As we reported yesterday, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has announced it is conducting air quality monitoring in the neighborhoods surrounding Erie Coke. The monitoring will help the department determine if there are any public health implications from emissions at the plant.

 

Nine samples are currently being taken 24 hours a day around the perimeter of the plant.  Some monitors are placed on the Erie Coke fence line with the blessing of the company.

 

Four other sites are in residential areas near the plant including the neighborhood around East Middle School.  The monitoring tubes will be replaced every two weeks and sent to a lab.  The reports will be made available to the public.  The most notable chemical the lab will be looking for is benzene, a cancer causing substance.
   

Erie News Now asked some people who live in the neighborhood above the plant, near Lighthouse Street, how they feel about the testing.

 

EVAN STADLER-"You see the big clouds, the white stuff going on, you never know really what's in them.  So, I guess having that extra protection is a whole lot nicer than having nothing at all."

 

MIKE BURNS-"I worry about it.  When I'm walking around the park, I can see a lot of the smoke coming out of that area and I often wondered how clean it is."

 

BOB BOYD-"It should be done so that we know whether or not it's affecting our health.  Kids have no say as to where they live.  That's up their parents.  If it's harmful to a young child then something should be done about it."

 

GERALD BURLINGAME-" I'm 86 and a half years old so maybe I don't mind anyway."

 

Erie News Now will have another special report on Erie Coke Thursday at 7:30 p.m.  It's a follow up to our 5 part series of last month called "Erie Coke, Benefit or Burden?”
   

Erie Coke's future is now in a judge's hands after the state denied the plant's renewal of its operating permit after numerous air pollution violations.