GASP to Board of Health: Use Your Authority to Push Refresh of Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee

GASP on Wednesday attended the Allegheny County Board of Health meeting to ask members to use their authority to push the Allegheny County Executive's office to update the Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee.

Here's what our Executive Director Patrick Campbell said:

Good afternoon. My name is Patrick Campbell, Executive Director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing healthy air quality since 1969.

I appreciate the chance to speak with you today because we share a common goal: ensuring strong and effective oversight of air quality in Allegheny County.

Right now, the Air Advisory Committee is in a difficult position. Every member is serving on an expired term, and the committee has not met since late last year. This uncertainty has limited its ability to function as intended— as a vital link bridging technical expertise, community voices, and policy.

Over the past year, the committee often lacked a quorum and struggled to advance recommendations. While we understand the need for diverse representation—including public health experts, industry, and impacted communities—the current roster appears weighted toward industry, which raises concerns about balance and credibility.

GASP respectfully urges the Board of Health to use its authority to encourage the County Executive’s office to prioritize these appointments and restore the committee’s effectiveness. We believe this is an opportunity to strengthen collaboration and ensure the advisory process reflects the broad interests of our community.

Please know that GASP stands ready to assist in any way—whether through outreach, technical input, or supporting recruitment efforts.

Thank you for your time and for your commitment to protecting public health.

Stay tuned! We continue to follow this issue closely and will keep you posted!