#benzene

Blog Against Smog

Jan 6, 2021

What You Need to Know About Allegheny County’s Proposed Coke Oven Regulation Revisions & How to

Editor’s Note: The public comment period for Allegheny County’s draft coke oven regulations closed as of 4 p.m. Jan. 21. THANK YOU to all who submitted comments! If you are concerned about emissions from U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works, there is no better time than now to let the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) know how you feel. ACHD is now accepting public input on long-awaited revisions to its air quality regulations governing coke oven emissions. GASP will be s

Cross-Sector Coalition Launches a National Initiative to Eradicate Non-Hereditary Childhood Cancers

Sep 23, 2020

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Cross-Sector Coalition Launches a National Initiative to Eradicate Non-Hereditary Childhood Cancers

Childhood cancer is the number one cause of death by disease for children in the United States, killing more children than pediatric AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, and muscular dystrophy combined. In fact, a 34 percent increase in childhood cancers since 1975 has led a group of scientists, health professionals, businesses, and advocates to ignite a call to action to highlight preventable environmental factors that threaten our children. This coalition seeks to establish a Nat

Allegheny County Board of Health Greenlights $340K Air Toxics Study, Additional H2S Monitoring

Sep 3, 2020

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Allegheny County Board of Health Greenlights $340K Air Toxics Study, Additional H2S Monitoring

The Allegheny County Board of Health on Wednesday approved several Clean Air Fund requests, including a $340,544 proposal for a comprehensive air toxics study in the Mon Valley that would assess health risks to the community. The request from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) would include both passive and active air quality monitoring, as well as the addition of 10 portable hydrogen sulfide (H2S) monitors. Officials have said the mobile H2S monitors will allow th

GASP Weighs in on Allegheny County Health Department’s Draft Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan

Jun 11, 2020

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GASP Weighs in on Allegheny County Health Department’s Draft Air Quality Monitoring Network Plan

The Group Against Smog and Pollution on Wednesday submitted comments on the Allegheny County Health Department’s (ACHD’s) draft 2021 air monitoring network. Here are some of the highlights: GASP supports the establishment of a National Air Toxics Trends Station in Lawrenceville but noted that ACHD must address ancillary issues regarding the move. GASP expressed concern over access to data and noted that there should be an analysis of the need for continued air toxics monitori

With Grant Deadline Extended, There’s No Excuse for ACHD NOT to Seek Air Toxics Monitoring Funding

Apr 10, 2020

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With Grant Deadline Extended, There’s No Excuse for ACHD NOT to Seek Air Toxics Monitoring Funding

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a new May 1 deadline to apply for funding under its Community-Scale Air Toxics Ambient Monitoring grant program, giving the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) a chance to submit a project proposal. Given that the grant guidelines state, “(A)ir toxics of particular interest to EPA in this solicitation include benzene,” and that U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works accounted for 80 percent of all benzene emiss

Breathing Easy in a Time of COVID-19: About That Backyard Fire

Apr 9, 2020

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Breathing Easy in a Time of COVID-19: About That Backyard Fire

With sunny skies and warmer weather, nobody wants to feel cooped up in their house, so taking care of outdoor chores seems like the perfect reprieve from an abundance of couch time. And now that visiting with friends and family is ill-advised, we get how hanging out with housemates around a backyard bonfire might seem like a small consolation. But there’s an air quality toll to pay when people throw another log on the fire. The truth is, it’s more important than ever to take

GASP Supports Monitoring Equipment Request; Again Asks ACHD to Apply for Air Toxics Grant to Do Even

Mar 5, 2020

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GASP Supports Monitoring Equipment Request; Again Asks ACHD to Apply for Air Toxics Grant to Do Even

The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) on Wednesday delivered public comments at the Allegheny County Board of Health meeting to share its support for a funding request for more than $350,000 in new air monitoring equipment—one that was subsequently approved. GASP also reiterated its request that the Allegheny County Health Department seek an EPA grant that would help officials better monitor air toxics such as benzene and manganese. Here are our full comments: Good afte

Transparency Watch: More Data, Stricter Regulations Needed to Reduce Benzene Exposure in Mon Valley

Nov 22, 2019

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Transparency Watch: More Data, Stricter Regulations Needed to Reduce Benzene Exposure in Mon Valley

