Members of the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) donned hardhats to take a tour recently of the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark located in Swissvale and Rankin. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 2006, the Carrie Furnace offers two-hour guided tours of the remnant of the legendary U.S. Steel Homestead Steel Works. During the tour, visitors are treated to stories about the site’s technology as well as the culture of its workers. The outing also helped us learn more about the iron-making process – from the movement of the raw materials to the tapping of the furnaces that produced fiery molten iron. Our board President Jonathan Nadle and his wife Lori captured some great photos during the tour (thanks, Jonathan!) and we knew we had to share them with you. Check them out below and get more info on the Carrie Furnaces here.

Good news: The Allegheny County Board of Health has recommended a long-sought episodic weather regulation be finally approved. Preceding the BOH vote was a special meeting of the Allegheny County Air Advisory Committee earlier this week, where minor language tweaks were presented and Air Quality Chief Jayme Graham told members: The Mon Valley Episodic Weather regulation garnered more than 400 comments – all but two of which were in favor of the new rules. The committee – which includes GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini – voted unanimously to recommend approval of the new rules. The regulation will require facilities in the defined Mon Valley area that produce more than 6.5 tons of pm2.5 annually and/or more than 10 tons of pm10 annually to create and submit to ACHD “Mitigation Plans” for periods when poor air quality is forecast. Please note that ACHD predicts this will affect 18 facilities in the 32 listed municipalities. During the “Watch” phase, facilities such as U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works must conduct basic checks to ensure equipment is in good working order but also ensure they have adequate staff to take actions required under the “Warning” phase. Once a “Warning” is issued, facilities must undertake the actions listed in the mitigation plans they filed with ACHD. The specific actions will be catered to each facility and approved on a case-by-case basis. Although the bulk of the regulation addresses industrial sources of particulate matter pollution, the proposed change will also ban all wood-burning activities when a Mon Valley Air Pollution Watch or Warning has been issued in the defined municipalities. “This regulation isn’t perfect. But in this instance, progress trumps perfection,” Filippini said. “We have to start somewhere – and as soon as possible – because these poor-air episodes happen too frequently and impact the health of too many to further delay its implementation.” GASP also submitted formal public comments to the Board of Health. Here are Filippini’s full remarks read before the board: “Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony today. My name is Rachel Filippini and I’m the executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution. While we have some lingering concerns about the effectiveness of the Mon Valley Air Pollution Episode Rule, we support moving it forward at this time. We appreciate that this regulation, as is, should help the ACHD Air Program’s stated goal to limit the frequency and strength of PM2.5 exceedances, but believe it will fail to address health impacts that the Environmental Protection Agency shows could exist with very high, short-term concentrations of fine particulate matter. We urge ACHD to continue – as they move forward – to examine the data to ensure public health is protected in the Mon Valley. We know that patterns of PM2.5 concentrations in the Mon Valley are unique and simply relying on the NAAQS averaging time might not be sufficient to protect public health. This regulation will require major and minor sources of fine particulate matter pollution like U.S. Steel to create and submit to ACHD for approval a two-tiered action plan to be implemented when these watches and warnings are issued. The crux of the regulation is really going to be in the plans submitted by industry, how effective those plans are in reducing emissions, and how well they are enforced by the ACHD. If the plans aren’t effective how quickly can they be modified to ensure public health is protected on these days? Although the bulk of the regulation addresses industrial sources of particulate matter pollution, the proposed change will also ban all wood-burning activities when a Mon Valley Air Pollution Watch or Warning has been issued in the defined municipalities. A key component of this regulation is going to be clear and timely communication to the public and municipalities about any issued watches or warnings. While we understand that the ACHD did not want to dictate the specific messaging within the regulation itself, it will be critical for them to utilize a broad array of messaging strategies in order to reach everyone. We encourage the department to keep in mind that many in the impacted area do not have access to the Internet, so messaging should also be made available through landline messaging. Thank you. GASP thanks the Board of Health for its yes vote, as well as the dozens of residents who joined us in imploring members to support the regulation. Editor's Note: The Mon Valley Episodic Weather regulation next heads to Allegheny County Council for approval. Check back, we’ll keep you posted.

