PennDOT and Northeast Paving Fined for Unpermitted Blasting on I-376 Bridge

An enforcement action by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) serves as a stark reminder that public health regulations aren't optional—even for state agencies.

Here’s what happened: During a routine inspection in April 2025, ACHD representatives visited the I-376 Bridge over Boyce Road and determined that while the site already held a permit for sandblasting structural steel, crews were also performing unpermitted abrasive blasting on rusted rebar for concrete repairs.

The penalty? According to March 9 ACHD enforcement order, PennDOT and Northeast Paving on were hit with a $4,030 fine. 

Northeast Paving, the general contractor, admitted they had been blasting the rebar for days without providing prior notification to ACHD as required.

It is unclear why it took nearly a year for the enforcement action to be issued.

Under Allegheny County’s air pollution control laws - known collectively as Article 21 - any abrasive blasting project exceeding 1,000 square feet requires the ACHD to be notified at least 30 days in advance.

In this case, the notification was submitted nearly a month after the work was already finished.

Why do we care? Because abrasive blasting can release fine particulate matter and other pollutants into the air if not properly managed. 

The 30-day notice period ensures ACHD can review the project to protect the air we breathe.

You can read the entire enforcement order that GASP obtained through a Right to Know request here.

You can read more about ACHD’s abrasive blasting regulations here.

Editor’s Note: The Allegheny County Health Department periodically updates its website to include documents related to air quality enforcement actions. As part of our watchdog work, GASP monitors this webpage and reports on the air quality violations posted there. However, the docket has not been updated since December 2025. GASP is filing Right to Know requests for enforcement documents each month.

“Timely transparency is needed,” GASP Communications Manager Amanda Gillooly said. “It would be ideal if the county updated the Air Quality Program enforcement docket each month so residents know what our local regulator is doing to protect the air we all breathe from bad actors. As it stands, the docket has not been updated yet this year.”