Corning Inc's diesel plant has been plagued by safety concerns, including a history of environmental and health issues.
The plant has been fined multiple times for violating environmental regulations, including a $1.2 million penalty in 2015 for air quality violations.
Residents living near the plant have reported health problems, such as respiratory issues and cancer, which have been linked to exposure to diesel emissions.
The plant's proximity to residential areas has raised concerns about the impact of diesel emissions on local air quality.
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Corning Inc. Diesel Plant
Corning Inc. is considering building a new diesel plant, which would create 250 to 300 new jobs with an average annual wage of $66,000.
The facility would be a 94,000-square-foot expansion of Corning Inc.'s existing diesel plant on State Route 417 in the Town of Erwin.
Corning Inc. is applying for local, state and federal incentives for the Erwin site, and negotiating with its union, the United Steelworkers Local 1000, on staffing the plant.
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The estimated project cost for the proposed new diesel facility is $219 million, broken down into site development and building costs of $63 million and new equipment costs of $156 million.
The Corning Inc. diesel plant would manufacture emission control products for heavy duty diesel engines, a key potential growth area for the company since demand for those products is expected to nearly triple over the next seven years.
Corning Inc.'s chairman and CEO, Wendell Weeks, stated that the decision may come down to how best to serve the European market for Corning's emission control products.
The state funding application for the Corning Inc. diesel project is part of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council's application, which seeks $3 million in funding.
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Incident at the Plant
A sand spill occurred at the Corning Inc. diesel plant in Erwin on January 7, leading to the evacuation of part of the plant.
The spill was contained to the facility and there were no reported injuries. The affected area was closed for cleanup, but most operations resumed on Monday.
The incident involved silica, a common mineral found in quartz, which is not considered a hazardous material. It's commonly used in glass production and environmental technologies, such as diesel filters.
OSHA is not investigating the incident, as it doesn't meet the criteria for their involvement. OSHA only becomes involved in cases where there's a worker fatality or a serious injury, such as hospitalization, amputation, or eye loss.
The plant is currently undergoing a $245 million expansion.
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