Monroe Chat

Residents concerned about coke conveyer emissions

By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer
Updated 9:16 PM Monday, July 6, 2009

Concerns from residents stretched far beyond the half mile a proposed conveyor system would transport coke from the $340 million SunCoke Energy plant to AK Steel’s property.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and its local agent, Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, held a hearing Monday, July 6 regarding the draft permit for the conveyor system. The conveyor would connect to SunCoke’s own 400-foot section and then transport coke another one-third mile to a loading station on AK Steel Property. About 15 residents attended the meeting at the Middletown city building.

AK Steel’s conveyor will be completely enclosed as it transports the raw material to the outskirts of Tube City IMS. From there, the coke will travel down chutes into railcars for transport to AK’s blast furnace.

In the case of a rail issue, the company would be allowed to truck it in, but would likely not use that option unless necessary since it would be “much more expensive,” said Mike Ploetz, member of the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services.

Emissions could potentially be generated when the coke is dropped onto different sections of the conveyor as well as into vehicles for transport. Emission limits are set at 9.9 tons per year and dust can have no more than a 20 percent opacity in a three-minute duration. Because the coke should be wet, that combined with the enclosure should limit emissions, Ploetz said.

AK would be required to inspect the conveyor daily for emissions and make any necessary repairs, according to environmental officials.

However, it’s these particulate emissions that concern Monroe resident Jean Inwood since Butler County does not meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards.

Attendees also expressed interest in 24-hour camera monitoring of the system and unscheduled inspections of the conveyor and SunCoke plant.

The proposed conveyor will run right along the edge of Monroe Ditch, which is being remediated by AK Steel for the high PCBs and other solvents found in and around the stream. SunCoke Watch President Lisa Frye said she is concerned about the possible addition of pollutants to that area from the conveyor.

Ploetz noted that it is “very unusual for us to have a permit going on at the same time as a remediation project.”

Frye added that she and other residents would like to go through training to check for opacity and other emissions issues so someone locally will be able to recognize violations and make reports to the proper agencies.

Where in the world is Monroe Ditch??? Is that formerly known as Dicks Creek, and they've changed the name???