Chicago Bans New Pet Coke Storage Facilities And Prohibits The Expansion of Existing Ones

A new ordinance in Chicago is now in effect that bans new petroleum coke also known as pet coke facilities from being established within the city limits, and prohibits the expansion of existing facilities.

The Willis Tower in downtown Chicago provides a backdrop to a huge mound of petroleum coke, or pet coke, in a residential southeast part of the city. Photo courtesy of gazettenet.com, which was taken by Charles Rex Arbogast.

For those that don’t know what it is, pet coke is a solid carbon material that’s a byproduct of the oil refining process. Pet coke is used as a fuel source for a number of industries including power plants and factories.

Pet coke also has a lot of other uses. It’s a component in the production of electrodes used in furnaces of the steel and aluminum industries, and it’s also used as a component of anodes used in the aluminum, steel, and titanium industries.

The problem with all this is that pet coke is also very unhealthy to be around. Pet coke contains high concentrations of carbon and sulfur, and trace elements of metals including: lead, nickel, chromium, and vanadium. 

A concern of the Chicago Department of Public Health has been that, “Inhaling pet coke can contribute to serious respiratory health problems, particularly for individuals who suffer from heart and lung disease and asthma.”

Another issue the mayor’s office cited for approving the ordinance was that the airborne particles from the pet coke storage facilities created a dark sut that “blackened” vehicles and homes.

The mayor’s office added that these coke facilities have also had other detrimental effects on nearby communities – significantly impacting residents’ quality of life, as well as reducing property values and inhibiting economic development.

Beyond prohibiting existing coke storage facilities from expanding, the new ordinance will also require them to “fully enclose their storage piles.” The mayor’s office added that they will be required to “establish buildings to contain all of their materials.”

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Adding To New Sustainable DC Plans, District Gets Nearly $100,000 For Stormwater Initiative

Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray introducing Sustainable DC Plan initiatives. Photo courtesy of wusa9.com

As part of a package of grants totaling an estimated $400,000 to be distributed among several municipalities and nonprofit organizations around Maryland and Washington, D.C., the District will receive a grant of $95,000 to support stormwater management and green street development adjacent to the famed Dunbar Senior High School which is also being newly renovated.

The school’s roots date back to 1870, when it was founded as the “Preparatory High School for Colored Youth,” before being renamed the “M Street School.” With the re-opening of the school’s previous campus in 1916, it was renamed in honor of Paul Laurence Dunbar who was among the first African-American poet to ever gain national critical acclaim.

Dunbar’s works addressed African-Americans’ difficulties to achieve equality in America during the turn of the 20th century.  Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872 to Matilda and Joshua Dunbar, both natives of Kentucky. His mother was a former slave and his father had escaped from slavery and served in the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and the 5th Massachusetts Colored Cavalry Regiment during the Civil War.

The Dunbar school is known for its rigorous academic reputation. The grant announcements were made by Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray. The other six grants will include projects in Cambridge, Md., Prince George’s County, Md., Northumberland County, Pa., and Richmond, Va.

Each of the projects has been designed to improve water quality, increase efficiency, and promote environmental best practices. The grants are part of the Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns (G3) program, which is a public-private partnership supporting urban green infrastructure to improve watershed protection and community livability.

The G3 program is a collaborative effort that includes participants such as the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

In Washington, D.C., the stormwater project will work in conjunction with the District’s newly passed Sustainable DC Plan. The 20-year plan – with targets set for 2032 – is designed to improve citywide health through measures including creating new green building infrastructure, transportation improvements, clean air regulations, new city gardens, and increased wetland protection and restoration.

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New FEMA Aid For Residents and Businesses In New Jersey and Connecticut, Say Governors

New Jersey home destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. Photo courtesy of mymodernmet.com.

Nearly three months after one of the worst hurricanes in U.S. history, with people still displaced from their homes and businesses – if they still have any to go back to – help has been slow in coming, but at least it’s still coming.

New Jersey, one of the hardest hit states, is still working on getting displaced people back into permanent housing.

