#airquality

Blog Against Smog

May 12, 2022

GASP to ACHD: Revised Coke Oven Regs Must Better Protect Community from H2S, Other Air Pollutants

GASP joined residents and fellow clean air advocates at a public hearing in Clairton Wednesday night to tell the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) that its revised coke oven regulations must do more to protect the community from emissions emanating from U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works operations. In his testimony, GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell would have homed in on the Mon Valley’s hydrogen sulfide (H2S) problem and encouraged health officials to take advant

GASP Earth Week of Actions: Everyday Choices That Can Help Improve Air Quality at Home & Work

Apr 22, 2022

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GASP Earth Week of Actions: Everyday Choices That Can Help Improve Air Quality at Home & Work

This week we’ve talked a lot about actions that you can take to help reduce your personal impact on the environment and local air quality regarding the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and the ways in which you get around town. As Earth Week winds down, we wanted to shift our attention to Earth- and air quality-friendly actions we can take at home and at work to avoid air pollution pitfalls and ensure you and your crew can breathe healthier air there. Because indoor air qu

GASP’s Earth Week of Actions: Prioritize Recycling & Reusing

Apr 19, 2022

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GASP’s Earth Week of Actions: Prioritize Recycling & Reusing

This Earth Week we wanted to reiterate that the benefits of recycling cannot be understated. It reduces the amount of waste sent to our landfills, conserves natural resources, and prevents pollution by reducing the need for new raw materials. And that’s just the shortlist. Unfortunately, not all municipalities in our region offer weekly pickup of recyclable materials. If you live in one of these neighborhoods, don’t despair: There are many resources in our area where you can

GASP’s Earth Week of Actions: Take Action to Stave Off Food Waste

Apr 18, 2022

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GASP’s Earth Week of Actions: Take Action to Stave Off Food Waste

A 113-page Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report published in November dissected one of America’s most egregious contributions to greenhouse gas-causing Climate Change: Food waste. Potent greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane are created when that food waste begins decaying in your local landfill. Experts estimate that about one-sixth of our methane emissions are caused by wasted food. Stanford University notes that nationally, the greenhouse gases emi

No Surprise: U.S. Steel Appeals Allegheny County Health Department $1.8M Enforcement Order Over H2S

Apr 18, 2022

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No Surprise: U.S. Steel Appeals Allegheny County Health Department $1.8M Enforcement Order Over H2S

As expected, the infamously-litigious U.S. Steel Corp. has appealed a March 7 Allegheny County Health Department enforcement order for illegal hydrogen sulfide emissions from its Clairton Coke Works. In the 23-page appeal filed April 5 and posted to the ACHD website this weekend, the company asks an Allegheny County hearing officer to vacate the order and the $1.8 million fine that came along with it. U.S. Steel used the usual appeal argument: That ACHD “abused its discretion

Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Air Quality Monitors on the Move, but Costs & Benefits Remain Unclear

Apr 7, 2022

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Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Air Quality Monitors on the Move, but Costs & Benefits Remain Unclear

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Tuesday announced its intention to relocate the Air Quality Program’s primary air pollution monitoring facilities from Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood to the City’s North Side in 2023. \ The move highlights the best of the Air Quality Program but also leaves questions unanswered about transparency and decision-making in county leadership. The “best” was on display Tuesday morning in a technical presentation of what will go

How to Be the Change: Some Simple Actions You Can Take to Make a Difference in Air Quality

Apr 6, 2022

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How to Be the Change: Some Simple Actions You Can Take to Make a Difference in Air Quality

We get it: With all the gloom and doom related to climate change and air quality, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and anxious. But rest assured, there are little things that we can all do in our everyday lives to help “be the change” we want to see in our environment. Our Fresh Voices for Clean Air participants helped craft some specific actions you can take TODAY to help take action on air quality issues locally. Unfamiliar with our Fresh Voices for Clean Air Program? It’s an i

Investigation Shed Light on Link Between Air Pollution/Mental Health & Now EHN Calling for Action

Apr 5, 2022

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Investigation Shed Light on Link Between Air Pollution/Mental Health & Now EHN Calling for Action

Last year, two local news organizations teamed up to publish an explosive series that explored the mental health impacts of air and water pollution in western Pennsylvania and sounded the alarm about the increasing evidence that residents in the region are likely suffering changes to their brains because of their environment. The reporting also uncovered the growing gap in mental health care as more people are traumatized by worsening climate change. You can – and should – ch

BREAKING: U.S. Steel Fined $4.6 Million for 831 Uncontrolled Push Violations at Clairton Coke Works,

Mar 24, 2022

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BREAKING: U.S. Steel Fined $4.6 Million for 831 Uncontrolled Push Violations at Clairton Coke Works,

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) on Thursday announced in a press release that it has imposed more than $4.5 million in penalties against U.S. Steel for 831 uncontrolled push violations at its Clairton Coke Works facility. The violations occurred between Jan. 1, 2020, and March 15, 2022. Here’s what the release said: “Pushing is the operation of unloading, or “pushing,” finished coke from the oven into a traveling hot car to be transported and cooled. To contain

VIDEO: Photo Exhibit Memorialized How County’s Sole Remaining & Soon-to-Shutter Coal-Fired Powe

