Industrial

U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works /  by Justin Merriman

Steam billows out of U.S. Steel's coke plant on October 25, 2020 in Clairton, Pa. President Trump placed tariffs of foreign-made steel in an effort to revive the steel industry. His efforts have drawn the support of many who work in the plant. While the tariffs succeeded for a short time to push down steel imports, create higher prices for domestic steelmakers, and to expand the workforce by about 6,000 jobs, by the following year those gains nearly disappeared.

U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works /  by Justin Merriman

Steam billows out of U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works on March 5, 2019 in Clairton, Pa. The coke plant has come under scrutiny after a Dec. 24 fire triggered an air quality alert from the release of sulfur dioxide.
The @lungassociation released its “State of the Air 2019” report and gave Pittsburgh’s metro area an “F” grade for air quality. According to the report, Allegheny County remains the only county in the United States, outside of the state of California, to get failing grades in both soot and ozone categories.

DuraEdge /  by Justin Merriman

Grant McKnight, president and founder of DuraEdge, holds some of the raw mineral from his raw clay production in his hand on Monday, March 19, 2018 in Slippery Rock, Pa. DuraEdge is the country's top producer of baseball dirt. Their mix of clay, sand and silt will be used at many ballparks in Major League Baseball.  Read more about DuraEdge in the Wall Street Journal. 
 

President Donald Trump /  by Justin Merriman

President Donald Trump speaks to an invited crowd of several hundred supporters during an official visit at H&K Equipment, a rental and sales company for specialized material handling solutions in North Fayette, Pennsylvania, on January 18, 2018. Trump visited the facility to talk about the Republican tax reform policy that was passed in late December and to endorse Republican nominee for the 18th Congressional District race, Rick Saccone. 

Saccone is running against Democratic nominee Conor Lamb in the special election in the 18th Congressional District to replace Tim Murphy, who resigned in disgrace over a sex scandal. Read more about the President's visit at the Washington Examiner. 

Life Beneath Powerplants /  by Justin Merriman

I spent several days traveling around Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia for Bloomberg and ran across Aaron Schissler, 8, as he jumps on his trampoline at his home near FirstEnergy’s Bruce Mansfield Power Plant on Sunday, December 3, 2017 in Shippingport, Pa. You can see more of my images from this shoot at Bloomberg. 

Staughton Lynd /  by Justin Merriman

Staughton Lynd, 87, a formidable figure in the ’60s social justice movement, sits in the basement of his Niles, Ohio home on Sept. 6, 2017.  Lynd, the Manhattan-born academic from Harvard, immediately became part of the fabric in the working-class community as a labor lawyer after Black Monday, the day when Youngstown Sheet and Tube abruptly furloughed 5,000 workers in one day.  Read more about Lynd and Black Monday in the New York Post. 

Coal-Fired Power Plant /  by Justin Merriman

Steam rises above the stacks of the Cheswick Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant, in Springdale, Pa., just north of Pittsburgh. 

A Coal Mine Opens /  by Justin Merriman

A coal miner holds a lump of metallurgical coal from the Middle Kittanning coal seam on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Coal Miner Russ Lambert, 61, of Berlin, Pa., who has been mining for over 37 years, poses for a portrait on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa. Lambert, a shift foreman, who previously has been mining in Corsa's Quecreek Mine will be working in Corsa's new mine, the Acosta Deep Mine. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Robert Bottegal, head engineer of the Acosta Deep Mine for Corsa Coal, stands near the future drift entrance off the high wall of the new mine on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa. The new mine, which is expected to open early June, will create 70 new jobs and should produce 400,000 tons of metallurgical coal a year. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Robert Bottegal points to a map showing the Acosta Deep Mine in Friedens, Somerset County, Pa., on March 22, 2017. Justin Merriman | for the Financial Times

A coal miner works at Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on June 8, 2017 in Friedens, Pennsylvania.  Justin Merriman/Getty Images

Workers stand in the pit as construction continues on Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Coal Miner Russ Lambert, 61, of Berlin, Pa., who has been mining for over 37 years, yells to another miner as they work on the construction of Corsa Coal's new Acosta Deep Mine on May 18, 2017 in Friedens,Somerset, Pa. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Coal Miner Joe Kostyk, 28, of Sidman, Pa., works on the construction of the drift entrance of Corsa Coal's new Acosta Deep Mine on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa.  Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

A rig drills holes for explosive charges at the Corsa Coal's new Acosta Deep Mine in Friedens, Somerset County, Pa., on March 22, 2017.  Justin Merriman for the Financial Times

Coal miners works on the future drift entrance of Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on May 18, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset, Pa.  Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Robert Bottegal stands on a platform above the pit of the new Acosta Deep Mine on Monday, June 5, 2017 in Friedens, Somerset County, Pa. The platform was constructed for the mine's grand opening ceremony that will be held on Thursday.  Justin Merriman for The Washington Post

A coal truck drives past a Trump sign on May 19, 2017 on Million Dollar Highway in Jenner Township, Pa.  Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

George Critchfield, 59, owner of Critchfield Lumber, stands at his mill on May 19, 2017 in Jenner Township, Pa. The new Corsa Coal Corporation mine has purchased lumber from Critchfield's lumber mill, which borders the new mine site. He is excited about the mine's opening and feels the mine has saved his business. "It's a trickle down effect," he says. "That's what you need, good paying jobs instead of McDonalds and Walmart." Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

