#airquality

Blog Against Smog

Nov 8, 2021

GASP Congratulates Levin Furniture on Solar Installation, ‘Flip the Switch’ Ceremony Slated for This

Longtime GASP partner Levin Furniture has just installed a 1-megawatt array of 2,500 solar panels atop its warehouse and corporate headquarters in Smithton. A “Flip the Switch” ceremony to turn on the system will be held at Levin’s warehouse at 11 .a.m. Wednesday. “This project continues our investment in the company and adds to several important environmentally responsible practices at Levin’s,” Levin Chairman Robert Levin said in a release. The new 1 MW array is the fifth r

Nov 7, 2021

Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Issues Mon Valley Air Pollution Warning as PM2.5 Concentrations Spike

Photo by GASP Board Member Roger Day Editor’s Note: This blog was updated at 4:20 p.m. Nov. 7 to include additional information from the state Department of Environmental Protection. Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Sunday morning issued a Mon Valley Air Pollution Warning, with preliminary data showing levels of fine particulate matter exceeded federal health-based air quality standards at its Liberty monitor. According to airnow.gov, the NowCast Air Quality Index (A

Nov 5, 2021

Mon Valley Sees 55th H2S Exceedance, Liberty-Clairton Air Quality Again Worst in Nation Friday

For a time this morning, AirNow.gov showed the Liberty-Clairton area as having the worst NowCast Air Quality Index (AQI) in the nation when it soared to 156. According to the EPA, air quality in the affected area was “unhealthy,” meaning that people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens should have avoided strenuous outdoor activities, kept outdoor activities short, and considered moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them to reduce exposu

Nov 4, 2021

Despite Expired Deadline for Action, PA House Committee Slated to Meet, Vote to Kill RGGI

By now, you’ve probably heard about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions from large electric generating units. Right now, 11 states in the northeastern United States participate in the program, and Pennsylvania is looking to be the 12th. GASP has blogged regularly about the program, submitted formal comments on the regulation proposed by the Environmental Quality Board (EQB), and is now watching an unexpected turn

Nov 3, 2021

GASP to Health Officials: You Have a Responsibility to Residents to Do More About Mon Valley Stench,

GASP attended the Allegheny County Board of Health meeting Wednesday to once again request that officials provide an update to the public about ongoing exceedances of the state hydrogen sulfide standard in the Mon Valley and what’s being done to stave off the associated rotten-egg stench. Here are the full comments presented by GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell: Dear Allegheny County Board of Health: Good afternoon. My name is Patrick Campbell, I am the new Executive D

Nov 3, 2021

UPDATE: Neville Chemical Appeals ACHD Enforcement Action, $62K Civil Penalty

A Neville Island resin manufacturer last week appealed an enforcement order issued Oct. 5 by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) that included more than $62,000 in civil penalties for alleged violations of its permit and local air pollution control regulations. In its appeal, Neville Chemical requests that an ACHD hearing officer vacate the enforcement order, which covers six alleged air pollution violations stemming from a Sept. 2 equipment breakdown. In case you m

Oct 27, 2021

Liberty Air Quality Monitor Experiences Malfunction; GASP, ACHD Provide Answers

At GASP we review air quality data the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) publishes on a regular basis. Today we noticed previously published data disappear from ACHD’s Daily Summary report. This is an issue that happens from time to time and wanted to take time to explain if you’ve ever noticed a similar phenomenon. This particular case started Tuesday morning when GASP staff reviewed the hourly air quality data ACHD publishes on its website here. The report page show

Oct 25, 2021

UPDATED: Mon Valley Experiences Another Air Quality Exceedance, GASP Asks Allegheny Co. Health Dept.

By 9 a.m. Monday, concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) were so high at Allegheny County Health Department’s air quality monitor in North Braddock Borough that an exceedance of Pennsylvania’s 24-hour average was already guaranteed. That makes 15 exceedances of the state standard so far this year at that site for H2S, which has a tell-tale rotten egg odor those in the Mon Valley (and folks downwind of it) endure all too often. For those keeping track, there have also been 3

Oct 20, 2021

Air Advisory Committee Approve $578K Clean Air Fund Request, Still No Word on GASP Appointee

Members of Allegheny County’s Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved making more than $578,000 from the Clean Air Fund available to the Health Department to cover normal operating expenditures in 2021. Why that amount? Allegheny County’s air pollution regulations allow the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) to use 5 percent of the Clean Air Fund balance annually to “fund the normal operating costs of the County’s Air Quality Program.”

