#emissions

top of page

Blog Against Smog

PennEnvironment, Clean Air Council Sue U.S. Steel for Clean Air Act Violations in Pittsburgh

Apr 29, 2019

PennEnvironment, Clean Air Council Sue U.S. Steel for Clean Air Act Violations in Pittsburgh

Two area environmental groups—PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council—on Monday announced that they had filed suit against U.S. Steel, which they say violated the Clean Air Act at its three Pittsburgh-area plants. These include Clairton Coke Works, the largest coke oven facility in North America. Violations occurred throughout the company’s Mon Valley Works, stemming from its decision to operate the plants for more than three months without critical pollution control equipment,

U.S. Steel Appeals $707K Civil Penalty for Emissions Problems at Clairton Coke Works

Apr 26, 2019

U.S. Steel Appeals $707K Civil Penalty for Emissions Problems at Clairton Coke Works

The Allegheny County Health (ACHD) department on Friday announced that U.S. Steel has appealed the civil penalty of $707,568 that was issued against it April 1. The penalty was assessed because of continued air quality issues at the Clairton Coke Works facility for the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2018. The company had previously appealed a civil penalty of $620,316, that was issued by the ACHD on Oct. 18, for continued emissions problems for the 2nd quarter of 2018 at the Clairto

Residents Show Up in Droves for HECA, GASP Community Update on Erie Coke Corp.

Apr 19, 2019

Residents Show Up in Droves for HECA, GASP Community Update on Erie Coke Corp.

Nearly 100 community members joined Hold Erie Coke Accountable (HECA) and the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) to learn more about ongoing air quality violations at Erie Coke Works. The event, held at East Middle School in Erie, featured several speakers, including GASP’s Executive Director Rachel Filippini and staff attorney Ned Mulcahy. GASP shared information about air quality issues generally—and those affecting Erie Coke Works specifically—as well as some backgrou

East Pittsburgh Woman Files Class Action Law Suit Against U.S. Steel Over Emissions from Christmas E

Apr 17, 2019

East Pittsburgh Woman Files Class Action Law Suit Against U.S. Steel Over Emissions from Christmas E

An East Pittsburgh woman on April 9 filed a class action lawsuit against U.S. Steel, claiming the company was grossly negligent/reckless in the way it handled a Dec. 24 fire at its Clairton plant and its aftermath. The suit specifically alleges that U.S. Steel: Failed to develop and/or maintain adequate policies and procedures as necessary to prevent the Dec. 24, 2018 Clairton Plant fire; Failed to develop and implement an adequate mechanical integrity program necessary to pr

GASP Seeks Local Smoke Readers; Free Training Provided

Mar 13, 2019

GASP Seeks Local Smoke Readers; Free Training Provided

They say, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” They say, “Actions are louder than words.” What they don’t tell you is how to be the change, or what action to take, exactly. We will: If you wish air quality was better in the Pittsburgh area and you want to do something to help effect change locally, please consider signing up to be a GASP Smoke Reader. Never heard of such a thing? Smoke Readers are volunteers who are trained and certified to recognize and understand:

BREAKING: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Issues Enforcement Order Against U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works

Feb 28, 2019

BREAKING: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Issues Enforcement Order Against U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works

UPDATED March 13, 2019: Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) announced March 12 that it has revised its enforcement order issued Feb. 28th against U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works (Edgar Thompson Plant, Irvin Plant, and Clairton Coke Works). The action was taken in response to the plan submitted by U.S. Steel on March 7. Per the revised order (http://bit.ly/2F7uqft), U.S. Steel is required to implement the following at its Clairton Coke Works facility: • Extend coking times

GASP Joins Mayor, Officials, for Kickoff of City’s First ‘Clean Construction’ Project

Feb 21, 2019

GASP Joins Mayor, Officials, for Kickoff of City’s First ‘Clean Construction’ Project

GASP’s Rachel Filippini Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) executive director Rachel Filippini joined Mayor Bill Peduto and other local officials Thursday in the Duck Hollow section of Pittsburgh for the kickoff of the city’s first “Clean Construction” project. The City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure is set to begin reconstruction of the McFarren Street Bridge over Nine Mile Run, which is the first such project to be performed following the city’

UPDATED: PA DEP’s Northwest Regional Office Issues Administrative Order to Erie Coke Corp.

Feb 13, 2019

UPDATED: PA DEP’s Northwest Regional Office Issues Administrative Order to Erie Coke Corp.

Photo courtesy of the HECA website. UPDATE: Erie Coke Works on March 7 filed an appeal to DEP’s Feb. 14 order. The Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Northwest Regional office on Feb. 4 issued an administrative order to Erie Coke Corp. (ECC) demanding it take action to correct air quality violations believed to be “ongoing and continuous” during the previous 18 months. The order lists 59 regulatory violations Erie Coke committed between June 3, 2017 and Oct. 11, 2

Organizations Team Up to Reduce Vehicle Idling at Local Child Care Centers

Nov 27, 2017

Organizations Team Up to Reduce Vehicle Idling at Local Child Care Centers

The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Children (PAEYC), and Tender Care Learning Center have teamed up to discourage vehicle idling. Earlier this year GASP received a grant from the Grable Foundation to develop the NO Idling! Young Lungs at Work program, in partnership with PAEYC. The goals of the project are to increase awareness among Allegheny County child care providers about air pollution’s negative impact on c

GASP Files Notice of Intent to Sue Armstrong Cement for Air Quality Permit Violations

