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Blog Against Smog

Rejoice! Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Regs Have Been Finalized – PA to Formally Join Pro

Apr 25, 2022

Rejoice! Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Regs Have Been Finalized – PA to Formally Join Pro

Pennsylvania’s road to entering the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was a rocky one. We kept you posted on the drama, most recently blogging about how the carbon-capture program in the Keystone State was subject to a challenge in court, preventing them from going into effect. Now we’re happy to tell you that this particular soap opera has a happy ending (for now): The regulations went into effect Saturday, April 23, when they were finally published in the Pennsylvan

Public Comments Sought for PA’s New Environmental Justice Policy

Mar 21, 2022

Public Comments Sought for PA’s New Environmental Justice Policy

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is releasing a draft Environmental Justice Public Participation Policy that strengthens language on how it oversees and participates in environmental justice priorities and reform with community partners. The public comment period on the policy is open through Wednesday, May 11. The EJ Policy will help shape and guide DEP’s involvement in environmental justice areas. Since 2004, DEP and the Office of Environmental

GASP Lauds DEP Decision To Conduct Hazardous Cleanup Program Investigation at Erie Coke, Inc.

Jan 24, 2022

GASP Lauds DEP Decision To Conduct Hazardous Cleanup Program Investigation at Erie Coke, Inc.

This investigation is necessary to identify the nature and extent of hazardous substances in soils, sediment, and water at the property in anticipation of its cleanup and reuse. In addition, the investigation will help determine the sources of contamination and the extent of risk to the public health, safety, or welfare, or the environment, DEP said in a press release Monday. The Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) provides DEP with the funding and authority to conduct cleanup

Allegheny County PM2.5 Levels Below Federal Standard but the Future is Still Hazy

Nov 10, 2021

Allegheny County PM2.5 Levels Below Federal Standard but the Future is Still Hazy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in September announced that the agency intends to make a “Clean Data Determination” regarding levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Allegheny County. This means the EPA determined the three-year average PM2.5 concentration was below the annual federal standard of 12.0 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) based on “quality-assured, quality-controlled, and certified ambient air quality monitoring data” from 2018 to 2020. Clean

UPDATED: DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulate Matter Liberty-Clairto

Nov 5, 2021

UPDATED: DEP Declares Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulate Matter Liberty-Clairto

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 4:12 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5 to include information about tomorrow’s Mon Valley Air Pollution Watch. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today declared a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter for Saturday, Nov. 6. In addition, the Allegheny County Health Department issued a Mon Valley Air Pollution Watch. For those who might not be aware: The Liberty-Clairton Area of Allegheny County inclu

Environmental Resources & Energy Committee Meeting Sept. 14 to Determine Fate of RGGI in PA

Sep 14, 2021

Environmental Resources & Energy Committee Meeting Sept. 14 to Determine Fate of RGGI in PA

RGGI is a cap-and-trade program for gas emissions from large electric generating units. Eleven states in the northeastern United States already participate in the program. But now for the not-so-great news: That IRRC approval moved the proposed regulation to the standing Environmental Resources and Energy Committees of the Pennsylvania House and Senate. As expected, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee promptly approved a concurrent resolution that would kil

Host‌ ‌a‌ ‌Clean‌ ‌Air‌ ‌Fair‌ ‌for Fun,‌ ‌Interactive‌ ‌Air‌ ‌Quality‌ ‌Education‌ ‌with ‌Puppets

Jul 29, 2021

Host‌ ‌a‌ ‌Clean‌ ‌Air‌ ‌Fair‌ ‌for Fun,‌ ‌Interactive‌ ‌Air‌ ‌Quality‌ ‌Education‌ ‌with ‌Puppets

Clean Air Fairs are flexible educational opportunities to help school-age students better understand local air quality. Clean Air Fairs can be customized to best fit your organization’s needs. Fairs can be structured either as a presentation or as a drop-in fair with activity tables. The presentation, featuring GASP’s air quality educator and English with his puppets, covers topics like our region’s history with air quality, ways to learn about air quality (monitoring, bioind

Proposed Air Quality Permit Fee Increases One Step Closer to Final Approval

Jun 22, 2021

Proposed Air Quality Permit Fee Increases One Step Closer to Final Approval

Proposed permit fee schedule increases expected to put Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality Program on sound financial footing are one step closer to final approval. During the Allegheny County Council meeting Tuesday afternoon, the measure was referred to the committee on health and human services. GASP has long championed the revised fee schedule, which mostly mirrors those approved by the state that went into effect this past January. The Allegheny County Board

DEP to Host Virtual Public Hearing on How to Stop Landfill Gas Migration from Mazzaro Land Fill in M

Mar 5, 2021

DEP to Host Virtual Public Hearing on How to Stop Landfill Gas Migration from Mazzaro Land Fill in M

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold a virtual public hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 6 to take testimony from interested parties on DEP’s interim response under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) at the former Mazzaro-McKees Rocks Landfill site in Kennedy Township. This unpermitted municipal landfill ceased operations prior to modern regulations and sits atop historic coal mining features. In 2006, DEP previously conducted a prompt int

Updated Air Quality Permit Fees Approved by Allegheny Co. Board of Health

Mar 3, 2021

Updated Air Quality Permit Fees Approved by Allegheny Co. Board of Health

The Allegheny County Board of Health on Wednesday greenlighted increases for air quality permit fees and set the price tag for 14 new fees related to the permitting process – changes that are expected to help buoy enforcement and compliance efforts. The board voted 4-2 in support of the fee changes, which now head to Allegheny County Council for final approval. Dr. Kotayya Kondaveeti and Anthony Ferraro cast the dissenting votes. Absent were board Chairman Dr. Lee Harrison an

