Erie Coke Corporation, a now-defunct company, has admitted guilt in federal court to two criminal charges related to air emissions violations. The corporation agreed to pay a $700,000 fine for these infractions, as announced by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
On June 17, 2025, Erie Coke pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter. The charges included conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act and knowingly releasing unburned or raw coke oven gas, which is classified as a hazardous air pollutant. This action was in direct violation of the company's environmental permit.
The court was informed that Erie Coke operated a coke manufacturing plant in Erie, Pennsylvania, which is no longer active. The company conspired with its employees to breach the Clean Air Act by removing caps on heating flues atop coke oven batteries. This allowed combustion gases to escape directly into the atmosphere and bypass the plant's environmental monitoring system. Consequently, pollutants were emitted contrary to specific provisions of the Title V permit concerning opacity limits and discharge of raw coke oven gas. Additionally, Erie Coke submitted emissions monitoring data that did not accurately represent actual emissions levels.
The court learned that Erie Coke maintained a culture of noncompliance with relevant regulations and permit conditions. The $700,000 fine stipulated in the plea agreement reflects the corporation's current financial status since it ceased operations in 2019. Judge Baxter will decide whether to accept or reject this fine during sentencing scheduled for October 7, 2025. Under the law, fines could reach up to $1 million.
Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Vasquez Schmitt and Michael L. Ivory are leading the prosecution for this case on behalf of the government.
The investigation that led to Erie Coke's prosecution was conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency.
