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Exxon Fairmont Coke Works
Neighbor Letter
Dear Neighbor:
You probably have noticed the demolition activity
in progress at the Fairmont Coke Works site (the former Sharon Steel
plant). Exxon is working with the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection (WVDEP)
to investigate and clean up the site. As part of the cleanup, Exxon
has begun the demolition of all the structures, except for the administration
building at the Lafayette Street gate, which we are using as an office
for our contractors. I want to take this opportunity to share with you
the work progress to date and the plans for the next few months.
Two work activities are in progress at the site. Our contractors have
removed asbestos insulation and siding from the coke ovens and from
the coke and coal-handling area. They expect to finish removing asbestos
from the rest of the structures by mid-February. To ensure the health
and safety of both workers and neighbors, they are closely following
OSHA procedures, which include air monitoring for airborn asbestos inside
the structures and downwind. They report there have not been any exceedances
of OSHA standards outside of any of the structures.
Demolition of the coke ovens is in progress and should be completed
by the end of January. You may have noticed that the large tower next
to the coke ovens has been removed. Demolition at the coke and coal
handling area will be conducted in February, after which demolition
of the rest of the buildings at the site will proceed. Throughout the
demolition work, steel will be cut and hauled out for recycling.
The concrete building foundations at the site will be removed starting
in mid-February and continuing on and off through the end of March.
The foundations must be removed in place using a large hydraulic hammer.
Unfortunately, this work will create noise, but we will do our best
to control it. Other concrete and rubble crushing will be done as far
towards the center of the site as possible to control noise. Dust will
be controlled using a water spray.
The normal hours of operation at the site are from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00
p.m., Monday through Friday. Trucks, shipping steel for recycling and
hauling construction rubble, will typically leave the site in the morning
and follow the local truck traffic route, north on Routes 73/33 to I-79
(exit 139). All demolition work is currently scheduled to be finished
by April.
Exxon, the EPA and the WVDEP meet regularly with members of the Fairmont
community as a panel, called the Fairmont Community Liaison Panel. An
update on project activities is provided at each meeting. These meeting
are open to the public and you are most welcome to attend. The next
meeting will be held on Thursday, February 18, 1999, at the Circle W
Building on Morgantown Avenue, starting at 5:30 p.m.
I appreciate your patience as this work progresses. Feel free to call
our Fairmont Community Information Line at 1-800-250-3868 if you have
any questions or comments. I trust that, as this work is completed,
you will be pleased with the appearance of the site and encouraged with
this progress towards the eventual return of the site to productive
use.
Sincerely,
John Hannig
Exxon
copy to: FCLP members