Coke ovens are toxic emitters, and the EPA needs to act

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Dear Friend,

For far too long, companies have put profits over protecting public health. One such example is the steel industry, which uses coke ovens that emit cancer-causing air pollution that is well above safe levels. A coke oven is a chamber that heats up coal to make coke, a refined fuel that is used to melt metals, particularly in steelmaking. These chambers release hazardous air pollutants like lead, mercury, benzene, and more. These emissions are toxic to humans and threaten public health.

Yet, it has been almost two decades since the Environmental Protection Agency proposed emission standards that incorporate the most recent science and risk assessment to set limits for these hazardous emissions. You can help change this.

The EPA has taken an important step to address this issue by proposing new air toxics standards for coke oven emissions. You can play a pivotal role in ensuring the EPA’s new standards are protective of public health by sending your comment to urge the agency to adopt a final rule that includes robust fenceline monitoring provisions and strong standards that reflect the best available science and risk analysis.

Coke oven emissions are so toxic that the EPA classifies them as a known carcinogen. These emissions increase the risk of people developing cancers of the lung, kidney, prostate, and other organs. Chronic exposure to coke oven emissions can also result in pink eye, severe eczema, and lesions in the respiratory and digestive systems.

As this proposed rule moves forward, the EPA must listen to and address concerns from communities suffering from coke oven pollution. It’s critical that the EPA include in its final rule a robust fenceline monitoring program that helps companies, the EPA, and communities track fugitive coke oven emissions. The standards must reflect the best available science and risk analysis, including consideration of cumulative impacts of multiple polluters on communities near coke ovens.

Tell the EPA to finalize the strongest possible and most protective air standards for coke oven emissions so that the agency can deepen its commitment to protecting communities.

Sincerely,
Adrienne Lee
Senior Associate Attorney

TAKE ACTION: [link removed]

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