Black Rain

Crews Clean Areas After Plant Shoots Coal Steam

SHIPPINGPORT, Pa. - The employees of one Beaver County power washing company are calling themselves "grimefighters" with the cleanup around the First Energy power plant that shot a steam of black rain over Shippingport and Raccoon Township. The coal dust could be located up to a mile away on lawn furniture and houses.
While there have been concerns about possible health risks, a representative from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said the carbon and calcium sulphite in the soot will not cause short-term health problems.
However, people remain interested in the long-term effects.
The crews will be out all weekend, trying to clean up the soot that's covering parts of Beaver County.