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Murphy OKs meeting with coke plant foes Mayor's opposition unchanged despite vocal rally by 50 outside City-County building Tuesday, October 27, 1998 By Don Hopey, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
About 50 opponents of a proposed LTV/Sun Co. coke plant in Hazelwood cranked up their loudspeakers and rhetoric yesterday on the front steps of the City-County Building.
The noon rally by Citizens Helping Our Community didn't persuade Mayor Murphy, who has staunchly supported the proposed $350 million plant on the site of LTV's old plant. But after a 10-person delegation delivered petitions containing 1,750 signatures, Murphy agreed to meet with them Nov. 4.
They said he hadn't responded to previous meeting requests.
Councilman Bob O'Connor, in whose district the coke plant would be built, said after the rally that he is opposed to the new plant.
"There are major concerns on health issues and a lot of unanswered questions on tax breaks and incentives, so I can't support the coke plant at this time," said O'Connor, who has no vote on the proposal.
"The company did a good job selling the politicians, but not the community."
Lucille Kennedy, a Hazelwood resident and member of CHOC, told those at the rally that the proposed plant's unhealthy emissions of airborne particles, lead, volatile organic compounds and sulfur dioxide aren't worth the 200 jobs it will create.
"We urge the mayor to let go of the past so our young people can make Pittsburgh a part of their future," Kennedy said.
Marie Kocoshis, president of the Group Against Smog and Pollution, said the coke plant could stunt the economic growth of the area for half a century
United Steelworkers subdistrict Director John DeFazio, one of a handful of union members at the rally to voice their support for the coke plant, said the new plant can provide jobs and maintain good air quality.
"As long as it meets the health standards, we want this plant," DeFazio said. "If its emissions aren't good, we don't want our members working in a bad environment. We want what's safe for the workers and the community."
The new 300-oven coke works could produce up to 1.94 million tons a year and include a cogeneration electrical plant.
The Allegheny County Health Department is reviewing the request by LTV and Sun for an installation permit. Roger Westman, director of the county's air quality program, said the county has asked for more information from the companies to complete the permit review.
The county had hoped to complete the review by the end of the month, but that won't be possible, he added.
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