Environment DEC
From the July 2010 issue
Tonawanda Coke Corporation Cited for Air Quality Violations
DEC has cited the Tonawanda Coke facility for failure to meet air quality standards. (Photo: Clean Air Coalition of Western NY)
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced that Tonawanda Coke Corporation has been cited for its failure to meet environmental standards at its facility in Tonawanda, Erie County. As part of an ongoing, joint effort by DEC and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve air quality in the local community, the company received a "Notice of Violation" (NOV) for each of three alleged violations. Each violation is punishable by a civil penalty of up to $15,000, with an additional penalty not to exceed $15,000 for each day that a violation continues.
This enforcement follows up on a year-long air quality monitoring study that DEC initiated in Tonawanda to measure the concentration of air pollutants within the community and evaluate the potential risk to public health. The Tonawanda Community Air Quality Study is available on DEC's website.
Ongoing Monitoring and Analysis
DEC continues to operate two air quality monitoring stations that were part of the original study. In addition, DEC is currently conducting a comprehensive analysis of the benzene air measurements taken since the community study (July 2008 to March 2010) to evaluate the impact of benzene reduction actions undertaken by Tonawanda Coke at the request of DEC.
Resolution of the NOVs will be addressed in the context of the joint enforcement efforts initiated by DEC and EPA, including NOVs and administrative orders that EPA issued to Tonawanda Coke Corp. as part of the multi-faceted, joint agency inspections in 2009.
To receive e-mailed updates on environmental agency involvement at Tonawanda Coke through EPA's Community Newsletter, please contact Mike Basile, EPA Public Affairs Specialist, Western New York Public Information Office at 716-551-4410.
