So, anything big happen lately? OK. We admit. Lame joke. Sorry, sorry: Sometimes if you can’t laugh, you’ll cry. This week has been a whirlwind (and it’s only Thursday). And the changes on the federal level are coming at a blistering pace. The new administration has already revoked so many of President Biden’s executive orders related to environmental justice and climate change and yanked the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement.  Folks are concerned about rollbacks of crucial regulations dealing with coke oven emissions and other air quality-related policy. An energy emergency has been declared. The attack on renewable energy is reaching a crescendo, drilling has been expanded and it’s only day four.   It can be easy to feel discouraged (or gutted even). But as Fred Rogers once said, "In times of trouble, look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Because here in Pittsburgh, we are rich with helpers. In every sector. We hope you join us not only in looking for those helpers, but in being them, too. As the saying goes, think globally, act locally. Here at GASP, that's exactly what we'll continue to do. Since 1969, we've been using all of our collective skill, passion, and power to: Improve our region's air quality Protect our collective public health Be a watchdog to polluting industries and the agencies that oversee them And you can count on us to be right there with you. The GASP team will be there to review permits, proposed regulations, and challenge them when necessary. We'll break down the complicated environmental issues you face and help you understand how to take meaningful action. And most importantly, we'll champion the rights of the most vulnerable among us. It's a new era, and we're going to weather it together, friends. As a first step in navigating this new era, we've made the decision to leave one of our social media platforms. While many of you have followed us and found important air quality updates on X, leaving this platform has been a long time coming, and recent events solidified our decision. You can still find GASP on these platforms: Facebook Instagram: @gasp-pgh Bluesky: @gasp-pgh LinkedIn You can also find us on our website or email us anytime at info@gasp-pgh.org .  In solidarity, The Gang at GASP

Good news: Fifteen environmental justice communities in Allegheny County are eligible to receive a combined $930,000 to beautify the area and mitigate flood damage. Students from the University of Pittsburgh's Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation are currently working with Braddock, Homestead, Wilkinsburg and Wilmerding to design projects. Residents will start to see the climate resilience transformations as early as this summer. The 15 eligible communities were identified using the ACHD EJ index , which was developed using community feedback and existing data on eight social and environmental indicators. These communities will receive incentives and assistance to develop climate resilience plans.   The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) was awarded the grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Environmental Justice Government-to-Government grant (EJG2G). The funding will support initiatives aimed at increasing climate resilience in environmental justice communities and contribute to ACHD's Plan for a Healthier Allegheny goal of having 33 communities with a climate resilience plan by 2027. The health department's goal is to increase the number of communities that are prepared to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Landforce will implement the projects designed by Pitt students which could include rain gardens and other installations to help reduce flood risk and address the community's climate resilience needs. Allegheny CleanWays will conduct cleanups aimed at reducing flood risk and water contamination such as eliminating illegal dumping sites, removing litter from storm drains or cleaning debris from waterways. The Allegheny County Health Department will also collaborate with the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority , the Allegheny County Departments of Sustainability and Emergency Services and two local Councils of Governments (COGs): Steel Rivers COG and Turtle Creek Valley COG . Get updates on the projects in the community by visiting Allegheny County EJG2G: Overview and Updates or sign up here for quarterly updates.

Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) Executive Director Patrick Campbell on Tuesday presented formal comments at a state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) hearing in support of the agency's proposal to designate Allegheny County as a nonattainment area for the revised primary annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter. Here's what he told them: Good afternoon. My name is Patrick Campbell, I am the executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution - or GASP - a nonprofit working to improve our regional air quality since 1969. Thank you for the opportunity to address you today. GASP supports the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s proposal to designate Allegheny County as a nonattainment area for the revised primary annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter. Local residents, researchers, medical professionals and fellow environmental advocates know all too well how PM2.5 poses significant and widespread health risks to Allegheny County residents. As the so-called Steel City, Pittsburgh has a long history with industrial pollution. And the largest point-source of PM2.5 pollution in the entire state - U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works - is right here in Allegheny County.  That facility alone emitted more than 45 tons of PM2.5, as well as thousands of tons of precursor pollutants like Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Oxides, and Volatile Organic Compounds.  Exposure to these microscopic particles has been linked to serious respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and developmental impacts. It’s important to acknowledge that both nationally and locally, the burden of PM2.5 pollution is not equally distributed. Communities of color and low-income neighborhoods - like those we see here in the Mon Valley and other areas of Allegheny County - experience disproportionately higher levels of exposure, exacerbating existing health disparities.  And this environmental injustice demands urgent action.   The designation of Allegheny County as nonattainment is a critical step toward addressing these serious health concerns. This designation will empower the Allegheny County Health Department to: Identify the primary sources of PM2.5 pollution within the county Develop and implement effective strategies to reduce emissions Prioritize interventions in areas most impacted by air pollution GASP urges DEP to move forward with this designation for Allegheny County and to work collaboratively with local communities, environmental organizations, and public health agencies to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to achieve and maintain attainment of the revised PM2.5 NAAQS. Thank you. Editor's Note: