Galesburg has had some attention drawn to it by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Reports from the EPA can be found when searching science.gov.
Here's another document:
You may also wish to read the Honors Paper by Knox student Sarah Kosmicki An environmental evaluation of air pollution from the railyard in Galesburg, Illinois. This is located in the Archives area on 2nd floor of Seymour Library. You cannot check it out, but you may look at it in the Archives Reading Room.
The Galesburg Public Library is located at 40 E. Simmons St. (just beyond the north end of Standish Park):
phone: 343-6118 (Ask to speak to a Reference Librarian when you call.)
Hours: Mon-Thurs: 9-8, Fri & Sat 9-5
The Public Library keeps the Galesburg Register-Mail newspaper on microfilm. The public library also has issues of The Zephyr, a local newspaper, now defunct, that did report on environmental issues from time to time. There are microfilm reader/printers in the microforms area; copies are $.10 per page.
The Galesburg Public Library has created an index to the content of the Register-Mail; it's available on the index table near the reference desk. Some useful subject headings are:
Materials on local history are kept in the Illinois Room. This is a restricted area and if you want to view items from this area you need to present a photo ID. The materials in this area are not listed in the Library's online catalog. Use the card catalog located next to the door of the Illinois Room to identify materials. Some useful subject headings to try in this catalog are:
Minutes of the meetings of the Galesburg City Council are also kept in the Illinois Room. You need to ask to look at these for specific dates. More recent Council minutes (2009-present) are available on the City's web site.