Tonight 2/25/10 on WICU TV 12 in Erie they interviewed the head of the Pennsylvania DEP, John Hanger. Twenty months ago on Monday 6/24/08 the PA DEP fined the Erie Coke plant 6.1 million dollars. They haven't paid anything on the fine, and are now appealing it. The Coke plant continues to blow the ovens almost every night at dark. How much longer will this be hung up in court? Are they being fined every time they exhaust the ovens, or is that considered a waste of time.
With the new Freedom of Information here in PA wouldn't it be nice to know more of what is being said and offered in these closed hearings? Considering that the lack of a ruling is affecting the pollution and toxins that people, the lake, and our community are exposed to daily, shouldn't we know what is happening? When the fine was first issued the DEP could have required that the plant close until the problems were corrected. Now going on two years later the Coke plant is still doing what it pleases. How long will it take to have Erie Coke correct its problems?
Dennis Stratton
http://www.wicu12.com/news/index.vnss?newsid=9071&type=News
DEP Secretary Talking Tough Against Erie Coke
February 25, 2010, 2:31 pm
Erie Coke was fined $6 million by the DEP for knowingly and repeatedly violating air pollution laws at it's plant at the foot of East Avenue. The federal government joined in the suit, and the company is appealing the charges.
Pennsylvania DEP Secretary John Hanger says he is taking a tough stance into the mediation session.
"At this point, we're adamant in getting this facility to stop polluting, make the investments hopefully that would allow them to operate in a way that's lawful. Deal with their past violations and let's issue the penalties. And if they can't do any or all of that, then we are going to be at the table saying this facility then, in fact, must shut down," Hanger said.
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