Community Input Session: Erie Coke Site
Port Authority encourages the community to get involved in the site remediation project
Since the Erie Coke Plant locked its doors in December 2019, the 194 acre site has continued to be the subject of discussion within the Erie community. After nearing 200 years of coke production, a coal byproduct used as fuels to smelt iron ore, that contaminated the site and gave way to numerous environmental law violations, the property was abandoned. In May 2024, The Erie Western PA Port Authority took possession and condemned the site. Now, while testing by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) are underway, the Port is reaching out to the public to have open discussions about the future of the property.
On Feb. 19 they hosted a community meeting at East Middle School and on Feb. 20, a community open house at Erie Center for Arts and Technology (ECAT). " The Port Authority said from day one that they wanted to be open and transparent, have public input," President of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority Tina Mengine told me. "It's the second round of public meetings that they've done since taking ownership less than a year ago, so I give the Port credit for their commitment to that."
The Redevelopment Authority is a partner with the Port in securing the site due to their experience with acquiring funding to clean up and repurpose contaminated properties.
I attended the open house on Feb. 20. It ran from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and featured three areas where the community could learn about the site's background, the current plan for funding and testing, and opportunities to provide input about potential uses for the site in the future.
During my conversation with the Port's Executive Director Julie Slomski at the open house, she explained that attendees at the community meeting the day before envisioned the site having mixed use, emphasizing public access. " I would say the big theme was to make sure it's got public access, and that it's clean and safe," Slomski said.
Slomski stressed, however, that the transformation of the site is dependent on federal funding and test results from the DEP and EPA, and will take a long time to complete. "There's still a lot of work to be done," Slomski said.
The DEP has been testing the site for the last two years, with 58 monitoring wells throughout. "The Redevelopment Authority is going to do a site wide assessment this spring. Couple that with the DEP's reports, and then we'll be able to kind of paint a picture," Mengine said.
Both Slomski and Mengine mentioned that people from all generations were coming in to make their voices heard about the project. Legislators and government officials participated as well. The activist organization Hold Erie Coke Accountable (HECA) helped spread the word about the meetings to the neighborhood.
"I think it's great that we're getting such a nice turnout at these events," Mengine said. " We don't want people to wait until the planning stage is complete to voice their opinions. Now is the time for them to speak out. So, come to the meetings, and get engaged with the process."
