Rashida Tlaib

The first time Michigan heard the words “petroleum coke” — “pet coke” for short — was in 2013. You may remember the piles of black ash sitting on the riverfront. The owners claimed that it was harmless, that the big clouds that the wind would pick up and transport into residential areas was not a threat to public health. Through advocacy and leadership of community members and organizations, we found that it was in fact a carcinogen and actually combustible. We got those piles removed and started the push to get rules around storage of these toxic types of materials.

Now, eight years later, we finally had local municipalities like Detroit join other cities across the country and pass an ordinance that requires cancer-causing toxic waste to be properly stored and contained. The Bulk Solid Material ordinance states that owners and operators must store, process, and load materials like pet coke in an enclosed area, to prevent this material from getting into our air and water. Common sense, right?

Tell that to Marathon Petroleum Company which saw record profits from 2017 (partially because of Trump’s tax giveaway to the rich and corporations). Part of their income also comes from and sells its toxic dust to Koch Carbon (yes, the same Koch Brothers who deny that climate change is even happening). Marathon pipes in the dirtiest oil from tar sands in Canada, making pet coke, “met coke,” and other toxic products. They do all this using an open pit on their facility in southwest Detroit – no roof, open to the elements, including winds that can sweep the dust into surrounding neighborhoods.

More:Marathon wants to keep storing pet coke uncovered along Detroit River

More:Detroit council approves pet coke ordinance despite industry pushback

Instead of following the will of the people and the data that show repeatedly that particulate matter harms our public health, Marathon is trying to work the system.

Detroit’s ordinance clearly requires Marathon to install a roof on its pet coke pit. Instead of following the new law, Marathon Oil has applied for a variance, or what is better termed, a waiver. They claim they cannot enclose the pit due to high costs. Marathon is proposing measures to mitigate the spread of coke dust, but the City of Detroit shouldn’t allow the company to skirt the its rules and put public health and the environment on the back burner.

Once again, we risk seeing our public health disregarded because of corporate greed.

We have to draw the line here and the City should deny Marathon’s variance. When will we see that allowing corporate polluters to opt out of public health protections leads to crises like PFAS contaminating our water supply?



This is why in this Congress, I will be introducing a bill that forces companies like Marathon to cover their toxic waste and store it to ensure that our air is safe to breathe. The risk here is too high. We can't pump out dirty air. We don't have a cure for cancer. Families in the 13th Congressional District continue to struggle with high asthma rates, but Marathon is asking for a waiver from protecting our health, air, water and quality of life. The time is now to hold Marathon and other polluters accountable and to be held responsible in protecting our air and public health.



The City says it will accept public comment on this matter until March 18. Comments can be submitted online or by mail.

Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Detroit, represents Michigan's 13th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.