News

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

Two hearings will be held before two different judges this week. This is a very important week for Erie Coke as two important proceedings will take place that will determine if the plant stays open. The proceedings come after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), one week ago, denied the company’s application to renew its operating permit and requested a court injunction to close down the plant. Tomorrow, Judge Daniel Brabender will preside at a hearing at the Erie County Courthouse on the DEP’s request for an injunction to shut down the plant. Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board... Read More

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has adopted dual strategies to shut down the frequent environmental violator. Erie Coke Corp. will wage its battle to stay open on two fronts this week. On Tuesday, a judge in Erie County Court will consider the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s request to shutter the coke plant, which sits at the foot of East Avenue. On Wednesday, a judge on the state’s Environmental Hearing Board will weigh whether to let Erie Coke stay open as it appeals the DEP’s denial of the plant’s operating permit. The two distinct legal proceedings stem from the... Read More

State regulators and community members say enough is enough. Ed Nesselbeck was feeling optimistic about Erie Coke Corp.’s prospects just over a week ago. Nesselbeck, the company’s new environmental director, pledged in an exclusive interview with the Erie Times-News on June 27 that the coke plant could be brought into full compliance by the end of 2019. On Monday, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection threw the plant’s future into doubt when it denied Erie Coke’s application to renew its operating permit and filed a complaint in Erie County Court to shutter operations there. Erie Coke is challenging both actions.... Read More