I am interested in a SunCoke Impact Study on area residence homes and schools.
Before, during and after construction, I will be driving around with my camera, interviewing people, AK and SunCoke spokespersons, Middletown and Monroe council, staff and getting photo documentation.
I am interesting in a real study. It probably will take several years to complete.
To start, I would like to get BEFORE photos of the impact area. If you have a residence or business that will be impacted, please take photos or invite me to take photos for myself.
I am not interested in preconceived notions. I want just the facts. Facts start with the BEFORE - interviews and photos.
If you are willing to help me in this study, which I will post here, please contact me. john@mainstreetmonroe.com
MainStreetMonroe.com is news of, for and by the people of Monroe, Ohio.
I think Monroe should invest (or force SunCoke as part of a deal) to install air quality monitors in various parts of town to see just who will be affected by the plant. Set the monitors up now to set the standard and see the changes over time, better or worse. I'd include the primary and school complex, Rt 4 & Todhunter, Rt 4 & Roden Park, Mason & Gallaher at the new fire station, and Yankee or Salzman at Hankins to get a good cross section of wind. It's the only real way we will ever know the impact in the community. Obviously we can't believe the EPA or Suncoke.
Great idea John and buckeyenut. I was thinking about this just the other day but haven't a clue how you would fund the cost of doing air quality monitoring like that. You'd think the government (EPA) should be doing that anyway - but I know we can't rely on that.
I built my house over 30 years ago, and had always believed there would be a housing development to the east of my home, sometime in the future. That would occur once Zechers and the Metzcars moved on. As it stands right now, I can look forward to an industrial building within 50 feet of my dining room window.
The Zecher farm is all that seperates me from the coke plant.
I have attached a picture of their barn, and several of my home with snow that has laid on the ground now for several days.
Two years from now, I'm sure the snow won't be nice and white, and my family will be breathing the dust coming from this plant.
My home is nothing more then rental property once they start construction.
You are welcome to take as many pictures of my home that you might need. I am willing to take any picture you might request. For your personal info: I am a retired Armco/AK salary employee who depends on my pension check each month.
Jim Keister
MainStreetMonroe.com is news of, for and by the people of Monroe, Ohio.
that's pretty much going to kill the area isn't it. home sales and businesses are going to suffer from people moving out. I know, I'm really considering moving away just for health reasons alone.
If this thing gets built, I would like to move, but I won't be able to sell my house for what is owed on it. The housing downturn and foreclosures have made it bad enough. This will make it worse. How many more people will just abandon homes they cannot sell? A big downward spiral of Monroe will begin.
From Wikipedia...A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true, by the very terms of the prophecy itself, due to positive feedback between belief and behavior.
This is going to happen people, sitting on this blog bi&*&ing about property values is only helping to lower them. Take control of something: buy that farm pictured above and make it a nature preserve, develop the existing nature preserve on Route 4, build a bike path to compensate for the drop in values, Connect Yankee Road to Salzmann Road to route the increased truck traffic ( Quaker, Propane Plant, Coke Plant, etc.)away from our school, do something.
$400,000 given to the lawyers, just to require a new source permit, are you kidding me,
The population of Scioto County is 76587. There are 33 foreclosed homes for sale. That is 1 forclosure for every 2,320 people.
The population of Butler County is 360765. There are 182 foreclosed homes for sale. That is 1 forclosure for every 1982 people.
It seems that Scioto County is doing better than Butler County. Everyone keeps saying look at how horrible Haverhill is; I have not seen any data to support this. I have driven through the town, it seems nice enough.
It is debatable if Haverhill has ever been in compliance. It is a hell-hole where no one wants to live and the only option is walking away! I hope Monroe never gives up this fight and there is no indication they will, because they know the truth, unlike the heartless propaganda some put forth here. Just a little sample of Haverhill. The real story is the pictures of this plant falling down from the corrosive gases and non compliances even in Kentucky. The people around the plant in Haverhill drove here to tell us and Middletown city council about what living in proximity was like, but council and the proponents of this fiasco could care less.
