State environmental regulators will hold a public hearing in Scioto County next month on air quality permits filed by Sun Coke, but company leaders say they still cannot announce a decision to locate in Haverhill.

Wednesday, June 28, 2000

State environmental regulators will hold a public hearing in Scioto County next month on air quality permits filed by Sun Coke, but company leaders say they still cannot announce a decision to locate in Haverhill.

Air permitting is a necessary and complex process for a coke plant, so there is no decision yet, Sun spokesperson Jerry Davis said.

Such a sizable investment also takes time, Davis said.

Sun would certainly like to build a coke plant in Haverhill because it’s one of several potential areas that hold promise, he said.

"At the same time, we continue to look at other sites," Davis said.

The air quality hearing, scheduled for July 18 at Green High School, will be conducted by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, said Bob Walton, Scioto County Community Action Organization executive director.

Walton has followed Sun’s interest in locating a coke plant in Haverhill since the company began looking four years ago.

The air quality permit is an important step – and the farthest the company has taken their interest since, he said.

"It seemed like a sure thing at times and then it seemed totally dead at times," Walton said. "So, getting an air permit is a very large step.

"We’re very hopeful that after the permit is granted, we will see an announcement."

Sun applied for a clean air permit from the Portsmouth Local Air Agency last year.

The permit has been in the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s hands since December. The approval process takes several months or longer, EPA officials said then.

"An air permit is necessary before building," Walton said.

Equally important are contracts for the future sale of coke, he said.

"We’re hearing there’s a good possibility that will be happening," Walton said, adding that he hopes Sun chooses Haverhill and starts plant construction this year.

Sun officials favor Haverhill because it offers quality infrastructure and transportation, the needed coal supply is nearby and the area has a solid workforce.

However, the company remains elusive about its final plans.

"We know there is a need for another coke plant and we have the technology we know is environmentally better," Davis said. "And we are still looking at other sites."

"We will build a coke plant, but the timing and location is less certain," he said. "When there is a decision, we will certainly make it known."

If Sun decides to build a plant on the Scioto County site, it would bring an estimated 200 full-time positions and hundreds of potential construction jobs, which would be welcome relief to the economic hardships of both Scioto and Lawrence counties.

And, officials will help make that happen, Walton said.

"We at the local level have informed the company of local incentives and they have informed us of their infrastructure needs," he said. "We stand ready to prove that."

Already, officials have done preliminary engineering work on water and sewer at the potential site just north of Aristech Chemical, Walton said.

"We’re ready to go once we know for sure," he said.

Scioto County commissioner Opal Spears agreed with Walton, adding that the permit hearing holds a great deal of promise.

"I think we’re all waiting with bated breath," Mrs. Spears said. "I don’t think they would go through these hoops and not do something."

The July 18 hearing, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will be to gather community input, she said. Officials don’t expect any decisions at that meeting, she said.