New DEP Fee Schedule Expected to Put Air Quality Program on ‘Sound Financial Footing’

Jan 19, 2021

New DEP Fee Schedule Expected to Put Air Quality Program on ‘Sound Financial Footing’

We’ve got some good news to report: The revised fee schedule for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Air Quality Program officially went into effect this past weekend – a move that will allow it to adequately administer and enforce air pollution laws in the 65 of the state’s 67 counties (excluding Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties) for which it is responsible. That’s because the Air Quality Program is funded by the fees that it charges rather than by g

DEP Issues Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulate Matter in Liberty-Clairton

Dec 18, 2020

DEP Issues Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulate Matter in Liberty-Clairton

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) this afternoon issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter for Saturday in the Liberty-Clairton Area of Allegheny County which includes Clairton City, Glassport Borough, Liberty Borough, Lincoln Borough, and Port Vue Borough. A strong temperature inversion supported by snow cover, along with very light to calm winds associated with a ridge of high pressure moving over Pennsylvania, will

Virtual Public Hearings Regarding PA’s Entry into Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Next Week; Writ

Dec 3, 2020

Virtual Public Hearings Regarding PA’s Entry into Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Next Week; Writ

The state Environmental Quality Board (EQB) will kick off the series of hearings on Dec. 8 and will accept written comments on the matter through Jan. 14 so GASP wanted to be sure you were armed with all the information you need to not only understand what RGGI is all about but how you can make sure your voice is heard. “The Proposed Rulemaking deserves every Pennsylvanian’s support because it will help reduce air pollution, improve public health, and begin to address the pro

Steps You Can Take to Minimize Impacts of Poor Air Quality as We Wait for ACHD, Industry Action

Nov 10, 2020

Steps You Can Take to Minimize Impacts of Poor Air Quality as We Wait for ACHD, Industry Action

In air quality warnings issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) over the past few days, you might have noticed both agencies predicted air quality would improve in the afternoons. GASP is pointing this out because it could provide citizens with one small step toward minimizing their exposure to harmful air pollution. We graphed ACHD’s monitor data for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and hydrogen sulfide (H

PA Legislature Moves to Block Fee Schedule Changes That Would Ensure DEP’s Air Quality Program Has F

Oct 6, 2020

PA Legislature Moves to Block Fee Schedule Changes That Would Ensure DEP’s Air Quality Program Has F

These fees are critical to the operation of DEP’s Air Quality Program, which works to protect public health and Pennsylvania’s environment by administering and enforcing air pollution laws. DEP’s Title V fees haven’t been raised since 2013 and the account will run a deficit beginning in the fiscal year 2023-24 if fees are not increased. Its non-Title V fees were last increased in 2005, with that account expected to run at a deficit in 2020-21 if action is not taken. That reso

Changes to DEP Air Quality Program’s Fee Schedule Approved by PA Commission, Now Waits for Green Lig

Sep 23, 2020

Changes to DEP Air Quality Program’s Fee Schedule Approved by PA Commission, Now Waits for Green Lig

Here’s some good news on the air quality front: Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) on Sept. 17 approved the final revisions to the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Air Quality Program fee schedule. The revisions were approved by a 4-1 vote. GASP previously submitted comments in support of fee schedule changes, which are designed to ensure that DEP’s Air Quality Program has adequate funds to operate for the foreseeable future. It’s imp

GASP Lauds PA Environmental Quality Board Approval of Proposed Climate Change Regulation

Sep 15, 2020

GASP Lauds PA Environmental Quality Board Approval of Proposed Climate Change Regulation

Image courtesy of the DEP website. The Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) on Sept. 15 voted to promulgate a regulation to limit carbon pollution from power plants. The proposed regulation will be reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General and a public comment and participation period will be announced at a later date. The vote in the EQB was 13 to 6. GASP lauded the approval. “Pennsylvania contributes a disproportionate amount of climate change-causing air po

Allegheny County Experiences Two Air Quality Exceedances Aug. 9; Air Quality Action Day Again Declar

Aug 10, 2020

Allegheny County Experiences Two Air Quality Exceedances Aug. 9; Air Quality Action Day Again Declar

Click image to enlarge the chart. This past weekend of warm and muggy weather was punctuated by two air quality exceedances, according to initial data from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). Concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) were bad enough at the Liberty air quality monitor the morning of Sunday, Aug. 9 that by 10 a.m. it was mathematically impossible to stay below Pennsylvania’s 24-hour standard. The average concentration of H2S at the Liberty monitor Sun

DEP Awards $2.1 Million in Grants for Cleaner Fuel Vehicle Projects to Help Improve Air Quality, Add

Jul 20, 2020

DEP Awards $2.1 Million in Grants for Cleaner Fuel Vehicle Projects to Help Improve Air Quality, Add

Editor’s Note: The following was taken from a press release issued today by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). More than $2.1 million in 2019 Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants were awarded Monday – money that will fund 18 cleaner fuel vehicle projects statewide. DEP officials said the grants “will help improve air quality and public health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change.” “We’re committed to helping Pennsylvanians breathe cl

UPDATED: DEP Declares Ozone Action Day for Thursday, Allegheny County Health Dept. Says No Open Burn

Jul 8, 2020

UPDATED: DEP Declares Ozone Action Day for Thursday, Allegheny County Health Dept. Says No Open Burn

Editor’s Note: This blog was updated at 10:14 a.m. Thursday, July 9 to include additional information sent out by the Allegheny County Health Department through an Alert. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership have declared Thursday, July 9 an Air Quality Action Day for ozone covering all of southwestern Pennsylvania. An Alert relaying this information issued by the Allegheny County Health Departmen

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