Peters Warns Other States about Uncontained Petroleum Coke Piles' Effect on the Community

Press Release

Now that the petroleum coke piles are expected to be gone by August and the Detroit River sites will no longer used to store the waste byproduct, U.S. Representative Gary Peters is encouraged that small businesses and residents nearby will soon have relief. For months, Peters has been raising concern over dust from the piles blowing into homes and businesses, and over contamination from an open drain that had been emptying pet coke runoff into the Great Lakes Watershed.

Today Peters issued a warning for other communities in Ohio and across the country who will now have to cope with uncontained pet coke since there is no indication that the storage process will change at the new out of state sites.

"I am glad the concerns from our community about dust and contamination from the uncontained petroleum coke piles have been heard, " Peters said. "Serious questions remain about the open-air storage of the petroleum pet coke piles and their impact on families and the Great Lakes Watershed since the piles have been moved, but proper storage issues have not been addressed. It is critical that we get the facts -- how to properly store pet coke and what the long-term risks could be for residents and small businesses whether they are in Michigan or not. I've introduced a proposal so we can get answers on how to best protect public safety because storing pet coke is a challenge other cities and towns will face across the country."

Peters has spearheaded efforts to ensure that precautions are taken to protect public health and safety. He has met with local business owners and residents about their concerns regarding the pet coke piles. Peters has also repeatedly pressed the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) about efforts to properly store and handle the petroleum coke piles. While Peters is encouraged that steps are being taken to mitigate the dust problem, he has serious concerns regarding the open-air storage and handling of the pet coke piles along the waterfront.

Peters is fighting for a federal study to get answers about potential health and environmental impact of petroleum coke. Peters legislation, The Petroleum Coke Transparency and Public Health Study Act has earned support from Michigan U.S. Representatives John Conyers Jr., John Dingell, Sander Levin, and Dan Kildee.

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