We’re not gonna sugar coat it - things didn't go our way last night: Allegheny County Council on Tuesday again punted the proposal to fully fund our Air Quality Program through increasing certain fees imposed on polluters. Following more than an hour of public comment - all in favor of the proposal - Health and Human Services Committee Chair Paul Klein thanked all of those in attendance for their comments but said he believed the permit fee schedule increase was supported by just eight members of council. At least 10 votes are needed for this proposal to succeed. Saying he “feared it would face a certain death” if voted on Tuesday, he asked Council President Pat Catena to send it back to committee for further discussion instead - a request that was granted. “It is outrageous that this common-sense proposal - one that was fully vetted and had robust support from residents, nonprofits, and elected officials - is taking this long to get approved,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “And we - the public - still have no idea why there are seven members of council who oppose this true no-brainer solution to an anticipated $1.8 million budget shortfall because they haven’t said much in that public sphere.” He continued:  “We cannot make it easy for members of council to vote no on a proposal that impacts the public health of us all - especially if it’s special interests that are fueling their stances. We need council to call a working session of all members, so the public understands why there is this shadowy opposition.” GASP again wants to note that an overwhelming number of everyday folks reached out to their county reps - and many attended and spoke out at the meeting last night. By contrast, not one business owner or individual spoke out against the proposal. Campbell was among them. Here's what he told County Council: Good afternoon. I'm Patrick Campbell, executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution, a non-profit advocating for clean air since 1969. Today, you have the power to make a significant impact on our region's air quality. You'll be voting on a revised permit fee schedule proposed by ACHD to fully fund its Air Quality Program. This proposal has the overwhelming support of the public, including residents, elected officials, and environmental groups. It's a critical step to strengthen enforcement and compliance, ensuring we continue to improve our air quality. By voting YES, you're: ●  Upholding federal law:   ACHD has been delegated the authority to enforce both federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to the control of air pollution in Allegheny County and the federal Clean Air Act requires that ACHD have adequate funding and personnel to carry out that authority. The Clean Air Act also requires that ACHD’s program for Title V facilities charge fees that are sufficient to cover the cost of administering the program. ● Investing in our health:  Supporting front-line communities burdened by industrial pollution - we know you’ve heard from many of your constituents in these neighborhoods as you’ve mulled the merits of this proposal. ● Empowering ACHD staff:  It’s imperative to provide the men and women who work in ACHD’s Air Quality Program with the tools they need to do their jobs. Not only is it required by the Clean Air Act, it will undoubtedly help with staff retention, talent acquisition, and morale. Again, this is the final stop for a vetted, robustly supported proposal that has real human impacts. Please seize this opportunity to create a cleaner, healthier future for all. Vote YES for clean air! Editor’s Note: GASP continues to follow this issue closely, is reaching out to officials, and will keep you posted.

We have a watchdog win to share with you today, friends: As a result of GASP’s legal advocacy work, emissions limits for harmful air pollutants from the Brunner Landfill in New Sewickley Township in Beaver County have been reduced. This is an initiative our senior attorney John Baillie has been working on for a while now - here’s what you need to know: This whole thing started in June 2024, when we submitted comments to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding a draft Plan Approval for two sources of emissions at the facility: The Enclosed Flare and Leachate Evaporator. We are pleased to report that following our comments, DEP revised that Plan Approval to reduce limits for the Enclosed Flare’s emissions of carbon monoxide and smog-forming oxides of nitrogen. But that’s not all: Long-time readers of   our blog  may recall that Brunner Landfill is one of a handful of major sources of air pollution in Pennsylvania that have never had a Title V Operating Permit issued to them. Indeed, in 2022 GASP sent the landfill’s operator a   notice of intent to sue  to get it to submit an application for such a permit.   The lack of a Title V Operating Permit has not been the only permitting issue at this facility – the landfill installed the Enclosed Flare and Leachate Evaporator back in 2015 without first applying for a Plan Approval from DEP.   The Enclosed Flare and Leachate Evaporator control both air and water pollution, but the failure to obtain a Plan Approval from DEP beforehand was a violation of Pennsylvania’s Air Pollution Control Act.   A fine and years of wrangling over the contents of the Plan Approval ensued. The draft Plan Approval that we commented on back in June would have brought that wrangling to an end, but there was a problem with it: As we pointed out in our comments, the draft Plan Approval’s emission limits for the Enclosed Flare were based on Best Available Technology as it existed in 2015 (when the source was installed, illegally) rather than Best Available Technology as it currently exists.   This also would have violated the Air Pollution Control Act, which requires all Plan Approvals to implement Best Available Technology to control air pollution at the time they are issued, not at any earlier time. The revised emission limits in the Plan Approval appear to be based on current Best Available Technology. “DEP appears to have fixed the problem with the Plan Approval’s emission limits for the Enclosed Flare,” Baillie added. “That should pave the way for this facility to finally get its Title V Operating Permit.”