Oct 14, 2021

Mon Valley Experiences More Malodors, Liberty Monitor Again Exceeds PA Air Quality Standard

So, did you smell it yesterday – that all-too-familiar stench of rotten eggs? Because Wednesday marked the 37th day in 2021 that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels exceeded the state air quality standard at Allegheny County Health Department’s air quality monitor in Liberty Borough. Little background: Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas that’s recognizable by its rotten-egg odor. It’s a stench our friends in the Mon Valley (and those downwind of it) endure way too often. The 24-ho

Sep 29, 2021

May We Introduce Our New Executive Director? GASPers, Meet Patrick Campbell

After earning a bachelor of science degree in marriage and family studies from Mercyhurst College, the Butler High School graduate decided that four years enduring Erie winters was enough, and opted to pursue his master’s degree at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. After earning his master of divinity in 2013, Patrick went to work as the pastor at Peace Church in Hickory, NC – a small, progressive congregation he said had “a history of advocacy.” While it was on the v

Sep 29, 2021

Press Release | GASP Announces Hiring of New Executive Director

Media Contact: Amanda Gillooly GASP Communications Manager amanda@gasp-pgh.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GASP Announces Hiring of New Executive Director The air quality watchdog organization’s new leader started work earlier this month. PITTSBURGH – The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) is delighted to announce that it has hired Patrick Campbell as its new executive director. Campbell’s tenure as the air quality watchdog’s new leader started earlier this month and coincides

Sep 28, 2021

Outgoing GASP Leader Honored for 20 Years of Service at Allegheny County Council Meeting

Councilperson Anita Prizio sponsored a proclamation celebrating Rachel’s commitment to GASP and the improvement of local air quality. It read: WHEREAS, after 20 years dedicated to Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), Rachel Filippini will depart from GASP to pursue the next chapter in her personal and professional life; and WHEREAS, GASP was founded in 1969 by volunteers concerned about air quality in southwestern Pennsylvania. Today, the organization continues to work to

Sep 13, 2021

UPDATED: Allegheny County Council Votes Unanimously to Approve Mon Valley Air Pollution Episodic Reg

Note: This story was updated at 6:16 p.m. Sept. 14 to reflect information from Allegheny County Council’s meeting and again on Sept. 23 to reflect that the new rules have been signed into law by Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald. Allegheny County Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a long-sought Mon Valley Air Pollution Episode rules. The vote came after Council’s Health and Human Service committee affirmatively recommended the episodic weather reg

Aug 23, 2021

LIMITED (FREE) OPPORTUNITY | Attend 2-Day Smoke School & Get Same Training As Health Inspectors

Even those of us who don’t live near or downwind of an industrial source of air pollution have at some point likely looked at emissions being belched from a facility and asked, “Is that even permitted?” You can learn the answer to that question and more at an upcoming smoke reading course. Not familiar with smoke reading? Then let’s take a step back to explain: “Smoke readers” is a general term for volunteers who are trained and certified to recognize and understand visible e

Aug 16, 2021

PHOTO/VIDEO GALLERY: Jeghetto’s Homecoming Puppet Show in Clairton Wows Children & Adults

Clairton Park came alive Saturday with a unique blend of hip hop and puppetry thanks to Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins, an internationally renowned artist and puppeteer who performed a special homecoming show – one that thrilled both adults and children alike. GASP was honored to sponsor the show, which featured puppets Pipkins crafted using mostly recycled materials. And those in attendance didn’t have to settle for a view from afar: Jeghetto climbed off the stage and walked thro

Aug 3, 2021

It’s Been Nearly 4 Years EPA, Public Deserves Transparency, Action Regarding Edgar Thomson Emissions

A reddish-brown plume of smoke that streamed out of U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson plant in June 2020 prompted air quality complaints and outcry from residents and environmental groups alike. The incident did not, however, spur a notice of violation or other enforcement action from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). Or at least any that has been made public. Let us explain. While ACHD did issue an NOV to U.S. Steel regarding exceedances of emissions limits at the plan

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

Jul 27, 2021

The Mon Valley Stinks (Literally): Sky-High H2S Concentrations Cause Air Quality Exceedances

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 9:25 a.m. on Thursday, July 29 to include additional information about an air quality exceedance that occurred on Wednesday, July 28. The associated chart was also updated to reflect the new data. Hydrogen sulfide concentrations at Allegheny County Health Department’s air quality monitors in Liberty and North Braddock boroughs were sky-high Tuesday morning – so high that by 10 a.m. exceedances of the state’s 24-hour average standard we

Jul 19, 2021

Join GASP for Puppets in the Park: Jeghetto’s Homecoming Show

You’re Invited! WHEN: 3 p.m. Aug. 14 WHERE: Clairton Park (Shelter 3) COST: Free! GASP is pleased to sponsor the event, which will feature the internationally recognized puppet master as he manipulates his handmade creations crafted from recycled materials. The event is slated for 3 p.m. Aug. 14 at Clairton Park (Shelter 3). It’s a unique form of storytelling through a hybrid of puppetry and hip hop for children of all ages. Bonus: Stick around after the show to visit GASP’s

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