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Pet coke along Detroit River removed, says mayor

The mounds of petroleum coke along the shores of the Detroit River that have prompted environmental worry all year are now gone, Mayor Dave Bing’s office said Thursday.

Bing and other local and state elected officials have pushed for the removal of the material after residents in both Detroit and Windsor expressed concern about the potential impact on human health and the surrounding ecosystems.

Pet coke is a byproduct of the oil refinery process and can be sold as a fuel source. The piles along the Detroit River were created at the nearby Marathon Oil Refinery and purchased by Koch Minerals LLC.

Detroit Bulk Storage, which owns the property where Koch is keeping the material, has been working this month to remove the pet coke.

“I am pleased to report Detroit Bulk Storage has complied with our order to remove all of the petroleum coke piles stored on the Detroit River in Southwest Detroit,” Bing said in a statement. “The company had been in violation of the Detroit Property Maintenance Code and Official Zoning Ordinance...

“All that remains to be done is the cleanup of residual materials.”

The city’s Building, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department had rejected an application from Detroit Bulk Storage for permission to store petroleum coke on-site.

“Detroit Bulk is disappointed in the city's decision and they are exploring their options at this time,” said Daniel Cherrin, the company’s spokesman. “While Detroit Bulk understands the communities’ concerns and the politics of this issue, Detroit Bulk has been working with the city and the state throughout this process and will continue to work with them should there be another opportunity to operate within the city of Detroit.”

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130829/METRO01/308290122#ixzz2doGeUdxE

Source: The Detroit News