Indian Artifacts Found at Factory Site

According to the Associated Press, an interesting discovery was made recently at the future site of SunCoke Energy Inc.'s new plant. Several hundred Native American artifacts were found at the site and are thought to be thousands of years old.

SunCoke Energy, which is building the plant to help supply coke for AK Steel's Middletown Works, found a few artifacts and later hired an archaeological firm to excavate two areas. Among the findings were fragments from arrowheads, spearheads, and evidence of stone tool-making.

Experts say the artifacts probably date back to between 8000 B.C. and 1200 A.D. The items will most likely be given to the Cincinnati Museum Center.

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Middletown City Council Unanimously Approves SunCoke Rezoning

Middletown Council officials have unanimously voted for a second time to approve the rezoning of the Bake-Martin parcel. The Bake-Martin parcel will change from a residential sector to industrial which will allow an industrial SunCoke facility to be built on the grounds. Although the decision has drawn criticism from residents of Monroe and Middletown alike, Middletown councilwoman Anita Scott Jones stood buy the councils decision saying that all decisions are based on the best interests for the residents of Middletown.

Read the Full SunCoke Rezoning Approval at MiddletownUSA.com

SunCoke Plant Has South Middletown Residents Concerned

SunCoke Energy, a subsidiary of Sunoco Inc., wants to build a $340 million dollar coke production and electrical facility in South Middletown on the border of Monroe. The plant would produce metallurgical-grade coke to be supplied solely to AK Steel Inc. in Middletown via a conveyor system. The board of directors for both AK Steel and Sunoco have made an agreement that would lead to a 20 year supply contract between the two companies, should the plant be built.

The plant being built is contingent on a few things, however. First, the land proposed for its location would need to be rezoned for industrial use. The Middletown Planning Commission has recommended just that - a unanimous vote was passed at a special meeting called on March 26th to address the issue. Middletown and Monroe residents in the area alike left apparently dissatisfied with how the meeting was conducted, with one resident proclaiming "There was no discussion!". Middletown City Council still has to approve the rezoning proposal before it takes affect, and SunCoke still has to receive the required local, state and federal approvals and permits before the plant can be built.

Alan McCoy, AK Steel Vice President of Government and Public Relations stated that the 20-year agreement would "be a tremendous benefit" for the Middletown Works and that the agreement would very likely be renewed after the initial 20 year contract expired. If everything falls into place for SunCoke, the facility would create hundreds of temporary construction jobs, as well as 75 permanent operating and maintenance jobs at the plant with an average salary of $35-45k per year.

Area residents cite concerns with the plant's proposed location, chief among them being pollution. The proposed site is close to Garden Manor Nursing Home and Amanda Elementary School, and surrounded by residential areas. An official from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, however, stated that the plant "should cause no health concerns" and would be rigorously examined and tested for harmful emissions before being given approval to begin operation.

Discuss the Middletown SunCoke Energy Plant on the MiddletownUSA Blog Forum.