News

An unanswered question looms over Erie Coke’s repeated, years-long clashes with environmental regulators: What has been the effect of the plant’s repeated failure to abide by laws meant to protect the public? In the current fight to retain its Title V operating permit, the second such contest in nine years, Erie Coke officials said the company’s analysis — conducted by a hired expert with data supplied by the company — shows a negligible risk of cancer posed by plant emissions. Perhaps that finding will be borne out. We hope so. But the public should not be asked to rely on... Read More

The hearing was convened after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection denied the renewal of Erie Coke’s operating permit. A hearing wrapped up Thursday to determine if Erie Coke can remain open after numerous air pollution violations. The hearing was convened after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) denied the renewal of Erie Coke’s operating permit.   It was conducted by the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board with Judge Steven Beckman presiding. No closing arguments were made after testimony ended Thursday afternoon.  Instead, attorneys from both sides will submit briefs to Judge Beckman for his review. Those briefs must be submitted... Read More

Testimony before Environmental Hearing Board judge focused on why DEP denied the plant’s operating permit. The fate of Erie Coke Corp. now rests with a judge on the state Environmental Hearing Board. Erie Coke and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday wrapped up a marathon six-day hearing that will determine, at least temporarily, whether the coke plant at the foot of East Avenue can continue operating. A decision will not come for several weeks. Erie Coke and the DEP have until Aug. 7 to submit briefs summarizing their positions. Environmental Hearing Board Judge Steven C. Beckman will rule... Read More

As a court battle over the plant’s future continues, activists gathered Monday to urge the DEP not to settle with Erie Coke. An emission that wafted over Erie Coke Corp.’s property line on June 13 was “the most alarming” violation a state inspector has seen in the seven years he has observed the coke plant, he testified Monday. Daniel Brophy, an air quality inspector with the state Department of Environmental Protection, described the emission as “fugitive coke oven gas” that formed a cloud and traveled east from the plant, eventually dissipating near the smokestacks at the former Hammermill plant. “That,... Read More

Members of the community group Hold Erie Coke Accountable rallied alongside concerned residents Monday morning to support the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s aggressive enforcement action against Erie Coke Corp. and to “insist that they not accept a monetary payoff.” The demonstration took place outside the courthouse where lawyers for DEP and Erie Coke sparred last week over the department’s denial of the company’s air pollution operating permit application. Those proceedings continued Monday. It also comes in the wake of news that Erie Coke Corp. made a $3.1 million settlement offer to the DEP—one the department declined to accept. DEP... Read More