Detroit riverfront: A petcoke storage company claiming to store 100ft of materials

Stockpiling materials along the Detroit riverfront is subject to an eight-foot height restriction, however a Detroit based company now seeks an increase it up to 100ft - about 10 storeys - in order to pile up aggregate and construction materials, including salt, asphalt, concrete, limestone and "other similar materials". However, the company's past involving the illegal stockpiling of petroleum coke raises concerns and is going to be settled through a hearing in the city's council.

According to the company's lawyer Teri Whitehead the company has no intention of storing petroleum coke. This statement caused the surprise of the city's Board members, during the initial hearing back in February, who were expecting arguments, in favor of storing coke at the riverfront. The confusion among board members and city officials, disputing over the nature of the pilled material, the exact height and potential legal holes that would allow Detroit Bulk Storage to store petroleum coke again, made Board member Beverly Smith to postpone any final decisions until a solid explanation is provided by the company. In the meantime, Detroit's administrators would gain the time to access the potential environmental hazards to the river and its citizens by essentially tripling the allowable height of stockpiles, located only a mile away from recreational and residential areas. The hearing is scheduled for this month.

 Source: TheWindsorStar