Larger text
Smaller text
Print
E-mail
Residents protest chemical plant's violations
"You know that stuff we smell sometimes?" she asked 8-year-old Casey Willison. "It comes from here."
The Willisons, of Kennedy, were among 15 people demonstrating along Neville Road last night to protest what they say are constant air and water quality violations by the chemical company. The demonstration was sponsored by environmental groups Clean Water Action and the Neville Island Good Neighbor Community.
Myron Arnowitt, director of Pittsburgh's Clean Water group, said residents have been questioning the county health department's "lack of action" in issuing fines to Neville Chemical over the last year.
"They need to do more and make sure it's not just words," said Arnowitt, barely audible over the roar of traffic 10 feet in front of him.
Zygmunt Osiecki, vice president of engineering and environmental services for Neville Chemical, said the company is working daily to combat the odor problems.
"We are heavily involved in trying to understand where the odors are generated how best to take care of those," Osiecki said.
Guillermo Cole, spokesman for the county health department, said the department issued a written warning Feb. 10 to the company for seven odor violations. He said the company met with the health department and agreed to conduct a study within the plant to determine the source of the stink.
"Our job is to fix the problem, not necessarily collect money," Cole said. "We'd rather see them spend money on solutions."
More Pittsburgh, Allegheny headlines
- Humar believes in being UPMC surgeon first, administrator second
- Defendant cooperates with DA in Meadows casino theft
- Planners need billions to rehabilitate roadways, bridges
- UPMC unit to increase use of organs from living donors
- Autopsy shows Hill District baby in bin was stillborn
- Cranberry couple under investigation in use of orphans' trust fund
- Fewer flights don't result in fewer authority workers in Allegheny
- UPMC Braddock closure plan upsets council