Mar 24, 2022

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VIDEO: Photo Exhibit Memorialized How County’s Sole Remaining & Soon-to-Shutter Coal-Fired Powe

In mere days the sole remaining coal-fired electric generating plant in Allegheny County is scheduled to cease operations, ending a decades-old air pollution horror story for so many local residents living, working, and recreating near the facility. While court documents and enforcement orders – one of which occurred as recently as Aug. 17, 2020 – tell the tale of Cheswick Generating Station’s dereliction in complying with air quality regulations, they don’t effectively illus

GASP Encourages Residents to Take Advantage of Upcoming Glass Collection Events in Allegheny County

Mar 22, 2022

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GASP Encourages Residents to Take Advantage of Upcoming Glass Collection Events in Allegheny County

Mark your calendars because Allegheny County just announced that it’s partnering with the Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) for a second year to offer its Traveling Glass Recycling Bin Program in county parks. Beginning on Saturday, April 2, the bin will be located in each park for six days, Saturday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to sundown to allow residents a resource to recycle glass. County officials said in a press release that glass recycling continues to be of inter

Air Quality Exceedances Abound This Week at Allegheny County Health Department’s Liberty Monitor

Mar 15, 2022

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Air Quality Exceedances Abound This Week at Allegheny County Health Department’s Liberty Monitor

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Tuesday morning issued a Mon Valley Air Pollution Warning for Tuesday and all of Wednesday. That, of course, meant that the rolling 24-hour average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) level at ACHD’s air quality monitor in Liberty borough exceeded the federal health-based standard *and* that ACHD is confident poor air quality is likely to continue. For those who might need a refresher on the Mon Valley Air Pollution Episode Rule, chec

GASP Lauds EPA Proposal for Stronger Heavy-Duty Vehicle Standards to Promote Clean Air, Protect Comm

Mar 9, 2022

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GASP Lauds EPA Proposal for Stronger Heavy-Duty Vehicle Standards to Promote Clean Air, Protect Comm

With all of the news surrounding an air quality-related enforcement order against U.S. Steel this week, GASP wanted to make sure a significant new proposal from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency didn’t get missed – because it’s a big deal. Here’s what happened: Earlier this week, the EPA announced it is proposing new, stronger standards to promote clean air and reduce pollution from heavy-duty vehicles and engines starting in the model year 2027. The proposed standards

<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

Time Running Out to Speak Out About U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works’ Draft Air Quality Permit

Mar 3, 2022

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Time Running Out to Speak Out About U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works’ Draft Air Quality Permit

The deadline to weigh in on the draft air quality permit for U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works is quickly approaching, and it’s so important that regulators hear from residents like you. GASP is making that as easy as possible: Our attorneys have pored over the more than 300-page permit and are preparing written technical comments on its deficiencies. But they also took the time to distill all that information down into an FAQ we can all understand. Here’s what you need to kno

A Guide to Common Air Pollutants & Where They Come From

Feb 24, 2022

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A Guide to Common Air Pollutants & Where They Come From

Air quality is a complex issue with plenty of confusing terms and jargon. To help simplify things, our Fresh Voices for Clean Air participants crafted this awesome, plain-language guide to the most common air pollutants and where they come from. Check it out: Don’t know about our Fresh Voices for Clean Air Program? It’s an innovative program that paired a small group of high school students from Allegheny County with a group of their peers in Birmingham, Ala., for a 10-month

<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

Unhealthy Air, Stench Return as Mon Valley Sees 5th H2S Exceedance of Year, GASP Calls for Answers

Feb 17, 2022

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Unhealthy Air, Stench Return as Mon Valley Sees 5th H2S Exceedance of Year, GASP Calls for Answers

Wednesday marked the fifth time so far this year that levels of hydrogen sulfide (AKA H2S, an air pollutant distinguished by its rotten-egg odor) exceeded the state’s 24-hour average standard at Allegheny County Health Department’s air quality monitor in Liberty Borough. Preliminary data also show that while concentrations of H2S were also elevated at ACHD’s air quality monitor in North Braddock, the 24-hour average was close to – but just short of – an exceedance. Local resi

PRESS RELEASE: GASP Announces Election of Five New Board Members

Feb 15, 2022

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PRESS RELEASE: GASP Announces Election of Five New Board Members

Media Contact: Amanda Gillooly Communications Manager Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) amanda@gasp-pgh.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GASP Announces Election of Five New Board Members The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) is delighted to announce the election of five new members to its board of directors, adding valuable experience and expertise to the watchdog group’s team. The new members, who will serve three-year terms, include: Shawn C. Dalton, who is a fellow wi

Mon Valley Air Pollution Mitigation Plans Now Available on Allegheny Co. Health Department Website

Feb 8, 2022

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Mon Valley Air Pollution Mitigation Plans Now Available on Allegheny Co. Health Department Website

GASP just last week called on ACHD to make the documents public so that residents could see for themselves how the polluters in their neighborhoods plan to deal reduce particulate matter emissions during short-term air pollution events. “We want to thank Allegheny County Health Department for making these plans available for public consumption,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “Transparency is paramount when it comes to accountability.” Here’s what ACHD tweeted

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