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 at Clairton Coke Works
On December 24, 2018, a fire broke out at the facility, taking out a key part of the plant’s pollution control system. Investigations into the cause of the fire revealed that corroded equipment and a leaky roof allowed a minor problem to turn into a crisis. Check out Inversion: The Unfinished Business of Pittsburgh’s Air for an up to date timeline on the Christmas Eve fire and aftermath. Public Source has also reported on the fire and subsequent investigations.
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
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
ACHD Announces More Than $743K in New Fines Against U.S. Steel
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
Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Opinion of the U.S. Steel-ACHD Agreement Heard
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
U.S. Steel Fined for First Quarter Violations of 2019 & Failed Stack Test
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
U.S. Steel Fined Over $700,000 for Violations in Third, Fourth Quarters of 2018
Clairton Residents Urge U.S. Steel to Focus on Cleanup
