GASP Joins ACCAN, Community, in Celebration of 10 Years of Cleaner Air Following Shenango Coke Works Closure

GASP was honored to join Allegheny County Clean Air Now (ACCAN) Wednesday for a reunion event celebrating a decade of cleaner air since the closure of the Shenango Coke Works on Neville Island.

It was a night of hugs, shared memories, and a profound sense of "we did it." Looking around the room, it was impossible not to feel hopeful about the power of a community that refuses to stay silent.

“By pairing resident advocates with legal and technical air-quality experts, this multi-faceted approach showed just how much can be accomplished,” Campbell said. “It changed individual lives and improved the region for the better.”

From Neighbors to Advocates: The Birth of ACCAN

For decades, residents in Avalon, Bellevue, Ben Avon, and Emsworth and Neville Island lived under the shadow of the Shenango plant. Foul odors were daily occurrences, and the Northgate School District once suffered through some of the highest asthma rates in the state.

In June 2014, local residents decided they had had enough and formed ACCAN. They became certified smoke readers, meticulously documenting fugitive emissions and stack violations. After GASP helped connect the group with Carnegie Mellon’s CREATE Lab, a Shenango camera was installed, providing a 24/7 feed that showed undeniable visual evidence of the plant's impact.

Legal Chops Meet Grassroots Grit

While ACCAN provided the heart and the evidence, GASP was proud to provide the legal and technical muscle. We knew that for the community's voice to be heard by regulators, it needed to be backed by the law.

GASP helped resident advocates navigate the complex world of air quality permits and enforcement. In 2014, GASP filed a Clean Air Act citizen suit against Shenango, arguing that the facility was repeatedly violating emissions standards. 

This legal pressure—combined with ACCAN’s relentless community exposure—helped force the hand of the Allegheny County Health Department and the EPA. When the plant finally shuttered in January 2016, it was a victory for the law as much as for the lungs.

“It truly showed what amazing things can happen when resident advocates partner with legal and technical air quality experts,” Campbell said. “In our nearly 60-year history, our work related to the Shenango Coke Works is among GASP’s most impactful. 

A Decade of Health: By the Numbers

The most beautiful part of this 10-year milestone? The measurable health improvements of our neighbors. Recent studies have confirmed what we felt in our chests almost immediately after the closure - one showing a drop in cardiovascular ER visits and the other confirming a similar drop in respiratory visits to the emergency room.