Erie Coke Corporation, a now-defunct company, admitted guilt in federal court to two criminal air emissions violations. The company has agreed to pay a $700,000 fine for these offenses, as announced by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
The guilty plea was entered on June 17, 2025, before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter. Erie Coke admitted to conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act and knowingly emitting unburned or raw coke oven gas, which is considered a hazardous air pollutant. This action violated the company’s environmental permit.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Erie Coke had operated a coke manufacturing plant in Erie, Pennsylvania. 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 be released directly into the atmosphere, bypassing the plant’s environmental monitoring system. Consequently, pollutants were emitted in violation of specific provisions related to opacity limits and raw coke oven gas discharge under their Title V permit. Furthermore, Erie Coke knowingly submitted emissions data each quarter that did not accurately reflect actual emissions levels.
The court was informed about Erie Coke’s culture of noncompliance with regulations and permit conditions. The amount of the fine was partly determined based on available funds since the corporation ceased operations in 2019. The court retains discretion over accepting or rejecting this fine as per the plea agreement.
Sentencing has been scheduled for October 7, 2025. Under law provisions, fines can reach up to $1 million.
Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Vasquez Schmitt and Michael L. Ivory are handling prosecution duties for this case.
The Environmental Protection Agency conducted an investigation leading to Erie Coke’s prosecution.