In New Jersey’s latest housing relief effort, the Christie Administration said that displaced households receiving FEMA rental assistance – currently living in hotels or motels – will now be allowed to use these funds to pay for security deposits so they can move into more permanent apartments.

The Christie Administration says that:

Households receiving FEMA rental assistance can utilize up to one month of their rental allotment for a security deposit and not have to give it back to FEMA at the end of the lease.

In general, FEMA provides an initial grant of two months of rent money to households that have been displaced due to Hurricane Sandy, but all households that receive FEMA rental assistance may ask for additional funding if they need it. They will need to show their lease and all receipts for rent and security deposits. FEMA rent money cannot be used to pay for telephone or television service or utilities.

If households have already paid a security deposit with their own money, FEMA is unable to provide reimbursement. However, if further rental assistance is needed, people can show the security deposit receipt to FEMA to support their request for additional rent money. Security deposits paid with FEMA money can cover damage by people or pets, provided they are clearly identified on the lease.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, in his State of the State address earlier this month, assessed the damages to his state saying that, “Sandy was the worst storm to strike New Jersey in 100 years. 346,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Nearly 7 million people and 1,000 schools had their power knocked out. 116,000 New Jerseyans were evacuated or displaced from their homes. 41,000 families are still displaced from their homes.”

In a support effort, Christie’s office adds that the state and FEMA have resources that can help people find available local and regional housing.

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NYC Temporarily Waving Fees For Construction Related To Damage From Hurricane Sandy

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg just signed new legislation this week designed to give some additional financial relief to homeowners and businesses still dealing with property damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy.

Cleaning up after Hurricane Sandy. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

The mayor said during the bill signing ceremony that the legislation waives Buildings Department fees associated with applications, permits and inspections for demolitions and alterations, as well as the rebuilding and repairing of qualified buildings and systems damaged by the hurricane.

The legislation provides waivers for construction fees related to two distinct categories of damage.

In the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, city inspectors went around and left red tags or other notations by the department on residences and buildings signifying that the damage was so severe that they were either unsafe to occupy or were completely destroyed.

These properties are now “eligible for the waiver of all fees associated with the alteration, demolition, or construction of new a buildings, including but not limited to electrical and plumbing work so long as the application is submitted on or after Oct. 30, 2012 and on or before Oct.31, 2014,” says the legislation’s fiscal impact statement.

 “For all other buildings damaged by Hurricane Sandy that require electrical or plumbing work, fees related to such work will be waived if a licensed master electrician or plumber or fire suppression piping contractor certifies to the department that such damage is the result of the storm. The electrical and plumbing waiver is available for applications submitted on or after Oct. 30, 2012 and on or before April 30, 2013,” adds impact statement.

The department is estimating that the city will lose roughly $2 million in revenues, though “there will be no impact on expenditures by the enactment of this legislation.”

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Plans To Redevelop London’s Olympic Park Next Year To An Expansive Eco-Focused Community

The London Legacy Development Corp. (LLDC) has just unveiled its plans for redeveloping the area encompassing the Olympic Games this month to what will later be known as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park district.

The London Legacy Development Corp. (LLDC) has announced its redevelopment plans for what will be known as the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park community district. Photo courtesy of the LLDC.

The new park district - which will begin re-opening its gates next July - will combine new neighborhoods, upscale sport and entertainment venues, park areas, and waterways.

The LLDC says it wants to get people back into the park as soon as possible, so the park will open back up again in phases.

The first part to re-open will be the North Park in July 2013, which will have a nature-themed community hub, including acres of green parklands, a community events lawn for picnics, footpaths, and play areas for children.

The LLDC says the community area “will be centered around a hub building with a café, reception area, offices, toilets, and a flexible space that can be used by schools and community groups. It will be timber clad to fit in with the natural environment with solar panels added to its roof for green energy.”

The North Park will also have a multi-use indoor entertainment venue (for sporting events, concerts, and other activities), with a 7,500 person capacity.

Visitors to the North Park will be able to come in through the entrances in Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest. In addition, pedestrian will have access through Eton Manor. The LLDC says that the remainder of the North Park will re-open at the end of 2013, and will include other visitor entrance points including Lee Valley VeloPark.

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