The Environmental Protection Agency held a public meeting Thursday night to discuss their new East Ave investigative study. The study will look for toxic pollutants in the soil of residential areas near the former Erie Coke Corporation. Those in the audience for the meeting learned about the soil testing process.

“We have a representative from Tetra Tech which is the EPA's contractor, collecting soil samples. To show the equipment, how they would collect samples, how they test the samples, offering information on how we can work to prevent cross-contamination, and how accurate the samples as well," the Environmental Community Involvement Coordinator, Katie Page, said. 

Along with a presentation, there was a question and answer session where residents shared their questions, frustrations and desire for more answers.

"So we did hear from residents who were frustrated, and rightly so. There's been a lot of contamination that's been happening in this area from various industries, not just the former Erie Coke facility. Unfortunately, EPA wasn't there to help in the past, and we're here now. That's the message we to focus on. We're here now, and we're going to do everything we can to get this right,” Page said.

During the last part of the meeting, people asked questions to different organizations like the Department of Environmental Protection, which is continuing to work on finding more of the coke facility. 

“DEP is committed to the redevelopment and remediation of the Erie Coke Sight, for the last few years. We're not going anywhere. We're very committed to that site on behalf of the community. That said, we're really glad to be partners here with the EPA and be a part of this meeting. I think it's important that the community see us all as a resource and as a team working together for them," the Northwest regional director for the PA Department of Environmental Protection, Erin Wells, said.