The coke ovens are empty, the gas lines purged, and shutdown operations at the Tonawanda Coke plant are now complete. The state Department of Environmental Conversation on Tuesday said the shutdown, which began just over a week ago, was accomplished safely. Monitors from the DEC and the Environmental Protection Agency are the the River Road facility to assess environmental conditions and investigate contamination.
The DEC says it will provide regular updates to the public throughout the cleanup process
The plant began to shut down early last week following years of environmental complaints and court battles. The company has since declared bankruptcy. Efforts are underway to help Tonawanda Coke's more than 80 employees find new jobs.