The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) on Tuesday announced that it is seeking written public comment on its draft 2023 Air Monitoring Network Plan, an annual report that provides a detailed description of how and where air pollution is monitored in Allegheny County.
Little background: Air Monitoring Network Plans are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They provide the specific location of each monitoring station, siting criteria, monitoring methods and objectives, frequency of sampling, pollutants measured at each station, and aerial photographs showing their physical locations.
The 2023 plan is substantially similar to the 2022 Air Monitoring Network Plan except for the proposed move to the air monitoring station from the Clack Campus in Lawrenceville to Fulton Street on the Northside.
For inquiring minds that want to learn more specifics, a summary of all proposed changes may be found in the Executive Summary of the draft plan, beginning on page six.
The county’s air monitoring network includes nine locations: Avalon, Clairton, Flag Plaza, Glassport, Harrison, Lawrenceville, Liberty, North Braddock, Parkway East (Wilkinsburg), and South Fayette. One or more of the following pollutants is measured at each site: sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, total reactive nitrogen, ozone, PM10, PM2.5, and air toxics.
Comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on June 9 and may be submitted via e-mail to david.good@alleghenycounty.us or by mail to:
Allegheny County Health Department
Attention: David D. Good
Air Quality Program
301 39th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
All correspondence must include first and last names and a complete mailing address.
GASP staff is reviewing the plan and will be offering public comments. We’ll keep you posted so stay tuned.