PennFuture Responds to Report Concerning Clairton Coke Works

"U.S. Steel says it doesn't 'litigate in the court of public opinion,' but facts speak for themselves," said PennFuture President and CEO Jacquelyn Bonomo. "And the facts are summed up by one official who toured the Clairton Coke Works in 2017 and called it 'one of the most decrepit facilities I’ve ever seen in my nearly 30 years of work.' The Christmas Eve fire that knocked out pollution controls was entirely preventable and was the result of years of repeated failures to upgrade old and antiquated infrastructure at the plant. The result was three months of pollution exceedances that had very real health impacts for those in closest proximity to the plant, including spikes in asthma events and hospitalizations. 

This news report is further proof that U.S. Steel remains a toxic neighbor to Clairton and the region, and that even when faced with horrible conditions at the plant, the company refuses to undertake serious and meaningful upgrades and repairs to the Clairton Coke Works to protect the health of workers, communities and our air. Instead it continues to invest in other properties outside of Pennsylvania.”​

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PennFuture is leading the transition to a clean energy economy in Pennsylvania, fighting big polluters with legal muscle, enforcing environmental laws, and supporting legislative policy that protects public health. PennFuture is engaging and educating citizens about the realities of climate change, and giving them the tools needed to influence lawmakers on the issues. Visit www.pennfuture.org for more information.

Contact:
Jared Stonesifer
Director of Media Relations
stonesifer@pennfuture.org
412.456.2372