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DEP Investigates High Concentrations Of Benzene Emitted In The Area Of Erie Coke (Coal) Plant

On September 18, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has opened a follow-up investigation of Erie Coke (Coal) Plant benzene emissions after DEP's new air monitors found benzene concentrations exceeded an action level set in the sampling plan.

The plan calls for further investigation when the 1.3 µg/m3 action level is exceeded for three sampling events in a rolling 90-day period.

These levels do not indicate an immediate risk for the community; however, they do warrant additional investigation. In each of the first three sets of results, concentrations in excess of the allotted action level were observed in at least one sampling location.

“There are many potential causes of a sample result above DEP’s action value,” said DEP Northwest Regional Office Director Jim Miller. “Exceeding the action value does not necessarily represent a violation for an applicable requirement or permit condition by Erie Coke, and other sources may be contributing to values recorded. This investigation will aid in determining what specific activities in the area of the Erie Coke plant, on or about the sampling period, could have caused the increased concentration level.”

Additional short-term sampling, site inspections, and reviews of facility records will be part of DEP’s investigation. The public will see an enhanced presence of DEP staff in the East Erie community as a result of the investigation.

DEP developed the sampling plan in response to concerns raised by the members of a community stakeholder group formed by the DEP, as well as several recent actions requiring Erie Coke to address numerous, ongoing violations of the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act, many of which Erie Coke has appealed and not complied with.

The 13 passive air monitoring devices, which were deployed July 17 as part of a year-long sampling plan, have been monitoring for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene.

The sampling is conducted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every two weeks, the tubes are collected, and new tubes are placed within the sampler. Click Here to view the sampling results.

“The East Erie community, which has been waiting patiently for these results, can now view for themselves the same data we are seeing,” Miller said. “I can’t stress enough though, that this is a long-term sampling plan. We still need much more data to be able to determine the significance of these findings.”

On July 1, DEP announced that it denied Erie Coke’s application to renew its Title V operating permit and has filed a complaint for injunctive relief in Erie County Court seeking to shut down the coke production facility following years of numerous repetitive environmental violations. The case is currently before the Environmental Hearing Board.

Visit DEP’s Northwest Regional Office Erie Coke Corporation webpage for more information. Questions should be directed to Tom Decker, 814-332-6615 or send email to: thomadecke@pa.gov.

NewsClips:

DEP Investigating Erie Coke (Coal) Plant Air Quality Results

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