WASHINGTON, DC— Following the filing of a consent decree in Commonwealth Court by the Department of Environmental Protection that legally binds Erie Coke and its owner to comply with environmental laws and regulations and the announcement that Erie Coke paid a $6 million fine, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:
“The consent decree between the Department of Environmental Protection and Erie Coke holds Erie Coke accountable and lays out steps to bring the facility in line with the law. The agreement must be vigilantly enforced to protect the health and well-being of residents in Erie and the entire region. A study to assess any short- and long-term health effects because of the plant’s emissions is still needed.”
In a letter sent earlier this month to Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Senator Casey requested that the ATSDR conduct a public health assessment to determine if emissions from the Erie Coke Corp.’s coke-making facility has or will cause harm to the health of people living near the facility.
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