The piles of pet coke are causing air and water contamination concerns for local residents, are owned by Koch Carbon. The property where the pet coke is stored is owned by controversial billionaire and Ambassador Bridge owner Manuel Moroun and leased to Norfolk Southern railroad. The Ambassador Bridge links Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

In a statement issued Tuesday, August 13, Mayor Bing said Detroit Bulk Storage failed to remove all of the pet coke by Aug. 9, "as directed by a Correction Order issued by the City's Buildings, Safety Engineering and Environmental Department." The department cited Detroit Bulk Storage for being in violation of the Detroit property maintenance code and/or official zoning ordinance. Mayor Bing has now ordered the pet coke be removed by Aug. 27.

Recently winds have caused clouds of pet coke from the piles stored in Detroit to blow across the Detroit River into Canada.