Air monitoring shows compliance with federal limits overall, but Middletown officials hear complaints and ongoing enforcement at coke facility

Carrie Caslin, a representative of the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency, told the Middletown City Council on Feb. 10 that the agency operates five ambient monitoring sites in Middletown and has seen generally downward trends in sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter since reductions in regional coal burning, but that localized spikes and elevated annual PM2.5 averages remain a concern for residents.

Caslin said four local monitors that track SO2 remain below the three-year-average National Ambient Air Quality Standard, though one significant spike — which the agency attributes to emissions from Middletown Cove Corporation — raised the three-year average in that location. "We think that occurred because of emissions from Middletown Cove Corporation," Caslin said during the presentation. She added that Cleveland Cliffs and Middletown Cove operate as large, long-standing industrial sources in the city and sometimes produce localized SO2 or particulate spikes.

Why it matters: Council members pressed the agency because residents have reported odors and particulate fallout. Caslin said the agency received roughly 170 complaints about Middletown Coke Corporation in the recent period and is investigating individual complaints such as one reported by a business that described particulate fallout on its property. She described the enforcement path the agency uses — inspections, notices of violation and negotiated enforcement actions with Ohio EPA involvement — and said one facility previously failed a stack test, submitted a compliance plan to repair poppet valves, completed repairs and subsequently passed a retest.

Caslin described an enforcement case that began with a notice of violation and led to a proposed penalty. "The penalty was 170,000, initially," she said, and the agency is continuing negotiations with the company and with Ohio EPA on final enforcement terms. She said the agency also uses inspections, daytime and nighttime monitoring, and data analysis from the five local monitors to trace and verify complaint sources.

On particulate matter, Caslin said daily 24-hour PM2.5 averages at Middletown monitoring sites meet the current short-term standard, but the annual PM2.5 average in some locations exceeds the lower draft standard of 9 micrograms per cubic meter; she noted that U.S. EPA has asked a court to vacate the 9 µg/m3 level and return the standard to 12 µg/m3, which would affect attainment designations.

Residents' options and agency actions: Caslin urged residents to report odors and exhaust suspected pollution to the agency (southwestohioair.org) and suggested steps households can take to reduce exposure, including checking daily air quality forecasts, limiting outdoor activity on poor-air days and using in-home air filters correctly. She also noted the agency's capacity to investigate asbestos, anti-tampering vehicle complaints and to coordinate with local fire departments on responses.

Council members asked whether fines are imposed and what outcomes can follow noncompliance. Caslin described the enforcement continuum — notice of violation, compliance plans, penalties and, if necessary, court action and injunctive relief — and said outcomes depend on the violation, the compliance plan and negotiations with Ohio EPA.

What happens next: The agency said investigations into a recent run of odor complaints are ongoing; inspections and negotiated enforcement with Ohio EPA are active. Caslin left contact information and said she will follow up with the council on specific cases and data the agency collects.

"We are spending lots of time digging in and trying to figure out what is different," she said, describing the agency's current work to identify causes of increased complaints.

Ending: The council did not take a formal vote tied to the presentation. Caslin encouraged residents and council members to continue reporting complaints and noted the agency will provide updates as investigations and enforcement negotiations progress.