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its decision to list benzene as a hazardous air pollutant under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act on June 8, 1977, based on reports “strongly suggest(ing) an increased incidence of leukemia in humans exposed to benzene.” Despite more than 40 years of regulations and research highlighting the danger of exposure to benzene, EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory data show U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke facility was still able to emit over 30

DEP Opens Investigation Near Erie Coke Following Passive Air Monitoring Sampling Results

Sep 18, 2019

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DEP Opens Investigation Near Erie Coke Following Passive Air Monitoring Sampling Results

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has opened a follow-up investigation near Erie Coke because of the results of the department’s new passive air quality monitoring sampling. DEP, which received the first three sets of passive air sampling results, found that monitors had indicated that benzene concentrations exceeded a specific action level set forth in the sampling plan. This plan calls for further investigation when the 1.3 µg/m3 action level is

BREAKING: DEP to Conduct Air Quality Sampling Plan Around Erie Coke

Jul 22, 2019

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BREAKING: DEP to Conduct Air Quality Sampling Plan Around Erie Coke

Erie coke The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Monday announced in a press release that it will conduct air quality sampling near the Erie Coke plant and throughout the Erie community to collect data to assess health risks to the general population. Specifically, DEP will be monitoring for compounds related to coke production, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. Thirteen monitors will be placed along the perimeter of the facility an

HECA, Community Members Rally Support for DEP’s Enforcement Actions Against Erie Coke Corp.

Jul 15, 2019

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HECA, Community Members Rally Support for DEP’s Enforcement Actions Against Erie Coke Corp.

Photo courtesy of HECA Members of the community group Hold Erie Coke Accountable rallied alongside concerned residents Monday morning to support the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s aggressive enforcement action against Erie Coke Corp. and to “insist that they not accept a monetary payoff.” The demonstration took place outside the courthouse where lawyers for DEP and Erie Coke sparred last week over the department’s denial of the company’s air pollution o

Air Monitoring During the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works Fire & Repair Period Explored & Explained

May 16, 2019

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Air Monitoring During the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works Fire & Repair Period Explored & Explained

Typical raw coke oven gas is largely hydrogen (52 percent-59 percent) and methane (26 percent-33 percent) but among other minor constituents includes 0 percent-1 percent benzene and 0.4 percent-1.2 percent hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-all percent by volume. The raw coke gas stripped of much of the sulfur content is normally burned as fuel for heating in the Clairton batteries, as well as the other U.S. Steel Mon Valley plants. Upon combustion, the remaining hydrogen sulfide compone

DEP Issues Administrative Order Against Erie Coke Following Wastewater Release

Apr 3, 2019

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DEP Issues Administrative Order Against Erie Coke Following Wastewater Release

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on April 1 issued an administrative order to Erie Coke Works following a spill at its facility. According to the order, an initial 300-gallon spill occurred on March 18 because of a hole developing in a storage tank. The hole was repaired the next day but a second spill on March 31 from the same tank – this time described as a “tank failure” – caused a “large volume of wastewater” to pond “in an area Northwest of the Tank bord

U.S. Steel’s Appeals Clairton Coke Enforcement Order; Latest Skirmish in Decades-Long Fight

Aug 16, 2018

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U.S. Steel’s Appeals Clairton Coke Enforcement Order; Latest Skirmish in Decades-Long Fight

On June 28, 2018, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) fined U.S. Steel approximately $1.1 million for multiple violations of air pollution regulations at its Clairton Coke Works. The enforcement action also includes a provision for the closure of two of the facility’s older batteries of ovens if certain emissions limits are not met. According to the enforcement order, Clairton Coke “continues to experience ever-increasing visible emissions and unexplained exceedance

Lawrenceville: The Priority is Protecting Public Health

May 8, 2015

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Lawrenceville: The Priority is Protecting Public Health

In working to reduce emissions from the McConway and Torley (M&T) facility in Lawrenceville, GASP’s objective has always been to advocate for healthy air and safeguard public health. For several years now M&T has been on our radar. In 2011, GASP and M&T entered into an agreement aimed at lowering emissions from the plant, with the goal of making the air everyone in the community breathes a little cleaner. In the settlement M&T agreed to additional emission controls over and a

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