Pennsylvania's Environmental Quality Board recently voted to adopt the final rulemaking for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The vote was 15 to 4. “This is a milestone in helping Pennsylvanians get one step closer to combating the ills of climate change,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI would establish a program to limit CO2 emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric power plants located in Pennsylvania. Emissions of CO2, a greenhouse gas (GHG) and major contributor to climate change, are detrimental to public health and welfare in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has the fifth leading CO2 emitting electricity generation sector in the United States, and RGGI is a significant component in achieving Pennsylvania’s goals to reduce net GHG emissions from 2005 levels by 26 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050. RGGI is a “cap and invest” program that sets a regulatory limit on CO2 emissions from fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGU) and permits trading of CO2 allowances to effect cost-efficient compliance with the regulatory limit. RGGI provides a ”two-prong” approach to reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuel-fired EGUs. The first prong is a declining CO2 emissions budget and the second prong involves investment of the proceeds resulting from the auction of CO2 allowances to further reduce CO2 emissions. Each participating state establishes its own annual CO2 emissions budget which sets the total amount of CO2 emitted from fossil fuel-fired EGUs in a year. What is commonly referred to as the ”RGGI cap” on emissions is a reference to the total of all the state CO2 emissions budgets. This final-form rulemaking includes a declining annual CO2 emissions budget, which starts at 78 million tons in 2022 and ends at 58 million tons in 2030. This is anticipated to reduce CO2 emissions in Pennsylvania by 31 percent compared to 2019. The declining annual CO2 emissions budget is equivalent to the CO2 allowance budget, which is the number of CO2 allowances available each year. The next step in the regulatory process is a review by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC). GASP submitted comments in support of RGGI and is hopeful it will be finally adopted. “Participating in the RGGI will help Pennsylvania transition to a clean-energy future, and provide immediate benefits resulting from reducing pollution from fossil-fuel electric generating units,” GASP senior attorney John Baillie said.

***MEDIA ADVISORY*** PRESS CONTACT: Amanda Gillooly GASP Communications Manager amanda@gasp-pgh.org The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) is seeking candidates for executive director following the resignation of its longtime leader, Rachel Filippini. Filippini, who has served as GASP’s executive assistant and education coordinator before rising to the position of executive director 17 years ago, will depart the organization in mid-September to pursue the next chapter in her personal and professional life. “We’re sorry to see her go,” GASP Board President Jonathan Nadle said. “It’s become cliché to say a leader is leaving ‘for personal reasons’ and ‘to spend more time with family,’ but in her case it’s actually true. Rachel has a young family and wants to be more easily involved in their activities and do something meaningful closer to where she lives.” Nadle continued: “On a personal note, I’ve known Rachel for over two decades and have seen her grow into her role. It’s been a pleasure working with such a competent, passionate, effective leader. GASP wishes her the best in whatever she decides to do next.” “I am so honored to have had the opportunity to work for and lead such a fantastic organization for all of these years,” said Rachel Filippini. “My time with GASP is full of good memories and so many points of pride in all that we have been able to accomplish. I have greatly enjoyed getting to work with such a dedicated, passionate, and hard-working staff and board of directors.” GASP is seeking qualified candidates. You can view the job description and apply on our website. ###

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is requesting public comment on its 2022 Air Monitoring Network Plan, an annual report that provides a detailed description of how and where air pollution is monitored in Allegheny County. The 2022 Air Monitoring Network Plan is a document required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It provides the specific location of each monitoring station, siting criteria, monitoring methods and objectives, frequency of sampling, pollutants measured at each station, and aerial photographs showing their physical location. The network includes the following 10 locations within the county: Avalon, Clairton, Flag Plaza (Downtown), Glassport, Harrison, Lawrenceville, Liberty, North Braddock, Parkway East (Wilkinsburg), and South Fayette. One or more of the following pollutants is measured at each site: Sulfur dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, total reactive nitrogen, Ozone, PM10, PM2.5, and other air toxics. All correspondence must include first and last names and a complete mailing address. Comments may be submitted via e-mail to david.good@alleghenycounty.us or by mail to: Allegheny County Health Department Attention: David D. Good Air Quality Program 301 39th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201 Comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 9. GASP’s attorneys are currently reviewing the document and will be submitting formal written comments. Check back, we will also have a blog with a breakdown of the plan as well as sample language and information to help you submit your own comments – ensuring that county leaders hear the voices of residents.

It was a hot and sticky summer day in Swissvale June 26, but that didn’t stop families from dropping in for GASP’s second Clean Air Fair event featuring storytelling time, crafts, hands-on educational activities, and a puppet show from our good friend Dave English. Dave is a Pittsburgh-area artist and educator who uses hand puppetry to engage and enlighten young audiences about the importance of clean air – this time acting as the voice of GASP’s venerable mascot Dirty Gertie the Poor Polluted Birdy. In the photo gallery below you’ll also see our educator Laura teaching those in attendance about air quality through real-life pig lungs and hands-on activities like a lichen search. As you can see, kids and adults alike were all smiles at the event at Les Getz Memorial Park in Swissvale, which was presented in partnership with the Swissvale Community Action Committee.

Here’s a little bit of good news: Allegheny County Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve air quality fee schedule changes expected to help buoy the health department’s air quality enforcement and compliance efforts. GASP strongly supported the fee schedule changes, which you can read all about here. On Tuesday, we submitted public comments encouraging council to vote yes on the measure, as well as a petition signed by 400 residents urging members to do the same. “We want to give a huge thank you to council for moving this important resolution forward,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “We also thank the hundreds of residents who took the time to sign our petition, ensuring that the voices of residents were heard loud and clear by county council.” The fee schedule changes now go to Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald for final approval. “These fee schedule changes are crucial and ensure that the county air quality program is on sound financial footing,” Filippini said. “They are a long time coming.”

