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. Since the docket has not been updated since December 2025, GASP is now filing monthly public records requests to glean more timely information related to ACHD’s enforcement efforts. This is one of the most recent actions received through the Right to Know process. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has issued a more than $15,000 civil penalty to U.S. Steel and contractor Evergreen Trucking for air quality violations at the Edgar Thomson Works from earlier this year. According to the May 1 ACHD enforcement order, inspectors on Jan. 15 witnessed the Evergreen’s vacuum truck discharging heavy emissions at Edgar Thomson with an opacity exceeding 60 percent, which violates the facility’s Title V operating permit. The Evergreen crew was actively removing collected material from the hoppers of the plant’s Basic Oxygen Process (BOP) Mixer and Desulfurization Baghouse. Upon noticing the excessive emissions, ACHD and U.S. Steel representatives intervened. The vacuum crew halted operations, shut down the vehicle, and subsequently drove the truck offsite. A report submitted the following day revealed that Evergreen had deployed a truck that was undergoing maintenance and was not supposed to be in service - the truck’s bag filters had recently been washed in preparation for replacement, causing the residual water to freeze and tear the filters. Inspectors further noted that none of the four crew members were monitoring the vehicle’s exhaust during the removal activity. The truck operator remained in the cab while three technicians worked inside the mixer house. The enforcement order notes that a similar emission event occurred about two years ago involving the same contractor, which resulted in a verbal warning but no formal enforcement action at the time. ACHD determined that inspections conducted by U.S. Steel and Evergreen were insufficient to ensure the proper functioning of the equipment. According to the order, Evergreen has since outlined corrective actions, including the implementation of strict equipment checklists, additional operational documentation, and mandated operator observation requirements to prevent future emissions excursions. No further information was immediately available. You can read the entire enforcement order 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. Because the docket has not been updated since December 2025, GASP is now filing monthly public records requests to glean more timely information related to ACHD’s enforcement efforts. The below are the most recent actions received through the Right to Know process. ACHD Fines P&W BMW $22,780 for Operating Without a Permit & Failure to Pay Fees The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) issued a $22,780 civil penalty against Max Auto Real Estate LLC and P&W BMW of Pittsburgh for operating regulated air pollution sources without a permit. The April 26 enforcement order details two years of unpermitted operations and unanswered correspondence regarding regulated air pollution sources at 720 Gross Street—the site of the former West Penn Hospital Foundation Research Building. According to the order, Max Auto Real Estate purchased the Gross Street property in January 2024. Upon acquiring the facility, the company assumed ownership of its regulated equipment, which includes two industrial boilers and an emergency generator. The equipment was previously regulated under a minor source operating permit that expired in 2014. ACHD inspectors first contacted the facility in December 2024, informing management that they were legally required to either transfer and renew the air quality permit or render the boilers and generator permanently inoperable. Despite project managers explicitly confirming to the county in April 2025 that the pollution sources remained fully operational, the companies failed to meet multiple deadlines to resolve their permitting status. In August 2025, ACHD issued an initial enforcement order, slapping the companies with an $1,800 fine and demanding a permit application within 21 days. Despite notices in September 2025, ACHD alleged the companies ignored the mandates, failed to file paperwork, or pay the fine. ACHD ordered Max Auto Real Estate LLC and P&W BMW of Pittsburgh to submit all delinquent permit applications, past-due maintenance fees, and associated late penalties within 21 days. The companies had 30 days to pay the $22,780.00 fine into the Allegheny County Clean Air Fund or submit an administrative appeal. No further information about the case was immediately available. You can read the entire enforcement order here. West Penn Hospital & Others Fined for Failure to Pay Civil Penalty for Late Submission of Air Quality Permit Fees Allegheny County Health Department issued civil penalties to several permitted sources of air pollution for failing to pay civil penalties related to the late submittal of their 2026 air quality permit fees. You can read the enforcement order against: Centre City Tower and its associated $500 penalty here. Knepper Press in Clinton and its associated $9,375 penalty here. Kutch Crematorium in East McKeesport and its associated $1,500 penalty here. Western Pennsylvania Hospital and its associated $2,150 penalty here. ACHD Fines Databank $2,800 for Failure to Submit Timely Reports The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) issued a $2,800 civil penalty against data center operator DataBank for failing to submit required air quality monitoring reports on time. The May 1 enforcement order details multiple reporting delays at DataBank’s facility located at 100 South Commons on Pittsburgh's North Side. Little bit of background: DataBank operates under a Minor Source Operating Permit issued in June 2022 that requires the submission of semiannual air quality monitoring reports. These reports are due every April 30 and Oct. 31 to track