Local residents protest AK air pollution
By The
Journal Staff
Ten city residents joined members of the Sierra Club, Ohio
Citizen Action and the Environmental Community Organization to
protest air pollution at AK Steel Corp.’s annual shareholders
meeting Tuesday in Wilmington, Del.
Ray Agee, of Middletown’s United Neighbors Against Dirty
Air, said by telephone that the group hauled more than 150
pounds of particulate pollution collected from the eaves of
homes around the city to give to Richard Wardrop, AK’s
president and chief executive officer. He said he was able to
speak to Wardrop about his concerns, but was not impressed
with the results.
“We got the same old answer we always get,” Agee said. “We
didn’t expect any miracles.”
Agee, who said the powder has a high enough metallic
make-up to be picked up with a magnet, questioned the priority
placed on “moral obligations” by the steel maker.
“(Wardrop) said he was meeting all legal obligations,” Agee
said. “I wonder if he feels any moral obligations to the
people of Middletown ... he said we have ‘no standing.’ I’m
not sure what that means legally, but it makes me feel like he
really doesn’t care.”
Agee said there we no incidents during the protest
requiring police intervention, but that officers were on hand
to prevent protesters from entering the premises with the
particulate pollution, which he said will be stored at his
house when he returns.