Allegheny County Council’s Health and Human Services Committee on Thursday afternoon voted to recommend for final approval proposed air quality permit fee schedule changes expected to help put the air quality program on sound financial footing. Council is expected to take a final vote on the measure later this month. Until then, GASP is getting the word out about the fee schedule changes, which we strongly support. Here are five reasons you should join us in urging council to approve the updated fee schedule without delay: The updated fee schedule mirrors those approved by the state that became effective in January. It’s worth noting that all counties in Pennsylvania except Allegheny already adopted the fees. The Clean Air Act requires that fees imposed on major sources of air pollution in Allegheny County be ‘sufficient to cover all reasonable (direct and indirect) costs required to develop and administer’ the health department’s Title V permit program. The health department’s Air Quality Program receives little to no funding from Allegheny County itself, which means the fees paid by non-Title V sources in the county must also generate sufficient revenue to fund the non-Title V side of the program. The new fee schedule increases application fees for plan approvals, operation permits, and the annual administration fees charged to operating permit holders that were based on a schedule set all the way back in the 1990s and last updated nearly 15 years ago. It sets the cost for 14 new fees related to the permitting process – fees that will pay for services the Allegheny County Health Department currently provides, absorbing the costs at a time when the Air Quality Program needed to hire seven new staffers in the past two years because of a high volume of work. The changes are expected to help ensure more robust Air Quality Program enforcement and compliance efforts that directly impact public health. Join the hundreds of Allegheny County residents have already signed our petition and add your name now: Editor's Note: The petition is now closed. Thank you to all who have signed! #AlleghenyCountyCouncil #airpollution #TitleV #airqualitypermitfees #AlleghenyCounty #airquality

That makes 29 exceedances of the H2S standard in the past six months at Allegheny County Health Department’s air quality monitor in Liberty borough. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas recognizable by its rotten egg odor. To put those numbers into perspective: There were just 25 exceedances in all of 2020 and 36 in 2019. “We are now on pace for 59 exceedances this year, which would equal 2017’s total,” GASP staff attorney Ned Mulcahy explained. “It’s difficult to understate how bad exceeding 2017 would be historically: In only four of the past 22 years have there been 60 or more exceedances of the 24-hour h2s standard at Liberty.” GASP is again calling on ACHD to publicly address these mounting exceedances. Residents are regularly afflicted by the onslaught of odors and deserve to know what’s going on at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works to cause the issue, and what the department is doing to hold the company responsible. There has been no update regarding the April 1 notice of violation (NOV) issued to the company by ACHD for prior exceedances of the hydrogen sulfide ambient air quality standard at the Liberty monitor. That NOV covers 25 exceedances in 2020 and seven more from the first quarter of 2021. It did NOT include eight exceedances of Pennsylvania’s 24-hour H2S standard that occurred at the North Braddock air quality monitor from December 2020 through March 2021. “The health department can’t keep residents in the dark,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “They not only need to provide an update but also what the plan is for improving the situation.” Source: ACHD 2019 Air Quality Annual Report

Proposed permit fee schedule increases expected to put Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality Program on sound financial footing are one step closer to final approval. During the Allegheny County Council meeting Tuesday afternoon, the measure was referred to the committee on health and human services. GASP has long championed the revised fee schedule, which mostly mirrors those approved by the state that went into effect this past January. The Allegheny County Board of Health in March voted to push the changes forward to county council. When finally approved, the fee schedule would increase application fees for plan approvals, operation permits, and the annual administration fees charged to operating permit holders that were based on a schedule set all the way back in the 1990s and last increased 14 years ago. The proposed fee schedule is tiered. The first set of increases going into effect 60 days after final adoption through 2025. The fees then increase in 2026 and then again in 2031. If finally approved, the plan would for the first time impose fees on major and minor sources of air pollution seeking: revisions to plant-wide applicability limits; ambient air impact modeling completed in connection with certain plan approval applications; risk assessments; and requests for determination GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini was among those who submitted public comments in support of the proposed changes. “It’s important to understand that the Clean Air Act requires that the fees imposed on Title V sources in Allegheny County be ‘sufficient to cover all reasonable (direct and indirect) costs required to develop and administer’ the health department’s Title V permit program,” she explained. “Because ACHD’s Air Quality Program receives little or no funding from Allegheny County itself, that means the fees paid by non-Title V sources in the County must also generate sufficient revenue to fund the non-Title V side of the Program – making these changes absolutely imperative.” You can read her full comments here. If you haven’t already signed our petition urging council to approve the fee schedule changes when it comes up for a final vote, you can – and should – do so now. Here’s more info for those who’d like more background.