Waste Tunnel Collapse at Tonawanda Coke Plant triggers Call for Government Investigation of Emissions

Tonawanda Coke Confirms Waste Tunnel Collapse

Last Friday, The Tonawanda Coke Corporation confirmed allegations by the Clean Air Coalition that the waste heat tunnel at their facility had collapsed, possibly causing toxic emissions to spew into the surrounding community.

The waste heat tunnel is a concrete tunnel that runs underground the length of the battery, all 60 coke manufacturing ovens. The main purpose of the waste heat tunnel is to collect the waste combustible heat from the ovens. Now that the tunnel has collapsed, gases can't normally flow into the facility's chimneys, and the company can't draw enough fresh air into the manufacturing process. Without enough fresh air drawn into the process, the coking process will possibly create toxic releases into the ambient air, and into the surrounding community.

One of the chemical's of concern is benzene, a known carcinogen linked to leukemia and other types of illnesses.

You can view the press coverage here from the Buffalo News, WIVB Channel 4, and WGRZ, Channel 2.

We call on the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Attorney General's Office and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to perform a full investigation of the incident. We are calling on state and federal agencies to determine the cause of the tunnel collapse, risks posed to workers, and risks posed to the surrounding community.

If you live or work in the area and are noticing dark smoke or odors coming from the facility, submit a complaint to the New York Department of Conservation by calling 851-7000 or completing and mailing in this complaint form.

The Clean Air Coalition of WNY will keep you posted as this situation progresses. 

Citizen Science Workshop on Pollution to be held in Tonawanda

A daylong citizen science workshop and conference on environmental pollution will be held Saturday in the Sheridan Parkside Community Center, 169 Sheridan Parkside Drive, Town of Tonawanda.

The free workshop begins at 9:30 a.m. with breakfast, continues at 10 a.m. with speaker presentations and concludes at 5 p.m.

Participants will learn how citizens used scientific data to hold Tonawanda Coke accountable for pollution, and how to use monitoring tools to test their own air, soil and water. Residents can bring a small bag of soil to have it tested for the presence of heavy metals. Updates on civil and federal actions taken against Tonawanda Coke will also be given.

A bus tour of toxic sites in Western New York is scheduled from 3:45 until 9 p.m. Friday. Registration is required.

For more information, visit airhugger.org, call 873-6191 or email info@csresources.org. The workshop is organized by Citizen Science Community Resources and Global Community Monitor.

Tonawanda Coca-Cola is not Tonawanda Coke

While things have NOT been going better with Tonawanda Coke, the company that produces foundry coke for the steel industry, the Tonawanda Coca-Cola bottling company hopes that the image of their Coke, the beverage that people drink, will improve.

Public awareness of toxic air pollution at Tonawanda Coke has been raised by the Clean Air Coalition on behalf of residents living near the plant. This has been widely publicized and received considerable attention, including by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, who found that emissions of benzene far exceed EPA limits and also cited the company for water pollution with cyanide. Recently, local residents have filed lawsuits claiming carcinogenic emissions from the Town of Tonawanda plant were the source of their cancer.

It turns out that many folks living in the Buffalo Area thought that the Tonawanda Coca-Cola bottling company was the culprit cited for fouling the environment and accused of making people sick.

The Tonawanda Coca-Cola bottling company wants things to go better with their Coke. They want to end the confusion and make it absolutely clear that the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Tonawanda is not Tonawanda Coke.

As past ad slogans for Coca-Cola state: "Coke is it!" "It's the real thing."

Water Pollution: Tonawanda Coke discharges Toxic Cyanide

Things do NOT go better with Tonawanda Coke.
The Buffalo area company that produces foundry coke for the steel industry has already been cited by the EPA for pollution of the air with carcinogenic benzene (and what about the land? -- see blackened area on the map).
Now EPA finds the company is discharging toxic cyanide into the water!

[Click image to enlarge]

EPA Issues Order to Tonawanda Coke for Clean Water Act Violations
In its ongoing efforts to require Tonawanda Coke Corporation (TCC) to comply with environmental regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered the coke manufacturing facility to comply with its Clean Water Act permit. Among other violations, Tonawanda Coke Corporation is discharging industrial wastewater containing cyanide in excess of its permit limits into the town of Tonawanda’s sanitary sewer system, which ultimately discharges into the Niagara River from the town’s wastewater treatment facility. Cyanide is a toxic chemical compound, and excessive amounts may adversely impact human health, fish and wildlife. EPA is also ordering TCC to properly monitor and treat the wastewater that results from the coke-making process. Under EPA’s order, TCC is required to complete the overdue installation of pollution controls, improve monitoring and provide additional information about operations at the facility.

