TOWN OF TONAWANDA, N.Y. — The state Department of Environmental Conservation issued a cease and desist order Friday to Tonawanda Coke after DEC staff documented multiple instances of excessive black smoke emitting from the facility.

The company paid $12 million in penalties in 2015 after violating the Clean Water Act and producing excessive amounts of benzene and ammonia.

Despite the cease and desist order for the latest violations, Tonawanda Coke is still operating, and residents are expressing their anger.

"Our elected officials and our government agencies, EPA, DEC, have to get more aggressive with these companies. It's taking too long," said former state Senate Candidate Kevin Stocker.

Tonawanda Coke has until August 4 to request a hearing, something the DEC says the company has so far not done.

If that request is not made, the DEC will revoke Tonawanda Coke's Air Permits and will "do everything within our legal power to ensure the community is protected."

The Town of Tonawanda's engineer says the latest round of issues comes down to a collapsed tunnel at the plant in March.

"There was a collapse of a tunnel of the fresh air intake. The tunnel is part of the cokeing process, and without that tunnel, efficient and safe cokeing operations could not be taking place at the plant," said Town of Tonawanda Engineer James Jones.

The Clean Air Coalition hosted a meeting Monday night to discuss the recent developments.

Attendees say they have seen issues go on too long, and want to see the plant held responsible once and for all.

"I think there are some long-term health impacts in this area that people have become more cognizant of, and that's why people, I think, are here at these meetings," said Clean Air Coalition member Maria Tisdy.

Town of Tonawanda Councilman Bill Conrad says people's actions have already been valuable amid the DEC investigation.

"Before the state had sent that, our supervisor, Joe Emminger, had sent a letter to the DEC asking for them to come in and take a look at what's going on. A number of community groups and people had been sending in video with the smoke and the black plumes," said Conrad.

Tonawanda Coke did not immediately return a request for comment on why the company ignored the DEC’s cease and desist order.