Rialto Theatre in Joliet working with state authorities on asbestos removal issue

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is recommending enforcement action after an incident in July that may have released asbestos fibers into the air space at the Rialto Square Theatre.

The Joliet theater already had been closed for July and August because of an asbestos removal project that led to the IEPA inspection at the Rialto.

Work has stopped at the theater as of Monday, and the building has been secured, according to a news release from the IEPA.

We’re not in an adversarial role at all. I’m confident we’ll work this out, maybe as soon as next week.”

—  Robert Filotto, chairman of Will County Exposition and Auditorium Authority

But the IEPA has referred the matter to the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, seeking enforcement action to prohibit entry into the building except for asbestos abatement work approved by the state.

Rialto authorities are cooperating with the IEPA, said Robert Filotto, board chairman at the Will County Exposition and Auditorium Authority, which oversees the Rialto.

“We’re not in an adversarial role at all,” Filotto said. “I’m confident we’ll work this out, maybe as soon as next week.”

Filotto said construction workers were in the area that may have been affected in the incident, but the general public or people who work in other areas of the Rialto building were not.

According to the IEPA, agency inspectors last week responded to a complaint and found three bags with materials containing asbestos.

“The contents were dry, and the bags were unsealed,” according to the release. “Illinois EPA inspectors also found that containment measures were insufficient and lacked critical barriers, resulting in potential contamination of all shared airspace.”

The violation occurred in the area housing the theater and event space, according to the release.

“While the building also has a bank, university offices and theater offices, these spaces are handled by a separate [heating, ventilation and air conditioning] system and do not share airspace with the performance and event space,” according to the release.

The IEPA recommended that enforcement action be taken against the Will County Metropolitan Exposition & Auditorium Authority, R. Berti Building Solutions and Universal Asbestos Removal Inc.

Filotto said the bags were in the theater basement, where asbestos is being removed ahead of the replacement of the theater HVAC system next year.

The Rialto issued a news release on Friday saying the asbestos abatement violations were made by a contractor working on the project.

Upon getting notice of the violation, the Rialto hired a third-party asbestos project manager licensed with the Illinois Department of Public Health to inspect the area, decontaminate the site, and develop a remediation plan, according to the release.

The project manager has done air-sample tests that show no asbestos contamination, according to the release.

“We look forward to welcoming guests back to the Rialto Square Theatre when our renovations are complete in early September 2024,” according to the release.