Brian Barton
Tonawanda Coke Corporation (TCC) has been responsible for one of the most egregious environmental pollution crimes in the history of the area in which it operates. In 2013, the company was found guilty of violating the Clean Air Act from 2005 to 2009. A 2016 air quality study showed that the amount of pollutants, including benzene, that Tonawanda Coke was emitting had been reduced by 92% but was still above the legal limit. The company has also been found to dump hazardous waste in the open and store and treat it without a permit. A study of contamination near Tonawanda Coke found toxins in a small number of soil samples.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of pollution | Poisonous, benzene-laden gas, hazardous waste, coal tar sludge, ammonia liquor, coke oven gas |
| Pollutants | Benzene, PAHs, arsenic, pesticides |
| Extent of pollution | Contaminated soil, air emissions, waste, water |
| Impact | Health risks, including increased risk of leukemia |
| Regulatory action | Fined $12.5 million, community service payments of $12.2 million, ordered to fund a $711,000 study, cease and desist order |
| Company status | Operations suspended as of October 14, 2018 |
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What You'll Learn
- Tonawanda Coke Corporation fined for violating the Clean Air Act
- Tonawanda Coke releases benzene-laden gas and hazardous waste
- Tonawanda Coke Soil Study reveals toxins in soil samples
- Tonawanda Coke's toxic by-product smoke contains harmful chemicals
- Tonawanda Coke ordered to fund a study on environmental impact
Tonawanda Coke Corporation fined for violating the Clean Air Act
In 2014, the Tonawanda Coke Corporation was convicted of 11 counts of violating the Clean Air Act and three counts of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The company was fined $12.5 million and ordered to pay $12.2 million in community service payments to fund two environmental studies. The studies will help determine the extent of the health and environmental impacts of the company's operations on the Tonawanda community.
Tonawanda Coke was found to have released hundreds of tons of poisonous, benzene-laden gas into the atmosphere, while also improperly storing, treating, and disposing of hazardous waste. These actions were in violation of the company's operating permit and hazardous waste regulations. The company's environmental control manager, Mark L. Kamholz, was sentenced to one year in prison, 100 hours of community service, and a $20,000 fine.
The sentencing of Tonawanda Coke and its environmental control manager is a result of a joint effort by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Department of Justice, and the Environmental Protection Agency to address serious environmental violations at the company's facility. The sentencing is intended to hold the company accountable for its actions and to bring justice to the Tonawanda community, which has been exposed to toxic air pollution.
A study of contamination near Tonawanda Coke found toxins in a small number of soil samples, and high concentrations of arsenic were discovered at two elementary schools in Grand Island. While the arsenic was determined to be unrelated to Tonawanda Coke, the company's operations have undoubtedly impacted the environment and the health of the surrounding community.
In 2013, Tonawanda Coke was found guilty of violating the Clean Air Act from 2005 to 2009. While a 2016 air quality study showed a 92% reduction in pollutants, the company was still above the legal limit, leading to a cease and desist order from the DEC.
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Tonawanda Coke releases benzene-laden gas and hazardous waste
Tonawanda Coke Corporation (TCC) has been responsible for one of the most egregious environmental pollution crimes in the history of the area in which it operates. In 2013, the company was found guilty of violating the Clean Air Act from 2005 to 2009. In 2016, a new air quality study from the DEC showed that the amount of pollutants, including benzene, emitted by Tonawanda Coke had been reduced by 92%—but this was still above the legal limit.
The company was also found to be in violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. This related to its practice of mixing coal tar sludge, a listed hazardous waste that is toxic due to its benzene content, on the ground in violation of hazardous waste regulations. Tonawanda Coke also operated a coke-quenching tower without baffles, a pollution control device required by its Title V Clean Air Act permit, designed to reduce the particulate matter released into the air during coke quenches.
In addition, prior to an inspection conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in April 2009, a Tonawanda Coke employee was told to conceal the fact that an unreported pressure relief valve emitted coke oven gas directly into the air during normal operations, in violation of the company's operating permit. The company also stored, treated, and disposed of hazardous waste without a permit to do so.
In 2018, TCC suspended operations and initiated a process shutdown to permanently close its facility. The EPA and the New York State Department of Conservation (NYSDEC) led the effort to oversee the safe shutdown of operations, which included fully emptying and purging the gases from 60 coke ovens. The NYSDEC then turned the lead over to the EPA to conduct a full assessment of the facility and take any necessary actions to address the risks posed by the site.
A study of contamination near Tonawanda Coke found toxins in a small number of soil samples, and researchers discovered high concentrations of arsenic at two elementary schools in the area. However, this was determined to be unrelated to Tonawanda Coke.
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Tonawanda Coke Soil Study reveals toxins in soil samples
The Tonawanda Coke Soil Study was conducted to understand how pollution from the Tonawanda Coke Corp. plant may have impacted the soil in surrounding neighbourhoods. The study was led by Joseph Gardella Jr., PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the UB Department of Chemistry, who has about 40 years of experience studying the environmental impact of industrial pollutants. The study team also included UB Research Assistant Professor of Chemistry Tammy Milillo, PhD; UB chemistry PhD candidate Kaitlin Ordiway; and SUNY Fredonia Professor of Chemistry Michael Milligan, PhD. All are experts in environmental chemistry.