Jul 19, 2017

GASP Files Notice of Intent to Sue Armstrong Cement for Air Quality Permit Violations

For Immediate Release: July 18, 2017 Contacts: John Baillie, Senior Attorney, GASP, 412-924-0604 ext. 201, john@gasp-pgh.org GASP Files Notice of Intent to Sue Armstrong Cement and Supply Corporation for Violations of Their Air Quality Permit Earlier this month, the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) provided notice that it intends to file a citizen suit under the federal Clean Air Act and Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act against Armstrong Cement & Supply, Inc., fo

GASP, Others Give Notice of Intent to Sue Allegheny Ludlum Plant

Mar 23, 2017

GASP, Others Give Notice of Intent to Sue Allegheny Ludlum Plant

March 23, 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Groups File Notice of Intent to Sue Owners of Steel Plant Over Illegal Air Pollution Pollution from Pittsburgh-area Allegheny Ludlum Plant Far Exceeded Clean Air Act Limits, Threatening Public Health PITTSBURGH — Four environmental organizations today provided notice that they intend to sue owners of a steel plant in Western Pennsylvania for violating the federal Clean Air Act by releasing far more air pollution than an air quality permit

Methane From Natural Gas Industry Must Be Better Controlled

Jul 6, 2016

Methane From Natural Gas Industry Must Be Better Controlled

Methane is the second-most prevalent greenhouse gas in the U.S., and at least a quarter of it comes from our natural gas industry. It’s more than 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 20-year span. Methane emissions from this industry must be addressed if we are to combat climate change. Public health is at risk from climate change. Our health is also endangered by the volatile organic compounds themselves in the gas, and higher levels of ozone, of which volatile or

Our Region Must Take Advantage of Funding to Reduce Toxic Diesel Air Pollution

Mar 4, 2016

Our Region Must Take Advantage of Funding to Reduce Toxic Diesel Air Pollution

Whether you live near train tracks, work near a construction site, or are just standing in line for a bus, you are likely exposed to diesel emissions sometime during the day. Diesel particulate matter is a pervasive “toxic air contaminant” according to the California Air Resources Board, for which there is no safe level of exposure. Diesel particulate matter poses one of the greatest cancer risks from any type of outdoor air pollution in the region. In addition to causing can

School Buses Should Be Clean and Safe

Dec 15, 2015

School Buses Should Be Clean and Safe

We trust our buses to take our children to school and back in a safe manner. But some older diesel buses emit toxic pollution that harms the driver, the passengers, and everyone in the community near the buses. GASP gave testimony last night to the Pittsburgh Public School Board, asking them to require all clean buses in their new contracts with bus companies. Below is a copy of our testimony. Testimony from Jamin Bogi, Policy and Outreach Coordinator of the Group Against Smo

Our Latest Look at Shenango and Air Pollution

Jun 8, 2015

Our Latest Look at Shenango and Air Pollution

We last checked Shenango, Inc.’s compliance with its limitations on the sulfur content of its coke oven gas, the visible emissions from the door areas of its coke ovens, and the visible emissions from its battery combustion stack in a blog post on March 27, 2015. We just obtained compliance data for the first quarter of 2015 from the Allegheny County Health Department, (ACHD) so it’s time to check again. Unfortunately, Shenango’s compliance with these limitations has taken a

Less School Bus Idling–Coming to Your School Next?

May 27, 2015

Less School Bus Idling–Coming to Your School Next?

GASP recently spent a week with the Pittsburgh Gifted Center to talk about school bus idling. Students learned about the health concerns related to diesel emissions and Pennsylvania’s no idling law, and they provided fact sheets and rewards to their drivers. By educating the students and drivers about the importance of not idling, we’re better protecting the health of not only the students, but also the entire community through improved air quality. Diesel exhaust poses a sig

Lawrenceville: The Priority is Protecting Public Health

May 8, 2015

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

Shenango Coke: Air Quality Compliance Issues Continue

Mar 27, 2015

Shenango Coke: Air Quality Compliance Issues Continue

We recently checked up on Shenango Inc.’s compliance with limitations on the sulfur content of its coke oven gas, visible emissions from the door areas of its coke ovens, and visible emissions from its battery combustion stack, based on data for the fourth quarter of 2014 (the latest, publicly-available data). In a previous post, we discussed Shenango’s continued noncompliance with those limitations and the failure of an April 2014 enforcement action by the Allegheny County H

Lawrenceville Steel Foundry: Have Your Voice Heard on 4/14

Mar 25, 2015

Lawrenceville Steel Foundry: Have Your Voice Heard on 4/14

The McConway & Torley facility in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood is a steel foundry that produces railcar couplings. Activities at the plant include steel melting, mold-making, and casting. Air pollution from these activities includes particulate matter, benzene, manganese, and other pollutants which not only are likely causing or contributing to foul odors but are harming public health. Particulate matter can cause or exacerbate asthma and lead to premature death in

GASP to Hold Public Meeting on Steel Foundry in Lawrenceville on March 16

Mar 10, 2015

GASP to Hold Public Meeting on Steel Foundry in Lawrenceville on March 16

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Air Quality Program recently announced its intent to issue an operating permit for the McConway and Torley steel foundry located on 48th Street in Lawrenceville. This facility is a significant local source of air pollution that has prompted numerous odor and noise complaints from Lawrenceville residents. ACHD’s air permitting process provides an opportunity to reduce emissions from the McConway & Torley facility and improve air qu

bottom of page