facility compliance and clearly identify any deviations from permit requirements. An ACHD review conducted in December 2025 revealed DataBank had missed both of its 2025 deadlines. The enforcement order shows ACHD initially contacted the company regarding the missing documentation in November 2025. DataBank subsequently submitted both overdue reports on Dec. 19. ACHD noted that the first semiannual report was delayed by seven and a half months, while the second report was submitted seven weeks past its deadline. This is not the first time the data center operator has faced regulatory scrutiny over missing paperwork: ACHD previously issued a Notice of Violation to DataBank on Nov. 1, 2023, citing a separate failure to meet semiannual reporting and compliance certification deadlines. ACHD ordered DataBank to ensure all future monitoring reports are compiled and submitted prior to established county deadlines. The company had 30 days from the receipt of the enforcement order to pay the $2,800.00 penalty directly into the Allegheny County Clean Air Fund or file an appeal. No further information on the case was immediately available. You can read the entire enforcement order here. ACHD Issues Administrative Order Against Contractor with Checkered Compliance Past Related to Asbestos Abatement The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has issued an administrative order with strict operational conditions onto local contractor Green Development and Construction as a prerequisite for its 2026 asbestos abatement license. The administrative order, finalized on April 24, explicitly states that the company's license will be subject to heavy regulatory oversight due to a history of "prior compliance issues.” Under the terms of the newly entered order, Green Development and Construction—headquartered at 1151 Freeport Road in Pittsburgh—must comply with a list of 13 compliance conditions to continue operating in Allegheny County. Among the primary mandates, the company is now legally required to: Secure a formal ACHD inspection for all pre-abatement set-ups or containments before any actual asbestos removal work begins. Establish a clearly defined, regulated work area secured by plastic construction fencing at a minimum. Refuse to sort any materials out of the debris on "demolition with asbestos-containing material (ACM) left in place" projects. The county mandates that all demolition debris on these sites must be handled exclusively as hazardous ACM construction waste. Explicitly identify the water source to be used for keeping demolition debris adequately wet prior to breaking ground. But that’s not all: The contractor is also required to notify ACHD of the start date for "demolition with ACM left in place" projects at least three business days in advance to trigger a pre-abatement inspection. Additionally, Green Development and Construction must provide the county with its Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry credentials for all on-site supervisors and workers during the initial setup phase. \ A representative from an independent, third-party air monitoring firm must also be physically present at the time of the setup inspection. Additionally, Green Development must file comprehensive daily work summaries to the ACHD within 24 hours of every shift. These daily packets must include a signed affirmation that all mandatory health practices were followed, a log of any operational deviations or violations, and the daily testing results from the air monitoring company. Within 24 hours of wrapping up a demolition project, the company must request a final clearance inspection from county health officials. ACHD warned the company's leadership that failing to meet any of the 13 outlined criteria will result in the immediate suspension or total revocation of its abatement license. You can read the entire order here.

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) wants to know: What health issues matter most in your community? Access to care? Mental health? Clean air and water? Safe neighborhoods? The department is inviting residents to share their perspectives through its Community Health Assessment, a countywide effort to better understand the health concerns, challenges, and opportunities facing communities across Allegheny County. The anonymous survey is open to all Allegheny County residents age 18 and older and takes about 15 minutes to complete. “The feedback gathered will help guide future health initiatives, investments, and community partnerships designed to improve health and well-being across the county. The survey will also help shape the next Plan for a Healthier Allegheny, the county's roadmap for addressing community health priorities,” ACHD said in a press release. "Public health works best when it is informed by the people we serve," ACHD Director Dr. Iulia Vann said. "Every resident has a unique perspective on what helps their community thrive and what challenges stand in the way of good health. This survey is an opportunity for people to share their experiences, elevate the issues that matter most to them, and help shape a healthier future for Allegheny County." The Community Health Assessment is part of a broader effort to hear directly from residents and ensure community voices are reflected in decisions that affect health, quality of life, and well-being throughout Allegheny County. The results will be used alongside other community data to identify priorities and guide future action. How to Participate: Residents can take the survey online at: QR.AlleghenyCounty.US/CHA Paper copies are available by emailing HealthCommunityEngagement@AlleghenyCounty.US. GASP joins ACHD in encouraging residents from every neighborhood, borough, township, and municipality to participate. The more voices represented, the better the county can understand community needs and work together to build healthier communities for everyone.