The Department of Environmental Protection Monday announced it will conduct a series of air quality readings in advance of and immediately following the resumption of cokemaking operations at ArcelorMittal’s Monessen coke plant in Westmoreland County.
“While we welcome the economic boost the plant will give the Mon Valley, we recognize that it has the potential to impact air quality in the area,” DEP Southwest Regional Director Susan Malone said. “We will work to ensure that the plant is operating within the parameters of its air quality permits.”
The department’s Mobile Analytical Unit (MAU) has already collected “background” air samples. These readings were gathered before the plant was restarted and will provide a baseline for readings taken by the MAU after the plant resumes operations.
The MAU will employ a sensitive testing apparatus, the open path Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer, to detect very small changes in air quality. The testing tool also has the ability to sample for a large number of compounds.
Specifically, DEP will be looking for changes in volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, emissions associated with coke oven batteries. DEP will also conduct additional ambient air sampling in the vicinity of the plant.
After all samples have been analyzed, DEP’s Air Quality staff will consider the need for permanent air monitoring around the coke plant.
The Monessen plant last operated in May 2009. It has been in “Hot Idle” status since then. The plant has the capacity to produce 370,000 tons of coke per year and provide nearly 160 jobs.