Dear Fellow Breathers, We wanted to start the day off by saying THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support this Giving Tuesday. Because of the generosity of so many of you, GASP was able to raise $2,825 yesterday. And we want yinz to know we will put that money to good use. Your donations to GASP will help fund so many clutch things - from youth education programming to our advocacy, legal, and watchdog work. We’ve known it since our inception in 1969: That the most effective way to effect change is by standing - and fighting - together.  Listen, we probably sound like a broken record here, but we’re just super thankful that you’re still standing here with us and fighting the good fight with us. We are grateful you’re on our team. With hope + solidarity, The Gang at GASP PS: If you missed out on the Giving Tuesday action, it’s not too late to make a donation! If you wanna kick in a couple bucks to the cause, here’s the link to do just that.

Can you do us a solid? Take a few deep breaths real quick. Relax. How did it feel? How did it smell ? We ask because for way too many people here in our neck of the woods, the act of breathing isn’t such an easy thing.  If you live near a major source of industrial air pollution like the Clairton Coke Works or Shell, you already know how emissions from these facilities foul our air, harm the health of our most vulnerable neighbors, and erode a community’s quality of life.  It’s an extremely unfortunate fact that air pollution impacts all of us, but not equally. This Giving Tuesday, we’re asking for your support so we can continue fighting for the clean air that we all deserve. GASP has been our area’s clean air watch dog since 1969, and while we’ve come a long way from our “hell with the lid off” days, we’ve still got a long road to hoe. We know the weeks and months ahead will be thick with uncertainty. Locally, a proposal to fully fund Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality Program to buoy staffing and enforcement efforts will be up for a vote soon. At the federal level, environmental advocates fear a new administration will rollback newly enacted regulations related to coke ovens and fine particulate matter. So we want YOU to know that no matter what challenges may come, you can continue to count on us to educate the public (and sometimes public officials) on air quality issues, advocate for progressive and protective policies, and work as a watchdog to keep polluters and regulators honest. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support. If you are financially able, a monetary donation toward our $5,000 Giving Tuesday fundraising goal would be so appreciated. But please know it’s not the only way you can support us - and clean air - today.  If you haven’t already, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram  and invite your friends to do the same. Download the SmellPGH app and make using it a habit. Bookmark the Allegheny County Health Department page where you can access the air quality dashboards and online odor complaint forms. Contact your Allegheny County Council rep to urge them to vote YES on the proposal to fully fund our air quality program. We thank you - so much - for being part of our team. Together we’ve come a long way and will continue to forge a path forward.  With hope and resolve, The Gang at GASP

We've all seen the news reports about air quality. They use buzzwords like “disproportionate impacts” and "frontline communities." But what they are actually talking about are real people  in our corner of the universe - our friends, our neighbors, our kids - who are breathing in toxic air every single day. At GASP, we believe clean air is a basic human right. And We're fighting for a future where no one has to worry about the quality of the air they breathe - a future where kids can play outside without fear of having an asthma attack…a future where our communities can thrive, not just survive. But we can't do it alone. Next week is Giving Tuesday and we're hoping we can count on your support. Your donations help us: Hold polluters accountable:  We'll continue to fight for stricter regulations and enforcement. Empower communities:  We'll provide education and resources to help people protect their health. Advocate for clean air policies:  We'll work with policymakers to create a healthier future. Your support, no matter how big or small, can make a HUGE difference. Please know that every dollar counts and every voice matters.  Click HERE to make a tax-deductible donation today!

