Gov. Josh Shapiro last week announced the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will develop new regulations to reduce methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas operations across the state, including requirements to detect and repair leaks and phase out routine venting and flaring — two major sources of methane pollution. According to a press release, DEP will develop rules requiring equipment and practices that reduce leaks from well sites, pipelines, and other oil and gas infrastructure, while reducing emissions from venting and flaring activities. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and the principal component of natural gas. The new regulations are expected to reduce leaks and emissions from wells, pipelines, and other infrastructure, and require regular monitoring to identify and plug any new leaks. Some more potentially good news: Through the RISE PA program, the Commonwealth is investing $396 million “in projects that will create thousands of good-paying construction and manufacturing jobs while reducing carbon emissions and air pollution from industrial facilities.” The release also indicated that more than $210 million in federal funding has been secured to plug 400 orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells — more than were plugged in the previous 10 years combined — and secured more than $29 million in state funding to continue this critical work and reduce methane emissions that contribute to climate change. DEP announced the rulemaking in its updated Regulatory Agenda, which outlines the regulatory actions DEP expects to undertake over the coming year. The proposal will move through Pennsylvania's public regulatory review process, including opportunities for stakeholder and public comment before any final regulations are adopted. The full Regulatory Calendar can be found on the DEP website. Advanced drafts of the regulation will be presented to the Citizen’s Advisory Council, Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee, the Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee, the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board, and the PA Grade Crude Advisory Council. GASP lauds the announcement and looks forward to reviewing the regulatory language when it is published for public comment. Stay tuned, we continue to follow this issue closely and will keep you posted as the process unfolds.

The latest round of Canadian wildfire smoke descended on southwestern Pennsylvania Thursday and lingered into the weekend, ushering in Air Quality Index values that soared into the Code Maroon range, prompting a spate of warnings from state and local officials. How Social Media Played a Role Meanwhile, social media platforms were blowing up with posts showing sepia-toned skies that obscured Pittsburgh’s iconic skyline. EarthCam and CMU CREATE Lab's BreatheCam footage showed these views: Journalists like our friend Natalie Bencivenga took to Instagram to help keep people informed on what they were seeing, smelling, and breathing: One local physician used her feed to educate followers about just how bad our local air quality was, and what physical symptoms they could be experiencing as a result of the spiking AQI. Her name is Dr. Natalie Gentile, and her Instagram video went viral: Residents Share Fears, Physical Symptoms on SmellPGH Meanwhile, SmellPGH users provided a glimpse into what residents were experiencing: This latest episode of (very) bad air quality also coincided with one of Pittsburgh’s most popular outdoor festivals: Picklesburgh. Social media lit up with people asking, “Is it even safe to attend?” The question showed up in community Facebook groups, on Reddit, and was fodder for at least one conservative talk radio show (not linking because we don’t want to give a troll more traffic). It was also discussed on the popular social media site oneBURGH, where they called out KDKA for what it deemed as irresponsible reporting on a burgeoning public health issue: But how bad was the air we were all breathing? Consider this information shared Friday by ACHD: News reports also indicate that UPMC emergency rooms saw an uptick of people seeking medical treatment for heat and air quality-related ailments. Air Quality Extenuating Circumstances We would be remiss if we didn’t mention two high-profile events that took Thursday as our area was already grappling with unprecedented air pollution: First, there was the long-awaited explosion of the Commercial Street Bridge in Pittsburgh that the media aptly said left behind “nothing but a cloud of smoke and a pile of rubble” - timing that baffled residents and activists. Then, there was a fire Thursday night at an industrial facility on Neville Island - Gottlieb Aluminum Recycling Inc. - that alarmed local residents and further fouled local skies. GASP Communications Manager Amanda Gillooly, who lives near Gottlieb, captured video of massive dark plumes of smoke emanating from the facility - one she said she and neighbors have made reports about for years. While we know there was a huge emergency response to the fire - with 19 departments responding - the cause of the blaze and the extent of the damage was not immediately known. Stay tuned, GASP is working to get more details. What Went Right One bright spot? Allegheny County Health Department’s robust response and public communications - from news releases distributed through the Allegheny Alerts system to actionable and informative social media posts, GASP appreciates ACHD’s diligent work. “The last time wildfire smoke rolled into our region and caused significant air quality issues, ACHD did not have an emergency alert system in place - a problem we repeatedly implored the department to correct,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “This time around, residents were able to receive important public health information directly from the department instead of having to rely on news coverage or seeing something on social media.” He continued: “We thank ACHD for stepping up its crisis communications and truly helping to inform folks during some of the worst air quality many of us have seen in our lifetimes.” GASP encourages everyone to sign up to receive alerts through the new county system - here’s what you need to know. We also encourage folks to bookmark AirNow.gov and/or download the app. Also follow GASP on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky for educational material and alerts. Editor's Note: Who can you trust when the world is on fire? You can trust GASP to bring you timely, actionable information when you need it most. When wildfire smoke sent local AQI soaring, Southwestern Pennsylvanians were left wondering how to keep their families safe. That's where GASP came in: From breaking down complex particulate pollution updates into clear, real-time guidance to giving residents practical resources to protect their health, GASP served as Pittsburgh’s reliable frontline defense. But keeping our region educated, vigilant, and vocal takes year-round resources. When the air gets heavy, our work gets critical. Help us keep Southwestern Pennsylvania informed, empowered, and breathing easier. Make a donation to GASP today.

The Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday afternoon issued the following press release: The Allegheny County Health Department wants to inform the public that the PM2.5 air quality conditions for Thursday, July 16 are currently in the Code Maroon (Hazardous Air Quality) range for areas of the county and conditions have gotten progressively worse throughout the afternoon. Wildfire smoke continues to impact Pennsylvania from Ontario, Canada and Minnesota, significantly deteriorating the air quality across Commonwealth. The wildfire smoke will remain in the area this afternoon but is expected to eventually move out of the area on Saturday. At this time, the health department recommends no outdoor activities this evening and potentially tomorrow. The local monitoring in Allegheny County shows the current levels as of 4pm are in the Code Maroon (Hazardous) range on EPA’s AirNow map. The U.S. Air Quality Index is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s tool for communicating about outdoor air quality and health. Code Maroon (Hazardous) indicates that: Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected. The U.S. EPA, DEP, and Allegheny County Health Department recommend the following guidance: Code Maroon (Hazardous): Everyone: Avoid all physical activity outdoors. Sensitive groups: Remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Follow tips for keeping particle levels low indoors. If you don't have an air conditioner, staying inside with the windows closed may be dangerous in extremely hot weather. If you are hot, go someplace with air conditioning or check with your local municipality to find out if cooling centers are available in your community. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) has issued a PM 2.5 Air Quality Alert of Code Purple for Friday, July 17. Code Purple (Very Unhealthy): Sensitive groups: Avoid all physical activity outdoors. Reschedule to a time when air quality is better or move activities indoors. Sensitive groups include people with respiratory issues or lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis as well as older adults, children and teenagers, and people who are active outdoors. General Public: Avoid long or intense activities. Consider rescheduling or moving activities indoors. PM 2.5 is a type of particle pollution comes from many different sources. Fine particles (2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller) come from power plants, industrial processes, vehicle tailpipes, woodstoves, and wildfires. Particle pollution causes a number of serious health problems, including coughing, wheezing, reduced lung function, asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes. It also is linked to early death in people with heart or lung disease. All residents are advised to check AirNow for your current air quality and take simple steps to reduce your exposure. Get the latest local updates on air quality by enrolling in Allegheny Alerts for free. Additional Air Quality Index Resources: Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution Guía de la calidad del aire sobre la contaminación por partículas