Erie Coke Water Discharges Into Lake Erie

This information is from the EPA web site. The PA DEP has the lead in monitoring, reporting, and enforcement of the CAA (Clean Air Act) and CWA (Clean Water Act). The DEP doesn't do the monitoring and does very little enforcing of environmental rules. They leave that up to the actual companies that are polluting. As we continue to see environmental disasters, including human deaths, how long are we going to let the DEP and other agencies which are supposed to be protecting us and our environment give control to the very companies that are causing the problems?

I found that there is an unaddressed violation by Erie Coke dated 6/12/2010 while trying to find information on the water being discharged into Lake Erie from the Erie Coke Company. When a reporter from Buffalo recently was taken to the foot of East Avenue, this is what he wrote:

"The dark, discolored water is most prominent near the small boat launch at the foot of East Avenue, known as “The Foot.” That’s where a discharge pipe from behind Erie Coke’s fenced property sends torrents of warm water directly into Lake Erie.

What’s being released is believed to be water used to cool off the hot coke after it’s baked. But no one in town seems to know for sure. And although swimming is not allowed, no warning signs are posted about potential environmental dangers."

Who does know what is going into Lake Erie?

Dennis