Over the years, GASP has written a LOT about Title V Operating Permits - and for good reason.  They are required of all major sources of air pollution and are important compliance tools because they incorporate all applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act in one comprehensive document and require the facilities that have them to submit regular compliance reports. GASP was the first to raise an alarm over a permit backlog at the Allegheny County Health Department, and our senior attorney John Baillie has been tracking how the Air Quality Program has worked to whittle it. One of our paramount concerns? That there were major sources of air pollution in Allegheny County that had been operating for years without ever having been issued a Title V permit. Among them was Synthomer Jefferson Hills (formerly known as Eastman Chemical Resins). Some quick background: Synthomer operates a facility on the Monongahela River in Jefferson Hills and produces a variety of chemical feedstocks and is a major source of both hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds.   According to ACHD’s own rules, it should have taken final action on the initial Title V Permit application for the facility (which was submitted by former owner Hercules, Inc.) by November 2004.   Yes, you read that correctly - it was supposed to be issued nearly 20 years ago. However, there were a variety of problems with that application (and at least one subsequent revised application), resulting in a 2011 Consent Order in federal court, which spelled out a comprehensive process by which the facility was to apply for, and finally obtain, a Title V Operating Permit. Why are we bringing this up? Because  we are pleased to report the long-awaited culmination of that process: On Sept. 17 ACHD issued the initial Title V Operating Permit to the facility.  You can view the permit here. For those keeping track: There is now only one major source of air pollution in Allegheny County that has never had a Title V Operating Permit – ATI’s Brackenridge Works in Natrona Heights.

In the midst of a possible multi-billion-dollar merger with Japanese-based Nippon Steel, U.S. Steel continues to pile up air quality violations at its Mon Valley Works facility. This time, it’s the Edgar Thomson Works that got flagged for blowing its emissions limits for carbon monoxide.   Yes, the Allegheny County Health Department has again issued a Notice of Violation against U.S. Steel for emissions violations at the Braddock facility.   Here’s what’s going on: According to the four-page Notice of Violation letter  dated Aug. 26, the results of stack tests performed at the facility revealed carbon monoxide (CO) emissions exceeded the limits set forth in the company’s Title V operating permit (more on Title V operating permits here  for those who need a refresher).   ACHD noted that the Edgar Thomson plant was exceeding both the hourly limits for carbon monoxide emissions as well as its annual limit:   “The short-term hourly emission limitation…for CO is 2,575.44 lb./hr. On January 25, 2024, ET performed compliance testing on the BOP Primary Collection Scrubber System. On March 28, 2024, ET submitted the compliance test report. The three runs showed 4,599 lb./hr., 2,714 lb./hr. and 2,723 lb./hr. per hour. The average test results for the BOP Primary Collection Scrubber System were 3,346 lb./hr., exceeding the permit limit of 2,575.44 lb./hr.”   ACHD calculated a total civil penalty of $12,300 for the violations.   “However, ACHD is not assessing the civil penalty at this time. The review and assessment of the civil penalty will occur pending the outcome of the permit appeal,” the notice indicated.   Another detail we don’t want to let this nugget go unnoticed from the letter:   “As of the date of this Notice, ACHD has not received any information as to any corrective action taken, results of investigations, or the date of a retest. ET has been and continues to operate out of compliance  with (those emissions limits).”   “It’s upsetting, but really in no way surprising that U.S. Steel has apparently not even bothered to take any corrective action,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “This is seemingly a major part of the company’s playbook: Ignore an air quality problem, deny an air quality problem, then robustly appeal every violation and tie up the system. They say they want to be - and are - good neighbors. But their actions speak so loudly that nobody should listen to what they say anymore.”   He added:   “No matter who ends up owning this mess, it needs to get cleaned up now.” Editor's Note: U.S. Steel has appealed the Notice of Violation. You can read that document here. GASP continues to follow this issue closely and will keep you posted.

Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Conner this week released the federally required annual review of the Allegheny County Health Department's Title V Air Quality Fund and permitting function, which showed repeat concerns with a backlog in permit issuance and accounting practices. Here’s what O’Connor’s office said in a release:   During 2023, the year the audit covers, 30 industrial pollution sources in Allegheny County were subject to Title V permitting.   “Given continuing concerns with air quality in our region, Allegheny County residents are fortunate to have our own air quality monitoring agency with the ability to set and enforce transparent standards for local industries. The Health Department has made progress in recent years in reducing the backlog of outstanding permits and in processing applications more quickly. However, our review shows that further improvements are needed to achieve full compliance with the Department’s obligations under the Clean Air Act,” O’Connor said.   As of the end of 2023, permits had not been issued or denied to five major pollution sources in the County within 18 months of application as required by federal statute. This was up from three outstanding applications at the close of 2022, including two permits outstanding in both years. The Health Department reported that one of these permits had been issued since the end of the audit period and that the others were in various stages of revision or review.   The audit also found that over $584,000 was due to the Title V fund from other funds within the Health Department’s Air Quality program due to cross-charges. Federal law requires funds derived from Title V permitting to be used exclusively for expenditures within the program. Current Department accounting practices could allow these funds to be used for other purposes, auditors found. The same finding was made in the 2022 audit and was not corrected, the audit report states.   “Responsibly maintaining and monitoring funding streams for air quality control across multiple functions of the Air Quality program is crucial to mitigating the impact of industrial pollution on all of our residents, especially highly vulnerable communities near major pollution sources. Along with this examination of the Title V fund, my office issued an audit earlier this year calling for more productive use of the Clean Air Fund designated for community projects related to air quality,” O’Connor said. “I am also in support of the current proposal to modernize the fee structure for air quality permitting, which will allow the Health Department to maintain and improve its work in this area without harmful funding constraints.”   GASP was the first to raise the alarm over ACHD’s Title V permit backlog. Our senior attorney John Baillie has been tracking the backlog and has crafted yearly investigations that you can read here. GASP staff is currently reviewing the report and will keep you posted. Until then: Here’s the Independent Auditor’s Report .   And here’s the complete  Independent Auditor’s Report on Internal Control and Compliance .

Quick update today: Recently, we   reported  that the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) had at long last finalized the Title V Operating Permit for Synthomer’s facility in Jefferson Hills Borough.   Regular readers of this blog may recall that the facility was formerly operated by Eastman Chemical Resins, Inc., and was one of two major sources of air pollution in Allegheny County that had never been issued a Title V Operating Permit by ACHD, as required by the Clean Air Act. We have good news now about the other as-yet-to-be-permitted major source in the county, ATI Flat Rolled Products, in Brackenridge, which was formerly known as Allegheny Ludlum’s Brackenridge Works.   ACHD recently published a draft Title V Operating Permit for that facility ( which is available here ) and is accepting comments on that draft through Oct. 22.   Once ATI’s permit is issued, every major source of air pollution in Allegheny County will have had at least its initial Title V Operating Permit issued  (many major sources have received one or more renewals of their initial permits). We are reviewing that draft permit and will keep you updated on what we find.

GASP’s Fresh Voices for Clean Air  team members recently gathered at SLB Radio's Youth Media Center located at the Children's Museum for an insightful workshop about interviewing techniques - a crucial skill that will be a cornerstone of their upcoming oral history project. The workshop was led by SLB Radio Technical Director Chad Green and Executive Director Larry Berger, who founded the station in the 1970s when he was a high school student. During the workshop, our Fresh Voices team delved into the art of editing interviews, exploring various techniques. They also discussed a wide range of interviewing best practices, including effective question types and strategies to put interview subjects at ease.  Additionally, it covered practical tips for achieving optimal sound quality during recordings. Up next? The Fresh Voices participants will continue on with their oral history project and will return to SLB Radio in the spring for a workshop focused on audio editing and storytelling. Editor’s Note: SLB's Youth Media Center offers a wealth of free programming for students, including workshops, after school groups, and weekend drop-in sessions. You can check out their offerings here.