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Clairton Coke Works

The Liberty/Clairton area of Allegheny County consists of the City of Clairton and the boroughs of Glassport, Liberty, Lincoln, and Port Vue.This area has been designated as a separate PM2.5 non-attainment area by EPA. Being in non-attainment means this area is not meeting the federal health-based standards for soot.

 

Since this entire non-attainment area is within Allegheny County, the Allegheny County Health Department is responsible for developing a State Implementation Plan (SIP), the plan for getting this region into attainment. The Liberty/Clairton area has a unique, local soot problem that requires the development of a highly specific local solution, in addition to regional controls applied throughout the area to control the problem.

 

Clairton is home to the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, the largest coke-making facility in the United States and a major emitter of particulate matter in the region. Many of our region’s highest short-term PM2.5 readings occur at the Liberty monitor site located roughly two miles from Clairton Coke Works.​​​

2018 Christmas Eve Fire

On Dec. 24, 2018, a fire destroyed some of the pollution controls, and, for 102 days, the plant emitted sulfur dioxide at levels 25 times greater than typical emissions. 

August 11, 2025 Explosion

An explosion by Battery 14 killed two workers and injured others. Investigations into the incident and its air quality implications are ongoing.

From the Latest:

Older Posts
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Watchdog Report: Has U.S. Steel Kept the Promises It Made in Latest Settlement Agreement with Allegheny County Health Department 

 

Open Letter to U.S. Steel: Be a Good Neighbor & Address Contingency Plans Publicly

U.S. Steel Fined $13K for Emissions Violation at Clairton Coke Works Facility 

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What You Need to Know About the Community Trust Established by U.S. Steel, ACHD Settlement Agreement

Allegheny County Health Department Announces It’s Finalized Emissions Settlement with U.S. Steel 

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ACHD Announces More Than $743K in New Fines Against U.S. Steel

Judge Grants Class Certification in Federal Lawsuit Pitting Investors Against U.S. Steel Over Stock Price Decline

 

2019

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About Liberty-Clairton’s Bad Air Days…and How U.S. Steel Could Be a Better Neighbor

 

U.S. Steel Fined More Than $10K for Failed Stack Test

 

PA Court Approves Preliminary $8.5 Million Settlement Between U.S. Steel, Local Residents – $6.5 Million Earmarked for Improvements to Clairton Coke Works

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Allegheny County Council Approves Motion Supporting Health Department’s Efforts to Ensure U.S. Steel Complies with Air Emissions Standards

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Residents, Elected Officials, and Environmental Activists Speak Out at Public Hearing About Proposed Settlement Between U.S. Steel & ACHD

 

Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Opinion of the U.S. Steel-ACHD Agreement Heard

 

U.S. Steel Investors Sue Company, Allege Systemic Maintenance/Operation Failures; Did Investors Uncover Intentional Acts That Threatened Local Air Quality?

 

U.S. Steel Answers Federal Lawsuit Filed by Enviro Groups; ACHD; Denies Residents Living Near Facilities ‘Adversely Affected by Alleged Illegal Pollutant Emissions’

 

Allegheny County Health Department Announces July 30 Public Hearing Regarding Proposed U.S. Steel Agreement 

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Allegheny County Announces Draft Agreement with U.S. Steel, Public Comments Sought

 

Allegheny County Health Department Issues Emergency Order Against U.S. Steel

 

ACHD: Public Should Be Aware of Potential Elevated SO2 Levels Following Newest U.S. Steel

U.S. Steel Appeals Latest ACHD Civil Penalty

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Air Quality Monitoring During the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works Fire & Repair Period- Sulfur Dioxide & Particulates: What About Other Pollutants?

 

U.S. Steel Fined for First Quarter Violations of 2019 & Failed Stack Test

 

Residents of Clairton, Surrounding Communities Speak out About How Air Pollution from U.S. Steel Fire, Aftermath Affected Their Health & Wellbeing

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Allegheny County Health Department Responds to ‘State of the Air’ Report

 

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

 

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

 

U.S. Steel Fined Over $700,000 for Violations in Third, Fourth Quarters of 2018

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PennFuture Launches Campaign Engaging Residents to Tell U.S. Steel How to Make Clairton Coke Works a Better, Cleaner Neighbor

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Allegheny County Health Department Issues Enforcement Order Against U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works

 

2018

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Clairton Residents Urge U.S. Steel to Focus on Cleanup

 

U.S. Steel’s Appeals Enforcement Order Against Clairton Coke; Latest Skirmish in Decades-Long Battle with Regulators

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