The study involved collecting and analysing hundreds of soil samples from properties that may have been in the path of emissions from the plant. Sampling locations were chosen based on geography, prevailing winds, and the research team's past experience with soil studies in Western New York. Soil samples were collected with the permission of property owners, who received a copy of the lab results and information on general health risks associated with any chemicals found.
Results from the study revealed toxins in a small number of soil samples. The contaminants were found six inches under the surface of the soil, and not at the surface. The number of contaminated samples was small, and there was no systematic pattern of high contamination across a specific area. The study also found high concentrations of arsenic at two elementary schools in Grand Island, which was determined to be from railroad ties used in construction.
The study will benefit communities around the Tonawanda Coke plant by providing information about what chemicals are in their soil, how widespread the pollution is, and whether the pollutants originated at the Tonawanda Coke plant. This knowledge is the first step in cleaning up any pollution and will inform future remediation efforts.
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Tonawanda Coke's toxic by-product smoke contains harmful chemicals
Tonawanda Coke Corporation (TCC) has been responsible for one of the most egregious environmental pollution crimes in the history of the area in which it operates. TCC has operated a coke manufacturing facility in Tonawanda, New York, since 1978, and the site has been used for coke manufacturing since 1917. Coke is a fuel made by heating coal at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. This process releases a toxic by-product in the form of smoke.
The smoke emitted by Tonawanda Coke contains a range of harmful chemicals, including benzene, a known carcinogen. According to the CDC, exposure to high levels of benzene can increase the risk of developing leukemia. In addition to benzene, Tonawanda Coke has been found to release other hazardous pollutants, including coal tar sludge, a toxic substance that is also linked to benzene exposure.
Investigations and studies have confirmed the presence of toxins in soil samples near the Tonawanda Coke facility, indicating the impact of the company's operations on the surrounding environment. Researchers from the University at Buffalo and SUNY Fredonia conducted a soil study in 2022, which revealed elevated levels of pollutants, including pesticides and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), at a depth of 6 inches below the surface. While the levels of PAHs found were not considered a cause for immediate alarm, the contamination underscores the extent of Tonawanda Coke's impact on the local ecosystem.
Tonawanda Coke has faced significant legal consequences for its environmental violations. In 2013, the company was found guilty of violating the Clean Air Act from 2005 to 2009. In 2015, a federal Judicial Consent Decree was secured, outlining the steps necessary for the facility to comply with federal and state environmental laws. Tonawanda Coke was also charged with criminal violations of the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, resulting in a $12.5 million penalty and $12.2 million in community service payments. The company's environmental control manager was also sentenced for their role in these violations.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has played a crucial role in addressing the issues at the Tonawanda Coke facility. In 2018, the EPA assisted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) in overseeing the safe shutdown of operations, conducting air monitoring, and providing emergency cleanup activities. The EPA has continued to work closely with the impacted community and local officials to address the environmental concerns arising from Tonawanda Coke's operations.
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Tonawanda Coke ordered to fund a study on environmental impact
Tonawanda Coke Corporation was convicted of violating the Clean Air Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The company was found to have released hundreds of tons of poisonous, benzene-laden gas into the atmosphere, as well as dumping hazardous waste in the open. Following this, a federal judge ordered Tonawanda Coke to fund a $711,000 study to investigate the environmental impact of its operations on the surrounding community.
The study, officially named "Determining the Environmental Impact of Coke Oven Emissions Originating from Tonawanda Coke Corp. on Surrounding Residential Community", was led by the University at Buffalo. It involved collecting and analyzing hundreds of soil samples from properties in the path of emissions from the Tonawanda Coke plant. The study team included researchers from the University at Buffalo and SUNY Fredonia, all of whom were experts in environmental chemistry.
The findings of the study would benefit the local communities by providing them with information about the chemicals present in their soil, the extent of any pollution, and whether these pollutants originated from the Tonawanda Coke plant. The study also sought community input through a community advisory committee, which provided feedback and helped guide the project.
The results of the study showed that while there were elevated levels of contaminants in some soil samples, the levels were not high enough to cause panic. The contaminants were found at a depth of 6 inches under the surface, and the researchers assured that exposure to these contaminants was unlikely.
In addition to the soil study, Tonawanda Coke was also ordered to fund a separate environmental health study to investigate the long-term effects of emissions from the plant on the health of surrounding communities. This study is being conducted by a different team and will span over ten years.
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Frequently asked questions
Tonawanda Coke Corporation (TCC) has operated a coke manufacturing facility since 1978, and the property has been used for coke manufacturing since 1917. Coke is a fuel made by heating coal at high temperatures without oxygen.
Tonawanda Coke released hundreds of tons of poisonous, benzene-laden gas into the atmosphere. They also dumped hazardous waste in the open, including toxic coal tar sludge.
A study found toxins in a small number of soil samples taken from around the Tonawanda Coke property. The contaminants were found 6 inches under the surface, and there was no systematic pattern to the contamination.
Tonawanda Coke was found guilty of violating the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. They were sentenced to pay a $12.5 million penalty and $12.2 million in community service payments. The EPA has also been working to address the contamination and protect the community.
According to the CDC, exposure to high levels of benzene can increase the risk of developing leukemia. However, the levels of contaminants found in the study were not considered to be dangerous, and exposure is unlikely.