"Cyanide is toxic and cannot be discharged in amounts that exceed the limits specified in the facility’s permit," said Judith Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. "If left unchecked and uncontrolled, industrial discharges pollute the environment and may threaten public health. We will continue to work with the state to identify and get the company to rectify the many violations of various environmental laws at this facility."

"Failure to abide by the Clean Water Act can result in chemicals and contamination reaching our waterways," said DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis. "We will continue to work with EPA to vigorously monitor Tonawanda Coke and ensure that all environmental laws are being followed."
Read more here...


EPA cites coke plant for cyanide violations
Elevated levels put into sewer system
By Mark Sommer
Tonawanda Coke is in hot water with the Environmental Protection Agency again.
This time it’s for putting elevated amounts of cyanide into the Town of Tonawanda’s sanitary sewer system, which ultimately discharges into the Niagara River after being treated.

The EPA on Thursday ordered the coke manufacturing plant to comply with its Clean Water Act permit and to properly monitor and treat the wastewater that results from the coke-making process. The EPA order follows several get-tough actions it has taken in the past year to force Tonawanda Coke to comply with federal regulations, especially over high levels of the carcinogen benzene.

Erin Heaney, executive director of the Clean Air Coalition of WNY, expressed alarm at the illegal levels of cyanide that have been discharged, while praising the EPA for its diligence with Tonawanda Coke. “The EPA is really following through on its notices of violation issued in January,” she said. “They didn’t just come and do a big presentation and leave; they are really making sure that Tonawanda Coke will have safer operations.”

Melissa Brinson, a Town of Tonawanda mother of four, agreed. “They’re taking action now, and I’m really glad to see that. But the big question is, how long has this gone on, and what are the long-term health implications?”
The full report is at BuffaloNews.com.

5 Ways to Take Action for Clean Air

This week is full of opportunities to fight for a clean environment and healthier community. We hope you'll be involved in at least one action this week!

1. Vote at our Member Meeting! This month's member meeting might be the most important all year. After months of brainstorming and research we're voting to decide on our Clean Air Agenda for the year. The three initiatives with the greatest number of votes will be the focus of our work in 2010. We're meeting at the Sheridan Parkside Community Center, 169 Sheridan Parkside Drive at 7:00 PM on Monday, March 15. 2. Learn about Coke Ever wondered what coke is? How they make it? What is released in the air when it's produced? What it looks like inside Tonawanda Coke? If so, this presentation is for you! Join us on Wednesday, March 17th at 7:00PM to hear from Nellie Brown about what happens inside a coke facility. As usual, we'll be at the Sheridan Parkside Community Center at 169 Sheridan Parkside Drive. Nellie Brown is a biologist, and chemist and certified industrial hygienist, specializing in occupational safety and health, and a former Tonawanda Coke worker. 3. Sign our petition to save air monitoring Air monitoring has been essential to identifying polluters in Tonawanda and ensuring regulatory action is taken to protect human health. Funding for the air monitoring runs out in April. The NYS DEC intends to continue the monitoring but is uncertain how long they can support the initiative. Sign our petition asking Commissioner Grannis to fund the monitors through 2012 by clicking here. 4. Buy your tickets to our Annual Dinner with Lois Gibbs On April 30th we're coming together to celebrate all we've accomplished and recharge for the upcoming year. We'll recognize our community's most outstanding advocates and hear from our keynote speaker Lois Gibbs. Click here for more details and to order your tickets. 5. Tell Erie County Legislator Kevin Hardwick your story This week, Legislator Kevin Hardwick & members of his staff will meet with residents through an outreach program to discuss local issues. We want him to know how air pollution has affected you, your family and your neighborhood. Hardwick's outreach meeting, for Town of Tonawanda residents, will be held from 9am to noon Tuesday March 16th at the Kenmore Municpal Building, 2219 Delaware Ave, Kenmore. We're looking for a few folks to share their stories with Kevin and thank him for writing a letter to Commissioner Grannis asking for funding for the air monitoring.

Hope to see you this week! Erin Heaney Clean Air Coalition of Western New York

EPA acts to Stop Coke Plant Pollution

Earlier posts described a surprise raid of the Tonawanda Coke plant by federal and state agents, and the arrest of the plant's environmental control manager. The Clean Air Coalition of Western NY continues to raise awareness about the plant's pollution on behalf of the local residents. The good news is that the EPA is responsive to the pollution problems, and is increasing pressure on the coke plant to clean up their act.

EPA vows to get tough on River Road plant
Tonawanda Coke told to fix violations

Judith Enck, regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, announced Thursday a series of violations against Tonawanda Coke that made it clear the company has escaped close notice for years by inspectors. The violations carry fines up to $35,000 a day, and Enck said the EPA would not be shy in pursuing them if Tonawanda Coke fails to act.

