submitted by Steven Urso

On June 18 SunCoke Energy announced they would like a New Source Review permit issued for construction by September 1, 2009.  SunCoke has obtained emission credits for the new proposed SunCoke facility on Yankee Road.  There is a question as to whether SunCoke is eligible for the New Source Permit since one of the requirements for the new permit is that they need their other facilities to be environmentally compliant.  SunCoke was issued a notice of violation in April of 2009 at their Haverhill, Ohio facility.  SunCoke has not submitted a complete application to Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services and SunCoke has failed to provide any information on their offsets for the SunCoke facility in Middletown, Ohio.  

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). 

by  Steven Urso 

On November 25th 2008 the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued a permit to allow the construction of the Sun Coke processing facility in Middletown, Ohio. The permit was issued with a stipulation that Sun Coke not begin construction until a concurring decision comes from the Federal EPA. The Federal EPA has not issued a decision in regard to this permit. 

The City of Monroe has expressed serious concerns about a proposal to construct a 100-oven coke plant complex that will be located little more than 1,000 feet from a residential community in Monroe. The coke plant is to be constructed by Middletown Coke Co., a subsidiary of SunCoke Energy Inc., and will provide steel-making coke to AK Steel.

Recently, the Chamber of Commerce and the Butler County Building and Trades Council asked publicly that the City of Monroe explain the basis for its opposition to the coke plant. This letter is in response to those public requests.