In Allegheny County, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) manages a network of monitors that sample various pollutants in the county’s air. Each year, ACHD publishes their plans for the network and invites the public to comment on these plans.
That’s where you come in! ACHD is taking comments on their 2017 plan, but only until 5 p.m. on June 23rd. You can read GASP’s full comments here. They touch on the following points:
Sulfur dioxide must be monitored downwind from Cheswick Power Station. All existing sulfur dioxide monitors are upwind of this very large source of this pollutant.
Sulfur dioxide must also be monitored at Glassport. Previous monitoring there showed levels of sulfur dioxide higher than those measured in nearby Liberty. The regulations state that monitoring for this type of pollutant should happen at places of maximum concentration, so this monitor should be reinstalled.
Diesel pollution should be monitored in Downtown Pittsburgh. Several recent studies have shown Downtown to be a hotspot of these emissions, which come from buses, trucks, trains, river vessels, and construction equipment.
Air toxics (such as benzo(a)pyrene) should be monitored downwind of the nation’s largest coke works in Clairton.
To read ACHD’s plan, visit their web page and look on the right-hand sidebar, or click here. Submit your own comments via email to Darrell.Stern@alleghenycounty.us.