Clean Air Coalition of Western New York has complained about the mysterious illnesses and air pollution from Tonawanda Coke for the past four years.

But it took a protest outside Tonawanda Coke’s gates in October, and complaints to Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-Fairport, plus Sens. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and then Enck’s move to the EPA before anything happened.

“This has been a long time coming,” said Jackie James-Creedon, who founded the Clean Air Coalition after she was stricken with fibromylagia, an auto-immune disease.

Creedon and Erin Heaney, executive director of the coalition, spent a day with Enck in Albany after the protests in October and briefed her on Tonawanda Coke.

“The optimal outcome is that Tonawanda Coke fixes what is broken,” Heaney said. “We need to make sure that every step is taken to make sure the risk is as low as possible.”

“We’re doing what we can to control the benzene emissions to the greatest extent possible,” Enck said, “and this is very important, because benzene is a known human carcinogen.”

Read the report by Michael Beebe in The Buffalo News.

Tonawanda Coke Plant Manager Busted!

Tonawanda Coke official accused of environmental crimes
An official at Tonawanda Coke Corp. was charged in federal court with three counts of violating environmental laws.

Tonawanda Coke’s environmental control manager facing federal charges
After a raid on Tonawanda Coke last week, federal prosecutors Wednesday arrested the plant’s environmental control manager.

Top Official at Tonawanda Coke Arrested
Press Release From U.S. Attorney's Office

Clean Air Coalition of Western New York
The actions taken against Tonawanda Coke for the sake of the public health in our community were the direct result of important work done by the Clean Air Coalition. They are becoming a powerful voice for environmental justice in Western NY, and they need your support to continue and expand their work.
Please consider becoming a member and making a donation. Your membership will allow the Clean Air Coalition to keep the community up to date, support new research efforts and make sure our community’s voices are heard by those who have the power to make change.

Earlier posts about the Clean Air Coalition and their actions against air pollution at Tonawanda Coke:

• Feds Raid Carcinogen-Emitting Coke Plant

• Clean Air Coalition Meeting & Presentation

• Toxic Air at Tonawanda Coke

• Phone Call-In about Tonawanda Coke

• Clean Air Coalition Rally

• Clean Air Coalition of WNY

Feds Raid Carcinogen-Emitting Coke Plant

On Thursday, more than 50 federal and state agents pulled a surprise raid on the Tonawanda Coke plant, with a search warrant to collect evidence for an on-going investigation, according to the Niagara Gazette.

The Environmental Protection Agency has been investigating the facility following air quality tests by the NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation showing levels cancer-causing benzene in the air near the plant 75 times greater than EPA guidelines.

Local residents attribute the toxic air, which also contains hazardous soot particulates, as a cause of respiratory problems and cancers in the area. Several years ago they formed the Clean Air Coaltion of Western NY to draw attention to their plight and to attempt to create a dialogue with plant owner J.D. Crane, who has ignored them. The persistent health problems of residents and a recent protest against the high-level toxic emissions from the Coke Plant drew strong citizen support and attention from the media as well as from the U.S. Senators Schumer and Gilibrand and Representative Slaughter. Those congress members contacted EPA administrator Lisa Jackson to develop a plan to reduce benzene emissions at the coke plant.

According to The Buffalo News, company officials ignored an EPA demand to submit testing protocols for hazardous emissions. The raid included EPA officials from its criminal investigation division, the DEC, the U.S. Coast Guard and state attorney general’s office. “We took records and samples,” U.S. Attorney Kathleen M. Mehltretter said after the raid, declining further comment. The EPA filed suit against Erie Coke on September 22, alleging continuing pollution, poor maintenance of coke ovens and lack of required annual inspections of smoke stacks and boilers. The federal suit stated that Erie Coke could be liable for damages of more than $32,500 a day for violations.

“The community is excited that decisive action is being taken against Tonawanda Coke,” said Erin Heaney, executive director of the Clean Air Coalition. “We’re closer than ever to seeing justice delivered for the residents of Tonawanda.”

The EPA has provided information to the local Tonawanda community on their air quality study and their evaluation of the Tonawanda Coke facility. The EPA communication is here. [PDF]

The recent raid by federal and state officials has also been reported on local TV news from stations WKBW, WGRZ and WIVB.

The plight of the local residents and Tonawanda Coke’s reluctance to talk to them has been highlighted in an Editorial in The Buffalo News.

