construction zones this season.

Minimize Community Impact

The health department statement noted that the settlement’s terms were applied to all current and future contracts with the City of Chicago, and that every season before starting up, MAT Asphalt also has to conduct and submit a report for a third-party inspection of its bag house and ductwork.

“[The health department’s] goal in any enforcement action is to hold the company accountable and minimize an operation’s impact on the surrounding community,” the statement said.

“We commend the City of Chicago for strengthening environmental controls on other asphalt facilities, which will benefit everyone throughout the area,” Tadin said. “We have certainly been the most eco-friendly business of our kind in Chicago.”

Ed. Note: MAT Asphalt is a Sponsor of the McKinley Park News. For information about our operations and policies, see our About Us page and the Letter from the Editor "Building a Trustworthy News Business."