U.S. Representative Gary Peters today expressed alarm and outrage over new video evidence revealing petroleum coke clouds have blown off the uncontained piles along the Detroit waterfront. The Windsor Starfirst reported video footage from July 27th of a pet coke cloud blowing off the piles during a rain storm.

Peters, who has been fighting to protect public health and safety from the uncontained pet coke piles, issued the following statement:

Peters said:"We’ve been told that the pet coke dust issue is being contained, but here is firsthand evidence to the contrary. I am concerned and alarmed about repeated reports of pet coke blowing off the piles and into homes and businesses. It is critical that we get answers on how to properly store pet coke so we can protect public health and safety, and I will continue to fight to get answers on the potential long-term effects of pet coke on public health and the Great Lakes watershed."

Watch video of the petroleum coke cloud here:http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/07/30/video-shows-black-cloud-of-petcoke-dust-filling-air-over-windsors-riverfront/

Peters has met with local business owners and residents about their concerns regarding the pet coke piles. Peters has also repeatedly pressed the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) about efforts to properly store and handle the petroleum coke piles, and he has serious concerns regarding the open-air storage and handling of the pet coke piles along the waterfront.

Peters is fighting for a federal study to get answers about potential health and environmental impact of petroleum coke. Peters legislation, The Petroleum Coke Transparency and Public Health Study Act has earned support from Michigan U.S. Representatives John Conyers Jr., John Dingell, Sander Levin, and Dan Kildee. Senator Levin along with Senators Brown, Stabenow, and Durbin introduced the companion bill today.

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