Clean Air Coalition of WNY

Message from the Clean Air Coalition (CAC) of Western NY

Membership Meeting - We're meeting up Wednesday, December 2nd to catch up and plan our next steps! Join us to hear about the EPA's new testing at Tonawanda Coke, what the DEC's final report says (in plain English) and help us figure out how we can keep Tonawanda Coke on their toes.
We're also hosting Northwinds BioDiesel, a company that wants to move into Tonawanda and be a good neighbor from the start. They're flying in to share their vision and answer our questions - we hope you can join us! As usual, we'll be at the Sheridan Parkside Community Center (169 Sheridan Parkside Drive) at 7 pm.

The EPA and DEC keep the pressure on Tonawanda Coke -This month the DEC released the final report of their air quality study. You can all 200 pages of it here - or you can check out the fact sheet we made with all the essentials - it's attached! The report clearly points to Tonawanda Coke as the most deadly polluter in Tonawanda. The EPA wrote a letter to Tonawanda Coke demanding they complete additional testing. You can find the letters here.

Holiday Party! - Please join us Thursday, December 10th at 7pm at the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce, 3411 Delaware for a holiday celebration! There will be good food, great people and lots to celebrate. The event is potluck, so please bring a dish to share. We're providing drinks and roast beef. RSVP to Jen with your dish and the number of people attending ASAP.

Contact Erin Heaney for further information. Hope to see each and every one of you soon!

Toxic Air at Tonawanda Coke

Recently the Clean Air Coalition of WNY organized a protest against the high-level toxic emissions from the J.D. Crane Coke Plant on River Road in Tonawanda, NY, drawing strong support from local residents and others, as well as considerable attention from the media. The protest was followed up by a phone call-in to the ECIDA in opposition to public subsidies they awarded to Tonawanda Coke whose air pollution is harming the health and well-being of local residents.

The awareness of the toxic air at Tonawanda Coke raised by the Clean Air Coalition on behalf of local residents has gotten the attention of the federal government.

Senator Schumer challenged the owner of Tonawanda Coke to meet with community groups and listen to their concerns about harmful benzene and other chemicals coming from the coke plant, as reported in The Buffalo News. The plant owner, J.D. Crane, has ignored repeated requests from local residents to meet and discuss the air pollution problems and possible solutions.

Lisa Jackson, head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), gave assurance to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that concern about dangerously high emissions of the carcinogen benzene “is not an issue that will slip through the cracks.” “If the DEC [NY state Department of Environmental Conservation] does have findings, they have the full capability to do a significant enforcement action that would include significant fines,” Sen. Gillibrand said EPA head Jackson told her.

"The DEC has announced no action plan, which is frustrating to the residents of this community," said Erin Heaney of the Clean Air Coalition. Resident Jeani Thomson, who suffers from cancer, lupus, and constant headaches, says studies and remedies have been slow in coming. "If they keep going years and years and years, I'll be dead before that," said Thomson, as reported by WIVB TV News.

The DEC already has findings of emissions monitoring which took place between July 2007 and July 2008. Thomas Gentile, head of the DEC’s Air Toxics Section, indicated that the Tonawanda Coke plant on River Road has been the likely source of the irritations to the eyes, ears, noses and throats of nearby residents at a meeting with them on June 12, 2009. Benzene, a carcinogen, was found in concentrations that greatly exceed the State average, particularly at the Grand Island monitoring station, according to the June 13, 2009 report in The Buffalo News.

I obtained the map and data from the DEC website and learned that the elevated benzene concentrations were not monitored at Grand Island, as stated in the News article above, but rather at Grand Island Boulevard in Tonawanda, as seen in the DEC map of pollution monitoring sites, below, and as indicated in the benzene emission data below the map. Grand Island Boulevard (GIBl on the map) is immediately North East of J.D. Crane's Tonawanda Coke plant, the soot-blackened area in the center of the map.

[click image to enlarge]

Benzene emissions at Grand Island Boulevard were on average 75 times higher than than the NY DEC guidelines (blue-green horizontal line near 0.00 concentration; AGC =0.13). Chronic inhalation of benzene causes disorders in the blood, affecting bone marrow, damaging the immune system, causing anemia and increasing incidence of leukemia. In addition to being a carcinogen, benzene may irritate the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract according to the EPA. Benzene can also induce changes in the structure and function of chromosomes, and adverse effects on the fetus, including low birth weight, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage, have been observed where pregnant animals were exposed to benzene by inhalation.

Soot particulate emissions from the Tonawanda Coke plant are yet another problem for local residents. Particle emissions are a leading cause of respiratory illness and premature death. EPA is concerned about small particles because those generally pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects.

Phone Call-In about Tonawanda Coke

Did you see The Buffalo News front page story about
Dangerous Air Pollution from the Tonawanda Coke Plant?

Call the Erie County Industrial Development Agency on Thursday, October 15

Phone Call-In Information and a Script are here.

A printable flyer is here.