Erie coke plant suddenly closes after 186 years

ERIE, Pa. — After 186 years of operation, the embattled Erie Coke plant on Erie’s east side suddenly closed its gates Thursday.

More than a hundred workers showed up Thursday morning, only to be turned away at the plant gates.

It comes after years of numerous air and water pollution violations.

Representatives of Erie Coke, the DEP and the city solicitor all met at City Hall behind closed doors late Thursday afternoon.

After just over half an hour, Erie Coke representatives walked out of the meeting and ignored questions from reporters.

Later, officials said Erie Coke claimed it could not come into compliance with city rules that recently banned the company from using the sewage treatment plant for its waste.

The meeting ended with no good news for workers, dashing hopes that somehow the closing of the plant could be averted and jobs saved.

“Ultimately they’ve concluded that they cannot achieve compliance and can not identify a date that they could. Given that, they’ve elected to cease operations,” city solicitor Edward Betza told WICU.

“The same problems that existed ten years ago still exist with Erie Coke. They haven’t gotten them fixed, and they show no promise of fixing them, so I think we have to stick to our guns,” said Erie Mayor Joe Schember.

Since the late day meeting failed to change the decision, that will have a big impact on the Erie community and more than 130 workers at Erie Coke.

Erie Coke Corporation issued a statement that it is discontinuing operations because of the city’s cease and desist order regarding wastewater, and its impact on the company’s finances.

The statement reads in part, “We are deeply disappointed by this turn of events and the permanent silencing of a local manufacturing operation that has been in existence since 1833. We share the frustration of our hardworking employees with the current circumstances, and regret that we were not able to salvage the business and its good-paying manufacturing jobs. This is truly a sad day for all.”

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