Erie Times News reported that Erie Coke and the US Environmental Protection Agency have filed a proposed settlement in US District Court.

If the agreement, called a consent decree, stands, it will end the litigation that began in September 2009 when the EPA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection sued Erie Coke in US District Court in Erie over claims of chronic environmental violations.

The Erie Coke plant reached a settlement with state regulators in June 2010 under the threat of a plant closure order filed by the DEP. Erie Coke agreed to pay a USD 6 million fine and an additional USD 15 million over three years to bring the plant into compliance with Pennsylvania's Air Pollution Control Act, the Clean Air Act, other regulations and the plant's air quality permit.

Ms Freda Tarbell spokeswoman at DEP said that under the EPA's proposed consent decree, Erie Coke must pay an additional USD 300,000. If it fails to comply with the decree's requirements, it could face penalties ranging from USD 250 to USD 1,000 a day. The federal agreement also addresses emissions concerns that were not dealt with in the state consent decree.

She said that it requires, among other things, that the plant prevent dust from the roads in the facility from escaping into the air and replace damaged screening that controls dust emissions.

Ms Bonnie Smith spokeswoman at EPA said that provisions of the federal consent decree will stay in place until Erie Coke complies with the state's consent decree. She added that "EPA is glad that this federal Clean Air Act case against Erie Coke is settled. The federal consent decree will dovetail with Pennsylvania's consent decree to further reduce harmful air pollutants from Erie Coke."

Ms Smith said that the consent decree has been docketed in federal court. It will be published in the Federal Register, with 30 days allowed for public comment. After considering the comment, the government can then move for entry of the decree.

The Erie Coke plant is one of four nationwide that heats coal to produce a product known as foundry coke. It is used in the production of automobile parts, pipe and sugar beet processing.

(Sourced from Erie Times News)