The plant, which is more than a century old, has been shut down since October 2021. At that time, the health department declined to renew its operating permit after finding that the oven doors were leaking toxic chemicals, as well as citing other maintenance failures. The agency sued for damages, calling the plant “a menace to public health.”
The settlement would allow the plant to seek a permit to reopen if Bluestone were to install two monitors to detect sulfur dioxide, have an engineer design a repair plan subject to public comment and hire an independent auditor to conduct bimonthly compliance checks for two years. Health department officials said any reopening would probably take more than a year.
“Despite investing tens of millions of dollars in long-deferred maintenance, Bluestone was unable to fully overcome those challenges, and it ultimately concluded that only a rebuild would allow the plant to operate profitably and in compliance with environmental requirements,” Ruby told ProPublica.Ruby told West Virginia’s Gazette-Mail that Bluestone Coke is reviewing rebuilding options to create a “state-of-the-art facility.
“This consent decree makes it clear that companies like Bluestone Coke cannot continue to pollute without consequences, and that starts with standards that put people — not profits — first,” said GASP Executive Director Michael Hansen. Half the fine’s proceeds are to be used to benefit nearby neighborhoods, with residents encouraged to weigh in on possible projects.
Do No Coke
Haven’t we determined that fines are simply not enough? This is a climate CRISIS. Throw them in jail.
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