CLAIRTON COKE WORKS PREPARES TO BRING FINAL COKE BATTERY BACK ONLINE

Six months after an explosion at US Steel’s plant in Clairton left two people dead and ten others injured, the company says they are preparing to bring the final coke battery back online.  Battery 14 was restarted in October and Battery 13 will be activated today.  The first production of coke from the batteries starts tomorrow.  Officials say that last year’s blast happened during maintenance activities involving a gas isolation valve.  The U.S. Chemical Safety Board has called on U.S. Steel to evaluate all buildings at the Clairton Coke Works facility that are or could be occupied for potential hazards.