Push Continues for Greater Scrutiny on Petroleum Coke in Detroit and Beyond

by David Muller (MLive.com) U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D - Bloomfield Hills, joined a counterpart in Illinois on Wednesday to call on the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the best methods for storing and transporting petroleum coke, as well as its potential effects on citizens’ health and the environment.
Nine other members of congress signed the letter to the EPA from Peters, who is currently running for a U.S senate seat in Michigan, and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigly, a Chicago Democrat.
“The proper storage of petcoke and how it impacts public health and the Great Lakes is something Michiganders have already had to deal with, and it's a growing concern for communities across the country,” Peters said in a statement.
The issue of petroleum coke storage has been at the forefront in the Detroit area since residents, environmentalists and local politicians grew vocal over large, black piles of petroleum coke that began building up along the Detroit River. Some Windsor residents also shot a windy-day video of dust clouds of the tar sands byproduct blowing off of the piles.
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Petroleum coke can be burned with coal for a cheaper, though dirtier, form of energy. Because of stricter standards by the EPA in the U.S., much of the oil sands byproduct is expected to be exported to Far East countries such as China. READ MORE