Congress considers legislation to assess health impact of pet coke nationwide
By Dennis Archambault
Sen. Gary Peters and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who each have maintained watch over this issue, have co-authored legislation that regulates storage of pet coke; but more importantly, requires a health impact assessment. If passed, the Petroleum Coke Transparency and Public Health Act of 2019 could be a progressive step in the process of implementing health in all policies at the local, state, and national levels.
Environmental activists were surprised and alarmed in January to learn that Marathon Petroleum had requested a variance from the City of Detroit ordinance requiring the company to maintain pet coke within a fully contained structure. Not only that, but a public hearing on the matter was inadequately promoted so few comments could be aired publicly. The Great Lakes Environmental Law Center https://www.peters.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/peters-durbin-tlaib-kelly-introduce-bicameral-bill-to-study-effects-of-petroleum-coke advocated to extend the deadline for public comment until Monday, March 18.
Marathon’s request involves several requirements in the ordinance, including:
- That Marathon store, handle, and process petroleum coke in a fully enclosed structure
- That Marathon conduct a street sweeping program in compliance with the Ordinance
- That Marathon install a rumble strip for outgoing trucks to limit the track out of dust onto roadways
- The requirement to conduct visual emissions observations.
Dennis Archambault is vice president for Public Affairs at Authority Health.