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A pile of petroleum coke near the Detroit River.

(David Muller)

DETROIT, MI - A Youtube video uploaded July 27 appears to show a large, black cloud of dust from the petroleum coke piles blowing across the Detroit River during high winds last weekend.

The video was featured in the Windsor Star and seized upon by U.S. Rep Gary Peters (D - Bloomfield Township), who said in a release that he is demanding a federal study to get answers about potential health and environmental impact of the black piles of tar sands byproduct.

"We’ve been told that the pet coke dust issue is being contained, but here is firsthand evidence to the contrary," Peters said in a statement. "I am concerned and alarmed about repeated reports of pet coke blowing off the piles and into homes and businesses."

According to the Windsor Star, Detroit Bulk Storage, the company storing the petroleum coke, has conceded that the video "is reality." However, Daniel Cherrin, a spokesman for the company, told the Canadian publication that the blowing dust was the result of Detroit Bulk Storage breaking an epoxy sealant on the piles on order to ship it out.

Last week, Detroit Bulk Storage said it has stopped accepting shipments of petroleum coke to its site along the Detroit River near the Ambassador Bridge as it awaits proper permits from the city. As it goes through the permitting process, the piles of petroleum coke stored by Detroit Bulk Storage are expected to be gone by August, however it is not immediately clear if it will resume storing the tar sands byproduct there once proper permits are secured.

The petroleum coke was produced by Marathon Petroleum refinery but is owned by Koch Carbon, which is run by well-known businessmen Charles and David Koch.

Marathon has been refining Canada's growing exports of oil sands from Alberta and selling the waste product to Koch since November, according to the The New York Times, which said in a report that Canada plans to increase tar sands exports to the United States via the proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

The state Department of Environmental Quality has concluded that the black mounds do not pose an immediate health risk. The MDEQ has said the piles are compliant with regulations, and Detroit bulk Storage has maintained that they are being properly stored.

Petroleum coke can be burned with coal for a cheaper, though dirtier, form of energy. Because of stricter standards by the EPA in the U.S., much of the oil sands byproduct is expected to be exported to Far East countries such as China.

Since its arrival near the shores of the Detroit River, the petroleum coke has drawn complaints from environmentalists, local business owners, residents and politicians.

In June, State Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) introduced a bill in the state legislature that would require companies to store petroleum coke in enclosed containers and obtain storm water discharge permits.

Peters added in a statement Tuesday, "It is critical that we get answers on how to properly store pet coke so we can protect public health and safety, and I will continue to fight to get answers on the potential long-term effects of pet coke on public health and the Great Lakes watershed."