Monitoring Sites Selected for Middletown Coke Plant Expansion

The Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services (HCDOES) has finalized the locations for placing two ambient air monitors near the future Middletown Coke Plant. In 2009, HCDOES investigated dozens of potential sites to place ambient air monitors in an effort to assess the impact of the proposed coke plant. After thorough consideration of the criteria for air monitoring, two locations were selected as the best sites for positioning the monitors. Amanda Elementary School, located at 1300 Oxford State Road, has been designated as the upwind location and the second monitoring site, Yankee Properties LLC, located at 3500 Yankee Road has been selected as the downwind location.

The decision to set up the monitoring equipment in the community was made in anticipation of the construction of the Middletown Coke Plant and citizen concern to air emissions in the area. Locations for the monitoring equipment were identified by HCDOES staff after careful research and review of maps, property records and air emission modeling results. Properties were also volunteered by residents at a public meeting held on June 25, 2009. The meeting addressed the monitoring project and solicited public input with regard to the monitoring sites, monitoring methodologies and other information related to the project.

The requirements for the ambient air monitoring are listed in the final permit to install issued by Ohio EPA on February 9, 2010. For more information, please contact Anna Kelley at 946-7725 or at anna.kelley@hamilton-co.org.