Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—November 19, 2013. The following is a letter from Congresswoman Robin Kelly to the Illinois EPA expressing her concerns with a pending application submitted by KCBX Terminals Company to expand its pet coke operation. The IEPA is expected to rule on the application Wednesday.
November 18, 2013
Ms. Lisa Bonnett
Director
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
1021 North Grand Avenue East
Springfield, Illinois 62794
Dear Director Bonnett:
I write to express my concerns with an application pending before the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Bureau of Air submitted by KCBXS, which seeks to add ten portable conveyors, one stacking conveyor, and one portable hopper to its petroleum coke bulk terminal operations near 1730 South Burley Avenue in Chicago’s 10th Ward.
As you know, there has been a sharp increase in the amount of pet coke being stored along the Calumet River in recent months, and that amount is expected to sharply increase even more in the months ahead. As a result of the new pet coke mountains emerging in their neighborhood, area residents (my constituents) have complained that fugitive dust emissions of pet coke are causing health hazards, environmental contamination, and a public nuisance.
Moreover, a recent spate of legal actions stemming from the pet coke operations should be reason to give pause. On November 4th, the Illinois Attorney General files suit against KCBX, alleging air pollution and permitting violations. On October 24th, our office issued a notice of violation alleging pollution and permitting violations against a neighboring pet coke terminal, owned by the Beemsterboer Company. Ad on October 31st, a class-action lawsuit was filed in Cook County Court by area residents alleging air pollution violations against both KCBX and Beemsterboer.
In light of the growing public outcry about health and environmental concerns linked to pet coke, I asked the Congressional Research h Service in September for information on the health and environmental impacts of pet coke. The CRS research, now completed, found that fugitive dust from pet coke does have negative health impacts on animals and is a public nuisance. In order to learn more about the health and environmental impacts of pet coke, I am now cosponsoring federal legislation, House Resolution 2298, which would require the federal government to conduct an extensive study into the health and environmental impacts associated with pet coke.
Given the recent spate of legal actions stemming from the ongoing pet coke operations in the 10th Ward, and given the research that is available regarding possible health hazards associated with pet coke, and given the strong opposition voiced by my constituents against future expansion of pet coke operations in the 10th Ward, I ask that the EPA reconsider KCBX’s application until all potential negative health and environmental impacts can be fully assessed and understood.
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact me or have staff contact my Senior Adviser, Mr. Rick Bryant at 708-679-0078. I thank you in advance for your consideration on this important matter.
Sincerely,
Source: robinkelly.house.gov
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