What started as a routine renovation at the Taylorville Kroger quickly turned into a public health concern, and now a legal settlement with the State of Illinois. Under the settlement, the companies agreed to pay $108,000 in civil penalties while pledging to avoid future violations of state and federal asbestos regulations.

Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a settlement this week with The Kroger Co. and SSI Services LLC over the improper handling of asbestos-containing materials during renovation work at the Taylorville store. According to the state of Illinois, SSI Services was hired by Kroger to remove nearly 39,500 square feet of floor tile containing asbestos. While the company notified the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency that the project had started, problems surfaced when broken floor tiles containing asbestos were reportedly left exposed while the store remained open to the public.

The issue was only known about following a citizen complaint, which was filed, prompting an inspection by the Illinois EPA. Inspectors found that asbestos materials were not adequately contained, including a failure to properly wet the materials. Wetting the tiles would have been the necessary safety step meant to prevent dangerous fibers from becoming airborne. As a result, the agency ordered the store sealed to protect customers and employees.

Raoul’s office later filed a lawsuit alleging the renovation work created a serious risk to public health. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause severe and often fatal illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis, with higher risks for people who smoke. After the lawsuit was filed, Kroger and SSI Services completed a state-approved abatement plan to fully address the asbestos contamination. The Illinois EPA lifted its seal order in December 2022, allowing the Taylorville store to reopen.

This settlement now puts to rest a case which spanned roughly four years.