(ERIE, P.A. – WICU/WSEE/CW) –Environmentalists Dr. Mike Campbell and Pat Lupo Campbell say they are cautiously optimistic, to say the least.
With the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sending orders for the Erie Coke Factory to address their air pollution problems Monday, the collaborators on the website “Hold Erie Coke Accountable” say they are finally seeing progress.
“I’m glad to see it.” Campbell said
“I was very surprised.” said Lupo
But with a laundry list of problems to handle, and a short time to do it, neither Lupo or Campbell have much confidence the plant can clean up in time.
“It’s going to be very difficult to address them.” Lupo said
“They’re asking for a lot.” Campbell said
And they say this problem is just the tip of iceberg.
While the DEP’s orders address what’s going on in the air, Lupo and Campbell say it doesn’t address anything going on underground, as pollutants could be seeping their way into the surrounding soil and water.
Lupo and Campbell say any underground pollution could pose an immediate threat to people living in the surrounding area.
“We don’t know anything about how badly it is contaminated and whether that’s unsafe.” Campbell said
The DEP said it has not detected anything exceeding the limits of its air quality standards at its monitors near the plant, which is located near the channel entrance to Presque Isle Bay, but it continues to investigate the effects of Erie Coke’s violations.
Campbell believes the pollution may not be reaching the DEP’s detectors but could be impacting neighbors.
In the meantime, they will continue to push for more cleanup and to try and educate people on how the pollution is affecting them.
“We’re just trying to keep track of everything that’s happening, then putting pressure on the powers to be to see that they’re addressed.” Lupo said
Lupo and Campbell say they are working with the DEP to explore if there were any possible soil or water pollution violations.
We reached out to Erie Coke for comment, and they were unavailable as of Monday night.
