Engineer Says He Was Fired After Flagging Toxic Emissions at Goodyear’s Niagara Falls Plant

Former New York environmental engineer Dylan Keenan says he was dismissed after repeatedly alerting federal officials about suspected hazardous air emissions from Goodyear’s Niagara Falls tire plant. Keenan frames his actions as whistleblowing to protect public health, while state officials say he violated internal communication rules.

What Happened

Keenan was involved in renewing Goodyear’s air permit when he said a November 2022 emissions test immediately raised red flags. He reported that filters pulled from the plant’s smokestacks appeared blackened — a finding he says did not match Goodyear’s later report, which described the samples as clean. "The data made no physical sense," he told The Buffalo News.

Regulatory Concerns

One chemical singled out in the dispute is ortho-toluidine, a compound linked to bladder cancer. Even using the contested November 2022 results, regulators measured ortho-toluidine levels at roughly seven times New York’s health-based benchmark for the compound.

“My goal was to protect public health and welfare,” Keenan said. “The directive was basically telling me that I had to do what I was told, even if someone's going to die.”

Arbitration And Communications

A labor arbitrator upheld four misconduct allegations related to Keenan’s unauthorized outreach to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). State officials say Keenan repeatedly contacted the EPA without routing communications through Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) leadership and continued after being told future contact required approval. The arbitration ruling states Keenan sent 26 unauthorized emails to federal staff.

Keenan maintains he was acting to prompt stricter review of the facility and its public-health risks rather than to flout supervisory orders.

Testing, Enforcement, And Company Response

DEC officials formally rejected the November 2022 emissions test in September 2023, citing "several inconsistencies in the data." Goodyear acknowledged in October 2023 that the submission contained data errors that needed correction. The DEC asked the EPA in May 2024 to lead efforts to secure another round of emissions testing; follow-up testing was delayed while Goodyear installed upgraded pollution controls.

In January 2025 Goodyear entered a consent order that, according to The Buffalo News, imposed a $15,000 penalty and required permanent pollution-control equipment to be installed and operational by Oct. 31, 2026. The company then has 180 days to complete emissions testing; interim controls have been operating since April 2025.

Health Questions And Community Impact

The Buffalo News reported that at least 78 current and former Goodyear employees have been diagnosed with bladder cancer. The paper also found higher-than-expected rates in nearby communities, though no causal link to the plant has been established for residents. Keenan and local advocates stress the need for rigorous retesting, transparency, and stronger protections for workers and neighbors.

Context And Related Coverage

• A mother near a Freepoint Eco-Systems facility said she witnessed toxic releases that prompted scrutiny of immediate health risks.

• In Duluth, Minnesota, Judy Gibbs earned recognition for sustained community environmental stewardship and advocacy.

• The EPA has allocated funding to initiatives aimed at equipping young people with skills to tackle environmental problems.

Next steps: Regulators and the EPA are expected to oversee additional emissions testing after Goodyear completes work on its pollution controls; community advocates are pressing for transparent results and health-protection measures.