A sign for the Coal Miner's Cafe sits along U.S. Route 30 on May 18, 2017 in Jennerstown, Pa. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Betty Rhoads, who owns the Coal Miner's Cafe with her husband, John, sits at one of the restaurant's tables on May 18, 2017 in Jennerstown, Pa. "I've seen the good day's of coal," says Rhoads; her father owned several pick and shovel coal mines. "I can remember when there was mines all over these hills," she says. While she's not optimistic about the coal mining industry, Rhoads is happy about the opening of the Acosta Deep Mine. "I want every mine that can reopen to reopen," she says. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

George Barron, 78, stands along Main Street on May 18, 2017 in Acosta, Pa. Barron, having lived in Acosta since 1962, has seen the coal industry come and go. The Somerset Coal Company opened the Acosta mines in 1905 and established the town two years later. Corsa Coal has opened the Acosta Deep Mine just up the road from Acosta. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

Edward Popernack, 84, who worked in coal mines for over 40 years, poses for a portrait at the Coal Miner's Cafe on Monday, June 5, 2017 in Jennerstown, Pa. Popernack's son, Mark, was one of the coal miners rescued from Quecreek Mine after being trapped for 77 hours in July 2002. Justin Merriman for The Washington Post

George Barron, 78, right, watches as Barry Custer, 64, cleans his lawn tractor with his wife, Robbie, 62, and granddaughter Emma Grigg, 7, at his home on May 18, 2017 in Acosta, Pa. "If they put coal miners back to work that be great," Custer, a coal miner with AK Coal Resources, says speaking of the opening of Corsa Coal's new Acosta Deep Mine. "This town was built on coal," he continues, having worked as a coal miner since he was 18. Custer's wife, Robbie's cousin Mark Popernack was one of the 9 miners rescued from the Quecreek Mine in 2002. Justin Merriman for The Wall Street Journal

A person wears a coal pin at the grand opening of Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on June 8, 2017 in Friedens, Pennsylvania.  Justin Merriman/Getty Images

President Donald Trump delivers a recorded message at the grand opening of Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on June 8, 2017 in Friedens, Pennsylvania. Justin Merriman/Getty Images

The entrance to the Corsa Coal's Acosta Deep Mine on June 8, 2017 in Friedens, Pennsylvania. Justin Merriman/Getty Images

For the last several months, I've been covering Corsa Coal's new coal mine, the Acosta Deep Mine, in Friedens, Somerset County, Pennsylvania as well as the surrounding communities. The mine, which began production in June, created 70 news jobs and is expected to produce over 400,000 tons of metallurgical coal a year.  You can read about the mine in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Financial Times, and view more images at Getty Images. 

EPA's Scott Pruitt Visits Coal Mine /  by Justin Merriman

SYCAMORE, PA - APRIL 13: Donnie Claycomb, 27, of Limestone, West Virginia., who has been mining for 6 years, stands in front of an American flag prior to an event with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt at the Harvey Mine on April 13, 2017 in Sycamore, Pennsylvania. The Harvey Mine, owned by CNX Coal Resources, is part of the largest underground mining complex in the United States. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

SYCAMORE, PA - APRIL 13: Miner's tags hang on a board at the Harvey Mine on April 13, 2017 in Sycamore, Pennsylvania. The Harvey Mine, owned by CNX Coal Resources, is part of the largest underground mining complex in the United States. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt visited the mine on Thursday and spoke with miners. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

SYCAMORE, PA - APRIL 13: Coal miner Terry Ramer, 32, of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania., stands near the portal to the Harvey Mine on April 13, 2017 in Sycamore, Pennsylvania. The Harvey Mine, owned by CNX Coal Resources, is part of the largest underground mining complex in the United States. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt visited the mine and spoke with miners on Thursday. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

SYCAMORE, PA - APRIL 13: Coal miner Matt Wolfe, 32, of Blacksville, West Virginia, who has been mining for 10 years, waits for the arrival of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt who visited the Harvey Mine on April 13, 2017 in Sycamore, Pennsylvania. The Harvey Mine, owned by CNX Coal Resources, is part of the largest underground mining complex in the United States. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

SYCAMORE, PA - APRIL 13: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt holds up a miner's helmet that he was given after speaking with coal miners at the Harvey Mine on April 13, 2017 in Sycamore, Pennsylvania. The Harvey Mine, owned by CNX Coal Resources, is part of the largest underground mining complex in the United States. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

SYCAMORE, PA - APRIL 13: Coal miners wait for the start of an event with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt who visited the mine and spoke with miners at the Harvey Mine on April 13, 2017 in Sycamore, Pennsylvania. The Harvey Mine, owned by CNX Coal Resources, is part of the largest underground mining complex in the United States. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

SYCAMORE, PA - APRIL 13: Coal miner Jaden Fredrickson, 26, of Cheat Lake, West Virginia, waits for the arrival of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt who visited the Harvey Mine on April 13, 2017 in Sycamore, Pennsylvania. The Harvey Mine, owned by CNX Coal Resources, is part of the largest underground mining complexes in the United States. (Photo by Justin Merriman/Getty Images)

EPA Administer Scott Pruitt visited CNX Coal Resources' Harvey Mine, part of the largest underground mining complex in the United States, and spoke with miners on April 13, 2017 in Sycamore, Pa. You can view the images at Getty Images. 

Death's Door Spirits /  by Justin Merriman

I visited Anchor Hocking in Monaca, Pennsylvania to shoot video of the production of bottles for Death's Door Spirits, a premium spirits company based in Middleton Wisconsin.