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SunCoke advisory panel meets

13 attend first gathering; next will focus on topics such as construction schedule, air quality monitoring.

Mike White, left, senior vice president of operations for SunCoke, answers a question from Middletown Deputy Fire Chief Brent Dominy during the initial meeting of a Community Advisory Panel on Monday, June 7. The group is being formed to improve communications between SunCoke and the community.

Contributed photo by David A. Moodie Mike White, left, senior vice president of operations for SunCoke, answers a question from Middletown Deputy Fire Chief Brent Dominy during the initial meeting of a Community Advisory Panel on Monday, June 7. The group is being formed to improve communications between SunCoke and the community.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Michael Bailey, President of Concerned Armco/AK Steel Retired Employees asks if SunCoke officials will explain to the public how coke production has changed over the years during the initial meeting of a Community Advisory Panel for SunCoke on Monday, June 7. The group is being formed to improve communications between the company and the community.

Contributed photo by David A. Moodie Michael Bailey, President of Concerned Armco/AK Steel Retired Employees asks if SunCoke officials will explain to the public how coke production has changed over the years during the initial meeting of a Community Advisory Panel for SunCoke on Monday, June 7. The group is being formed to improve communications between the company and the community.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer Updated 1:15 AM Tuesday, June 8, 2010

MIDDLETOWN — Two years may have passed since SunCoke Energy announced plans to build a new coke plant in Middletown, but as a new community panel made clear at their first meeting, there are still a lot of questions surrounding the project.

About 13 people attended the first SunCoke Energy Middletown Community Advisory Panel meeting on Monday, June 7, at the Manchester Inn. The group included plant opponents Monroe Mayor Robert Routson, Lisa Frye, Monroe resident and president of SunCoke Watch Inc.; and also Mike White, senior vice president of operations for SunCoke.

But perhaps more notable were those who have not been outspoken either for or against the $360 million SunCoke plant being built off Yankee Road in Middletown near the Monroe border.

Brent Dominy, Middletown deputy fire chief and Madison Twp. resident, said he decided to join CAP to learn about plant safety and to get a construction time line. “On one side, I know the city needs all the income and development it can get, but I can understand the other side. I wouldn’t want this thing built in my backyard, either,” Dominy said.

Karen Shaffer, who lives by the facility, said she wanted what it was all about and is still deciding if she will join. “I am feeling positive about some of the things I heard,” she said. “I just want to make sure that all sides are fairly represented.”

The majority of the time was spent collecting questions to discuss at the next meeting — tentatively set for 6 p.m. July 12 at the Manchester Inn — such as the construction schedule, how the coking process works, hiring, and the monitoring of air quality.

Attendees also wanted more information about the correlation between SunCoke and AK Steel Corp., which has contracted to buy the coke and energy the plant will produce for its steelmaking processes.

Frye compared those living near the plant as going “from heaven to hell” dealing with construction noises while Michael Bailey, president of Concerned Armco/AK Steel Retired Employees, said he hoped the CAP would help get SunCoke “over the hurdles” regarding its perception in the community.

“I respect a lot of the diversity we are hearing tonight and it makes me feel good because it means we have done our job,” said Ann Green, whose firm was contracted by SunCoke to create the panel.

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