Oil Reaches Louisiana Shores

See more photos here.

DEP Orders Erie Coke to Shut Down

DEP News Release:

The Department of Environmental Protection today ordered Erie Coke Corp. and company CEO J.D. Crane to cease operations within 72 hours after it revoked the facility’s air permit for violating state environmental laws.

The department’s northwest regional director, Kelly Burch, said the department hopes the order will cause Erie Coke to make the needed repairs and reopen operations that do not pollute the air or violate the law. He added that revoking the permit, which allows the facility to operate legally, was a “last resort” action.

"We’ve tried to work with the company to correct multiple ongoing environmental violations so that it could maintain and operate a clean and safe plant that meets the letter of the law,” said Burch. “Since 2006, DEP has inspected Erie Coke’s facility numerous times. Those inspections have revealed a pattern of defiant behavior and complete disregard for the health of our citizens and the quality of our natural resources. Our inspections indicate that the coke ovens at the facility are cracked and emitting pollutants.

Burch said the company’s failure to live up to its obligations is disappointing. DEP’s progressive enforcement approach with Erie Coke has proved successful with nearly all other permitted facilities facing similar issues.

“Only Erie Coke is responsible for the action we’re taking today,” said Burch. “Under the direction of Mr. Crane, the company has demonstrated a lack of intent or desire to take the corrective actions needed to bring his operations into compliance and protect our environment. Their failure to act made our order unavoidable.”

Upon receipt of the order, Erie Coke is to cease all coke oven charging operations immediately and remove all remaining coke from the coke oven battery through normal pushing operations within 48 hours. All boiler operations and emissions must cease within 72 hours of receiving the order.

Today’s order replaces previous orders DEP issued on June 23, 2008 and Jan. 20, 2009.

In 2008, DEP issued an order and assessed a $6.1 million penalty for emissions violations, which Erie Coke appealed to the Environmental Hearing Board. The company did not fully comply with the order nor did it pay the penalty.

In 2009, DEP ordered Erie Coke to test completely and accurately all emissions from both of the coke oven batteries. Emissions from one of the batteries had not been part of previous testing. Erie Coke and Crane appealed the 2009 order and have not fully complied with it.

The 58 coke ovens that Erie Coke operates at the facility were installed in the 1940s and 1950s.

The Department of Environmental Protection today ordered Erie Coke Corp. and company CEO J.D. Crane to cease operations within 72 hours after it revoked the facility’s air permit for violating state environmental laws.

Gator Sighting

So I went all the way to Florida to spot an alligator and wouldn't you know it, one was caught up in Erie?!

Some local fisherman had quite a scare on Sunday when they found a live alligator in Elk Creek. Lake City firefighters captured the gator near the boat ramp at the creek.

Animal experts believe the three foot reptile was released into the creek by its owners.

The alligator was not injured while it was being recovered; it has since been given to a reptile expert to be studied.

Official Logo of Erie

It's official! The City of Erie, Pennsylvania, home port for the U.S. Brig Niagara, has chosen “The Flagship City” logomark to both claim its place in history and to showcase its waterfront location.

With 945 of the nearly 3,000 votes cast, here is the winning logo:

To see all the logos again, you can read my blog post from April.

To show your Erie pride, you can order a t-shirt... but now the decision is what color.

Bussssssy

Wow. I feel like I have fallen from the face of the internet.

This homeownership takes up a lot of time...

At 3:30 p.m. today, I will have owned my house for one week, which means only 1,559 weeks (or 10,943 days) until it is paid off.

So what have I been doing?

• Wednesday night my parents came over and we celebrated with champagne. I also bought hand soap, a doorknocker (which I need to return), and canisters.
• Thursday ... I can't remember what I did.
• Friday I went over to the house on my lunch hour and took a few things in. Then I just meandered around, looking at all this space I now own.
• Saturday my dad and I tore the wallpaper borders down from the kitchen, family room, half bathroom, and both bedrooms. We used vinegar and water - it worked great - but it was still hard work.
• Sunday I went to the hardware stores with my dad and pointed at things I liked. We picked up the new sofa and loveseat. My dad realigned the garage door. I mowed the lawn. Also on Sunday I was featured in Lake Erie Life Style magazine's home and garden issue. They interviewed new home owners. (And, of course, we squeezed in some Mother's Day celebration.)
• Monday I mowed the lawn again after work. My hands hurt bad - like they were bruised.
• Tuesday I reviewed some paint color ideas with my mom and she showed me curtains she bought. My dad called the locksmith and got some ceiling paint

Now, here we are a week later.

My parents have been a HUGE help. I think my dad isn't feeling overwhelmed yet, since he is my go-to Mr. Fix It. (I have to get him a big Father's Day gift.)

I'm also so surprised with how much I got done. I didn't really think anything was going to be happening with the house for many weeks, but I am certainly relieved to have some things accomplished.

Don't Spill It!

I got this letter from the Sierra Club, for which I am a member. I wanted to pass it along and get some more signatures for the petition.

Since last week's oil drilling disaster off the Louisiana coast, it's been discovered that the well is spewing five times as much oil into the ocean as originally estimated, 210,000 gallons of oil each day - and no end is in sight.

This is expected to become one of the largest oil disasters in North American history.

Our hearts go out to the eleven families who lost their loved ones in the oil-rig explosion.

This is a tragedy, this is avoidable and this needs to stop -- oil is dirty, dangerous, and deadly.

Join us in telling the Obama Administration that we've had enough - it's time to halt all proposals for more oil drilling off our coasts.

This is also a national emergency. Although President Obama is committing resources toward addressing the immediate cleanup and recovery needs of Gulf Coast residents, businesses, wildlife, and marine life, we know the damage can't be contained completely.

Since the initial explosion and tragic loss of loss of life, the oil slick has grown - we will now see oil pollute the Gulf's waters, beaches, and sensitive wetlands. We will see the communities of the Gulf Coast affected with the anticipated damages for years to come.

Tell the Obama Administration that oil has no place in a 21st century energy economy - it's time to stop any new drilling off our coasts.

Instead of risking our lives, our coasts, our clean air, and our security by perpetuating our addiction to oil, let’s build a clean energy economy that means more jobs, less pollution, and real energy independence.

It's time to put a stop to this - we've had enough!

Sarah Hodgdon
Conservation Director, Sierra Club

I really think this oil spill is tragic. I'm frustrated that in the 21st century, not only are we making these huge errors, but we are also so dependant on oil.

In addition to signing the petition, you can voice your opinion during the live Facebook discussion at 7:30 pm eastern with Michael Brune, executive director.

Closing!

To honor my home closing, I arranged a Mexican holiday to be celebrated. Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Today is the biggest day of my life. It is a very exciting and nervous day! Eek! I am very proud to be buying a home by myself at my age, but I know I am not alone.

Just a few facts...

Single female buyers accounted for nearly twice as large a share as single male buyers for both first-time home buyers and repeat buyers.

20% of recent home buyers were single females, and 10% were single males.

More women (15.5 million) than men (11.8 million) lived alone, among these women were more likely than men to own their own homes (56% vs 47%).

Over the time period of 1994-2002, the number of unmarried females owning homes climbed from 13.9 million to 17.8 million.

Wish me luck!