U.S. Steel plant to begin coke removal process

Batteries 13 and 14 at Clairton Coke Works will be inspected to see if they can be repaired.

By MICHAEL DIVITTORIO
TribLive

U.S. Steel officials announced Tuesday they would begin removing coke from the ovens at the Clairton Coke Works plant.

The move comes roughly two weeks after a deadly explosion at the facility.

Officials said batteries #13 and #14 will be inspected once the coke is removed to determine if they can be repaired.

The next step in the process is placing them into a hot, idle state to maintain their integrity, according to officials.

No coking or production will to take place.

Officials said the batteries will not be able to function ever again without placing them on “hot idle.”

“We expect this process to take a few days, and we do not expect any elevated non-particulate pollution as a result of this process,” A U.S. Steel statement read in part “There is potential for some ashy particles to be released as the coke is removed from the ovens. U. S. Steel is working to mitigate any potential emissions and keeping (Allegheny County Health Department) informed. We will provide additional updates as they become available.”

Clairton Coke Works is the nation’s largest coke manufacturing facility.

Two workers were killed and 10 others hospitalized as a result of a trio of explosions Aug. 11.

The first explosion occurred about 10:47 a.m., according to video recorded by the Breathe Project, a clean-air group whose cameras in Clairton captured an enormous plume of black smoke billowing skyward.

That was followed by two secondary explosions, according to Allegheny County officials.

U.S. Steel said the initial explosion occurred at coke oven batteries 13 and 14, triggering an immediate response from emergency teams.

First responders from two counties, 14 fire departments and 20 EMS companies responded.