Fund Air Monitoring in Tonawanda!

The monitoring found five hazardous air pollutants over the state%u2019s annual concentration guidelines, including two human carcinogens: benzene and formaldehyde. The monitoring also identified the worst air polluters in Tonawanda, including Tonawanda Coke Corporation.

The air monitoring spurred important action from the community and regulatory agencies.  Frequently citing the monitoring results, the Clean Air Coalition educated the community and elected official about the risks from air pollution.  The public pressure created by the Coalition and elected officials resulted in tangible change in Tonawanda.

In December, the US Attorney General with the EPA, DEC and US Coast Guard staged a raid at Tonawanda Coke to present a federal search warrant. They took paperwork and samples. Less than a week later Mark Kamholz, Tonawanda Coke%u2019s Environmental Control Manager was arrested and taken to court for violating three federal environmental laws. If found guilty Kamholz faces up to five years in jail or $50,000 per day the plant has been out of compliance. In January, the EPA issued Tonawanda Coke three Notices of Violation detailing the changes that must be made at the plant.  If Tonawanda Coke chooses not to comply they face up to $35,000 per day they have been out of compliance.

The air monitoring in Tonawanda has been essential to identifying polluters in Tonawanda and ensuring regulatory action is taken to protect human health in Tonawanda.

Funding for the air monitoring will expire in April of 2010.  DEC representatives have indicated they intend to continue the monitoring past April 2010.  The Clean Air Coalition requests funding is secured to continue air monitoring for at least two years. 

Discontinuing air monitoring in Tonawanda is the wrong thing to do.  It sends a signal to polluters that they are no longer being watched.  Perhaps more importantly, the NYS DEC, EPA and the community will have no way of measuring progress.   Tonawanda Coke is a large part of the air pollution problem in Tonawanda, but there is still significant work to be done to bring Tonawanda%u2019s collective air pollution to a safe level. We need the monitoring to identify whether or not policy is working and track progress.  The monitoring is an essential component to improving the health and safety of Tonawanda residents.

The DEC should make a commitment to funding the air monitoring in Tonawanda at least through the end of 2012.  Should they need financial assistance, they could consider a partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency through the Healthy Communities Initiative that has $6 million to improve air toxins monitoring capabilities through significant assistance to states.