Looking for more 'before' photos. If you have a comment or a photo of your property or property in the area that you would like to see documented here, please post away. If you need help posting photos, email me john@mainstreetmonroe.com I will assist you getting your images displayed on this thread.
MainStreetMonroe.com is news of, for and by the people of Monroe, Ohio.
My concern is not only for our homes but our kids! Our kids are up on that hill and all the wind blows right thru the play area and all of that black smoke will be blown directly towards our kids. Since I am on the subject of the play area who in the world decided to put the kids play area on the side of the building where all the wind blows...DUH! You would think that since they are carrying the degrees and all, that they would have been smart enough to put up a fence so they don't have all of that cold air blowing across the play area. So that should be plenty of food for thought......PUT UP A FENCE FOR OUR KIDS AROUND THE PLAY AREA! No wonder why we have so many kids out sick...well that may not be the truth but still a fence would be nice. Out of curiosity, have any of you that had the bright plans to build up there been out to play on the school playgrounds? If not maybe you should on a cold windy day. Ask all the teachers they will say the same thing..IT IS AN ICEBURG UP THERE! Then when the coke plant comes they get to breath all that wonderful coke smoke.
Pennsylvania regulators moved Monday to shut down a plant in Erie for repeatedly violating state environmental laws — a step that, one state official said, stems from the company's "complete disregard for the health of our citizens."
In its order revoking the air-quality permit of Erie Coke Corp., the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cited the company for failing to accurately report emissions of "numerous hazardous air pollutants," and for failing to remedy problems inspectors already identified.
Kelly Burch, the DEP's northwest regional director, called the move "very drastic" and cited the company's "pattern of defiant behavior and complete disregard for the health of our citizens." About 150 employees work at the facility, which turns coal into coke, a fuel used to melt iron ore for steel mills.
FULL COVERAGE: The Smokestack Effect
Messages left with Erie Coke were not returned Monday, but DEP spokeswoman Freda Tarbell said the company appealed the order hours after it was issued. The appeal is scheduled to be heard this week by a state panel of administrative law judges, she said. Meantime, the company will continue to operate.
In 2008, a USA TODAY investigation revealed high levels of at least two dangerous chemicals in the air outside a school just blocks from Erie Coke. The chemicals, benzene and naphthalene, are among those that Erie Coke emits, records show.
The federal government has classified "coke oven emissions" as carcinogens, and USA TODAY's tests found the two chemicals at concentrations that could increase the risk of cancer for those exposed for long periods of time. Children are particularly vulnerable; they take in more air per pound than adults do, and their organs are still developing.
In response to USA TODAY's findings, regulators with the DEP took air samples outside Wayne School — while Erie Coke operated at 50% capacity. The tests showed "no unsafe levels of air pollutants or metals," the DEP reported in early 2009.
Burch said Monday that the DEP stands behind its earlier conclusions, even though the order to close Erie Coke cites 108 violations of its air permit from October 2006 through March 2008. Indeed, in July 2008 — a month before USA TODAY did its testing outside Wayne School — Erie Coke told the DEP it previously had not accounted for emissions from 23 of its 58 coke ovens.
Burch said no one has studied the health of local residents enough to know whether the chemicals have caused higher rates of cancers or other illnesses.
Erie activist Dennis Stratton, however, said the DEP order reinforces what many local residents fear: that emissions near the facility pose health problems.
That's also the concern of Elena Craft, a toxicologist and air quality specialist for the Environmental Defense Fund. She said the situation in Erie underscores why more extensive investigations into the health effects of toxic chemicals are necessary.
"I don't think we have a good handle on the true risk associated with these compounds," Craft said. "How can you say that that risk is acceptable or unacceptable? This is one great example of why we need to do" further study.
SunCoke Impact Study: Monroe Homes and Schools
Posted - 02/11/2010 : 4:35:51 PM
