*This story has been updated to reflect the most recent activity.

Erie News Now reached out to Erie Coke for comment and were told there would be no comment at this time.

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(ERIE, P.A. - WICU/WSEE/CW) –Environmentalists Dr. Mike Campbell and Pat Lupo Campbell say they are cautiously optimistic, to say the least.


With the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sending orders for the Erie Coke Factory to address their air pollution problems Monday, the collaborators on the website "Hold Erie Coke Accountable” say they are finally seeing progress.

"I’m glad to see it." Campbell said

"I was very surprised." said Lupo
           

But with a laundry list of problems to handle, and a short time to do it, neither Lupo or Campbell have much confidence the plant can clean up in time.

"It's going to be very difficult to address them." Lupo said

 "They're asking for a lot." Campbell said

And they say this problem is just the tip of iceberg.

While the DEP’s orders address what's going on in the air, Lupo and Campbell say it doesn't address anything going on underground, as pollutants could be seeping their way into the surrounding soil and water.

Lupo and Campbell say any underground pollution could pose an immediate threat to people living in the surrounding area.

"We don't know anything about how badly it is contaminated and whether that's unsafe." Campbell said
 

The DEP said it has not detected anything exceeding the limits of its air quality standards at its monitors near the plant, which is located near the channel entrance to Presque Isle Bay, but it continues to investigate the effects of Erie Coke’s violations.

Campbell believes the pollution may not be reaching the DEP’s detectors but could be impacting neighbors.

In the meantime, they will continue to push for more cleanup and to try and educate people on how the pollution is affecting them.

"We're just trying to keep track of everything that's happening, then putting pressure on the powers to be to see that they're addressed." Lupo said

Lupo and Campbell say they are working with the DEP to explore if there were any possible soil or water pollution violations.

We reached out to Erie Coke for comment, and they were unavailable as of Monday night.

 

VIEW OUR OTHER STORIES ON THIS:

http://www.erienewsnow.com/story/39094432/web-site-appeals-to-public-to-speak-out-against-erie-coke

http://www.erienewsnow.com/story/39361191/neighbors-concerned-about-erie-coke

http://www.erienewsnow.com/story/38809732/erie-coke-reaches-out-to-public-during-permit-renewal-process

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The Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection (DEP) has ordered Erie Coke Corporation to address ongoing air pollution violations at its Erie plant, according to a news release issued by the DEP on Monday.

It requires Erie Coke to re-evaluate its operations and equipment to make sure it is operating within the rules and regulations, DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said in a statement.

Erie Coke must submit a plan and schedule to correct the violations within 60 days.

The DEP has reported numerous, ongoing violations at the facility since June 2017 including the following:

  • Failing to operate a hydrogen sulfide absorber pollution control device at all times when operating the coke oven batteries;
  • Flaring or combustion of coke oven by-product gas with hydrogen sulfide concentrations greater than allowed;
  • Excessive visible fugitive emissions from coke pushing operations;
  • Over 12,000 minutes of excessive visible emissions from the battery combustion stack between January and September of 2018;
  • Failing to prevent topside and door emissions as required by permit;
  • Failing to prevent visible fugitive particulate matter emissions from crossing off the Erie Coke property;
  • Failing to promptly remove earth or other material from paved streets onto which earth or other material was transported by trucking;
  • Failing to conduct annual stack testing of the Coke Side Shed Baghouse.

The DEP said it has not detected anything exceeding the limits of its air quality standards at its monitors near the plant, which is located near the channel entrance to Presque Isle Bay, but it continues to investigate the effects of Erie Coke’s violations.

The company has applied to renew its Title V operating permit. The application is under review by the DEP. Many of the violations have been documented as part of a compliance review for the permit renewal, according to the DEP.

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PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY DR.CAMPBELL