Petcoke handler says it will consolidate terminals

A company that stores giant mounds of petroleum coke on Chicago's Southeast Side says it's consolidating operations at one location.

KCBX Terminals has operated two sites along the Calumet River, where it stores “petcoke,” a grainy byproduct of oil refining often used as a fuel in industry.

Nearby residents have been complaining that petcoke sometimes blows around and say they worry about their health.

KCBX said Tuesday it also plans to enclose the petcoke with “state-of-the-art environmental controls” to address residents' and city concerns. The company says that should take about two years to construct.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week issued a violation notice to KCBX, saying monitoring data showed there was too much soot in the air, and dust samples from nearby homes found vanadium and nickel.