by Steven Urso

On March 13th it was announced that the SunCoke Company would be applying for a new permit for a SunCoke facility to be built on the Martin/Bake Farm in Middletown, Ohio. The proposed facility will abut the City of Monroe and many Monroe residents. 

The City of Monroe opposes the SunCoke facility due to health concerns for its citizens and the negative economic impact that the proposed coke plant will have on Monroe. The City of Monroe filed an appeal with the Environmental Review Appeals Commission (ERAC) this past February, and a citizen's action lawsuit has been filed in federal court. The federal suit claims that SunCoke is violating the Federal Clean Air Act. 

SunCoke Watch, a local grass roots organization, filed an appeal with ERAC in February. SunCoke has also received pressure from environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). 

In spite of all this pressure from opposing parties the SunCoke Corporation has decided to repeat the permit process. They will try to address the issues that were raised in the litigation. The main issue addressed by the new permit is related to the five year netting period. SunCoke will take a significant amount of time to get the permit finished and released to the public. 

It is expected that the process that took place this past summer will be repeated again. There should be a public comment period followed by an EPA public hearing. Opposing parties are anticipating several problems with the new permit, and the fight against SunCoke will continue. 

More information about the proposed Middletown plant, as well as problems at SunCoke's existing plant in Haverhill, is available online at suncokewatch.com. SunCoke Watch is also accepting donations to help fund legal expenses.