#MonValleyairquality

Blog Against Smog

Mar 15, 2022

<UPDATED> Allegheny Co. Health Department Issues Mon Valley Air Pollution Warning for Tuesday

The Liberty-Clairton area woke up to unhealthy air quality again Tuesday, with EPA’s NowCast AQI soaring to 183 and hourly monitor data showing elevated levels of PM2.5, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide at the Liberty monitor. HEADS UP: Liberty-Clairton waking up to horrific air quality today. Current AQI is listed as 183 by @AIRNow (CodeRed unhealthy for all) & @HealthAllegheny monitor data show sky-high concentrations of both PM2.5 and H2s at the Liberty monitor. Please

UPDATED: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Issues $1.8 Million Fine Against U.S. Steel for H2S Emissions

Mar 7, 2022

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UPDATED: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Issues $1.8 Million Fine Against U.S. Steel for H2S Emissions

Editor’s Note: The Allegheny County Health Department issued the following news release Monday morning. The release followed GASP’s publication of a blog highlighting a recent report that places the blame for years of hydrogen sulfide exceedances “entirely” on U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works facility. Check back, we are following this issue closely and will update you when more information becomes available. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) today announced that

<UPDATED> No More Excuses for U.S. Steel: ACHD Finds Clairton Coke Works “Entirely” Responsibl

Mar 7, 2022

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<UPDATED> No More Excuses for U.S. Steel: ACHD Finds Clairton Coke Works “Entirely” Responsibl

Editor’s Note: The Allegheny County Health Department today in a press release announced that it has fined U.S. Steel more than $1.8 million for H2S violations. You can read all about that on our blog. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) last week published a comprehensive study analyzing potential sources of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) that have been driving exceedances of the Pennsylvania 24-hour average H2S standard at its air quality monitor in Liberty Borough. The 3

<UPDATED> More H2S Exceedances at Liberty, Mon Valley Residents Report Stench

Feb 22, 2022

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<UPDATED> More H2S Exceedances at Liberty, Mon Valley Residents Report Stench

Editor’s Note: This blog was updated at 10:35 a.m. Feb. 23 to include an updated H2S chart. Users of CMU CreateLab’s crowd-sourcing app SmellPG reported the usual odors – saying the pungent air that seeped in through their windows last night and this morning was reminiscent of rotten eggs. Some said it was a strong sulfur smell. Others called it “industrial.” The possible culprit could be the elevated concentrations of hydrogen sulfide that have pervaded the Mon Valley Monday

2022's 4th Exceedance of PA’s H2S Air Quality Standard Noted in Mon Valley; Still No Word from ACHD

Jan 24, 2022

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2022's 4th Exceedance of PA’s H2S Air Quality Standard Noted in Mon Valley; Still No Word from ACHD

Sadly, if you live in the Mon Valley, this likely isn’t news: Air quality was terrible early Saturday, with AirNow.gov showing “unhealthy” NowCast AQI values that were – for a time – the worst in the nation. Users took to the CMU CREATE Lab’s SmellPGH app to share their complaints and concerns, describing physical symptoms like nausea, headaches, scratchy throats, and respiratory trouble. One user noted the lack of action from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), wr

Weekend Sees Yet Another H2S Exceedance for Mon Valley

Nov 22, 2021

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Weekend Sees Yet Another H2S Exceedance for Mon Valley

Concentrations of the air pollutant known by its rotten-egg odor were high enough to exceed Pennsylvania’s 24-hour average of 0.005 ppm, ending the day at 0.008 ppm. This marks the 46th day of 2021 when H2S exceeded that standard at the Liberty monitor. There were 17 other such exceedances at ACHD’s air quality monitor in North Braddock Borough. “The Mon Valley remains on pace to hit at least 50 H2S exceedances by the end of the year. For those who might not know, that would

Board of Health Green Lights Episodic Weather Regulations for Mon Valley, Next Stop Allegheny County

Jul 14, 2021

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Board of Health Green Lights Episodic Weather Regulations for Mon Valley, Next Stop Allegheny County

Preceding the BOH vote was a special meeting of the Allegheny County Air Advisory Committee earlier this week, where minor language tweaks were presented and Air Quality Chief Jayme Graham told members: The Mon Valley Episodic Weather regulation garnered more than 400 comments – all but two of which were in favor of the new rules. The committee – which includes GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini – voted unanimously to recommend approval of the new rules. The regulation

More Unhealthy Air Quality, Exceedances Pervade Mon Valley – Update on H2S Problem Needed

Jun 7, 2021

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More Unhealthy Air Quality, Exceedances Pervade Mon Valley – Update on H2S Problem Needed

The colorless gas is most commonly recognized by its “rotten egg” odor and concentrations exceeded the Pennsylvania 24-hour average standard of 0.005 ppm on both Saturday (0.007 ppm) and Sunday (0.009 ppm) at Allegheny County Health Department’s air quality monitor in Liberty borough. “There have been 24 H2S exceedances so far this year at Liberty. That’s only one less than in all of 2020, but it’s also worth noting that the first exceedance in 2021 at that monitor didn’t occ

April Ends With Three More Air Quality Exceedances in the Mon Valley

May 3, 2021

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April Ends With Three More Air Quality Exceedances in the Mon Valley

Hydrogen sulfide (or H2S) is a colorless gas most commonly recognized by its “rotten egg” smell. The average concentration of H2S at the Liberty monitor on both Tuesday and Wednesday was 0.007 ppm, according to preliminary health department data. The state 24-hour standard is 0.005 ppm. There was also an exceedance at the North Braddock monitor Wednesday, with a 24-hour concentration of 0.010 ppm – twice the state standard. That made nine H2S exceedances at the Liberty monito

Residents Tell Allegheny Co. Health Dept: Put Our Health Above Industry Profits with Strong Permits

Mar 15, 2021

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Residents Tell Allegheny Co. Health Dept: Put Our Health Above Industry Profits with Strong Permits

The message was delivered again and again by residents during the more than 90-minute hearing: U.S. Steel needs to clean up its act, and the health department needs to make sure they do it through permits that are as protective of public health as possible. More than two dozen residents made remarks Monday morning at Allegheny County Health Department’s virtual public hearing regarding myriad air quality permits – among them draft installation permits for U.S. Steel’s cogener

Advisory Committee Votes to Table Episodic Weather Regs, Health Department Says It Might Take it to

Feb 8, 2021

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Advisory Committee Votes to Table Episodic Weather Regs, Health Department Says It Might Take it to

Draft episodic weather regulations long-sought by residents and air quality advocates could be sent out for public comment as soon as March 3, despite a committee vote Monday night. After about an hour of discussion, Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Advisory Committee voted unanimously to table the regulations, sending the draft back to the regulation subcommittee for more specifics. For inquiring minds who want to know: The next regulation subcommittee is scheduled t

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