Last month’s deadly explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works left the community reeling, and while the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) issued alerts via social media and through press releases, the incident underscores the need for a more robust emergency alert system for when industrial incidents occur. While the Aug. 11 explosion was the latest incident, it wasn’t the first: Major emergencies have also occurred at Neville Chemical, Metalico, and other industrial facilities. This isn’t a new call to action. Sadly, GASP has been calling on county leaders to develop such a plan since (gulp) 1972. But it’s one that we renewed Wednesday, when GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell addressed the Allegheny County Board of Health. Here’s what he told them: Good evening. My name is Patrick Campbell, and I am the Executive Director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), a nonprofit that has been working to improve our region’s air quality since 1969. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you remotely tonight. I’m here to address a critical issue for our community: the urgent need for a robust emergency alert system for industrial incidents such as the Aug. 11 explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works. This is not a new request—GASP has been raising this concern since 1972. First, I want to thank the Allegheny County Health Department for the improvements we saw in public health messaging after this most recent incident. ACHD’s timely communication—through press releases and social media—was an important step forward, and we truly appreciate that progress. But we know more must be done to ensure that all residents are promptly notified in ways that directly reach them when incidents occur that can, or may, impact their health. In emergencies, information is the most powerful tool. Without it, fear and confusion spreads, and people are left unsure of how to protect themselves and their families. While press releases and social media are useful, they cannot be the only channels. A truly inclusive plan is needed—one that ensures direct, real-time alerts to residents across the Mon Valley and the county. Such a plan should be developed collaboratively, with input from county council, community leaders, emergency responders, advocates, and industry representatives. By building on the foundation ACHD has already established, and by strengthening tools like the Mon Valley and Allegheny Alerts systems, we can ensure residents receive timely, clear, and accessible information during industrial emergencies. This isn’t about assigning blame or making something punitive. It is about creating a system that prioritizes public health, empowers residents to take precautions, and demonstrates that local leaders are prepared to act swiftly and decisively. An effective communication plan is more than just sending out alerts—it is about building trust. It shows residents that their well-being is at the center of decision-making. GASP is ready to partner with ACHD and other stakeholders to develop such a system. Together, we can make sure that when the next incident occurs, residents are equipped with the best information they need to stay safe. Thank you.

Friends, we have some awesome news to share: GASP has hired its first-ever environmental health manager. Her name is Rachel Macias, and we think yinz are really gonna like her. We certainly do. Originally from the West Coast, Rachel earned her undergraduate degree in public health science from the University of California, Irvine, and her master’s of public health degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Rachel now calls the South Side of Pittsburgh her home, one she shares with her husband and three cats. She comes to GASP from The Center for Sleep and Circadian Science at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, where she served as a senior research associate. Prior to her tenure there, she served as a network project manager at PaTH Clinical Research Network at the University of Pittsburgh. Rachel has a wealth of experience in research and public health, having served as a graduate student researcher at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health as well as its Department of Epidemiology. “GASP's mission is fundamentally linked to public health - we work to improve air quality, and the effects of poor air quality—like asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory illnesses, which are major public health issues. And we think Rachel’s a perfect fit for GASP and the work we are trying to accomplish,” GASP Executive DIrector Patrick Campbell said.  GASP President Jonathan Nadle agreed. “We’re thrilled to have Rachel join our team. Her expertise will help us connect our advocacy work directly to the health outcomes that matter to our community,” he said. “She understands the data, the policies, and the real-world impacts of environmental factors on people's well-being. This knowledge is crucial for strengthening our arguments and making our case to policymakers.” Rachel said she looks forward to getting to work. "I'm delighted to join the exceptional team here at GASP. Working for an organization with such a remarkable legacy is truly a dream come true!" Rachel said. "I am excited to apply my experience in epidemiological research to this position. I hope that by weaving robust health data into our work, we can only strengthen our advocacy efforts and reinforce the need for policy change."  Please join us in welcoming Rachel to the GASP Gang. Editor’s Note: Rachel can be reached at rachelm@gasp-pgh.org .

The federally required annual review of Title V Air Quality permitting by the Allegheny County Health Department showed repeat concerns with a backlog in permit issuance and some accounting practices, Allegheny County Controller Corey O'Connor said in a press release Thursday. By way of background: GASP was the first to raise the alarm over the Title V permit backlog. Here is this year's report. Here’s what his office sent out in a press release this morning:   During 2024, the year the audit covers, 28 industrial pollution sources in Allegheny County were subject to Title V permitting. U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works facilities were assessed the largest amount of fees in 2024 at over $922,000, with the Clairton Coke Works the largest of these at over $620,000.   "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 considerable 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," O'Connor said.   As of the close of 2024, permits had not been issued or denied to six major pollution sources in the County within 18 months of application as required by federal statute. This was up from five outstanding applications at the close of 2023, including two permits outstanding in both years. The Health Department reported that three 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 $1 million was due to the Title V fund from other funds within the Health Department's Air Quality program due to cross-charges, a significant increase from $584,000 at the close of 2023. 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 has been made in successive audits and 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 previously issued an audit 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 modernizing 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."   View the complete Independent Auditor's Report .   View the complete Independent Auditor's Report on Internal Control and Compliance . Editor’s Note: GASP staff is reviewing the audit - stay tuned.

Did you know that every year, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) must publish an air quality network monitoring plan providing a detailed description of how - and where - air pollution is monitored in Allegheny County? It’s true! The annual Air Network Monitoring plan is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and details the specific location of each monitoring station, as well as the department’s monitoring methods, monitoring objectives, frequency of sampling, pollutants measured, and any planned changes to the network. And right now, ACHD is seeking public comment on its 2026 Air Quality Network Monitoring Plan  through 4:30 p.m. Sept. 25  so your friendly neighborhood air quality watchdogs at GASP wanted to provide a breakdown of what’s new and notable in the report and how (and why) you should consider submitting weighing in on the proposed changes. Where Does ACHD Monitor Air Quality & Why? ACHD operates nine monitoring sites to meet its core objectives under Article 21 for all monitoring networks across the county. There are three core objectives: #1. Provide air pollution data to the general public in a timely manner #2. Support compliance with ambient air quality standards and emissions strategy development and #3. Support for air pollution research studies The monitoring site locations are established to meet certain objectives. Case in point: There is a site along the Parkway East set up expressly to monitor pollutants from mobile sources.  Many sites now monitor continuously as technology and internet connectivity have advanced, but not all pollutants can be monitored in real-time. Air Quality Monitoring Changes Proposed for 2026  In the plan, ACHD detailed monitoring additions since the publication of its 2025 Air Quality Network Monitoring Plan. They include: Postponement of Lawrenceville Monitoring station site move due to unforeseen new construction and commercial operations in Chateau  Addition of continuous PM2.5 monitoring at Harrison site  The plan also provides information on proposed changes to the air monitoring network. Spoiler: There’s some really good stuff in there!   The proposed updates include: New PM2.5 monitoring site at Glassport site and the addition of continuous PM2.5 monitoring at the South Fayette site ( good things! ) Addition of meteorology (wind speed & direction) sensors at Avalon and Clairton sites (great things! ) Addition of hydrogen sulfide monitoring at Clairton site ( an   amazing thing! ) Removal of PM10 monitoring at Glassport site ( ACHD explained the monitoring was redundant - we agree ) Relocation of Lawrenceville monitoring station (NCore, PAMS, NATTS, IMPROVE, ASCENT, and CSN) to the Carnegie Mellon University campus ( this is a big deal - it take a LONG time for ACHD to find a suitable site) . GASP’s Take on the Air Network Monitoring Plan Generally - and technically - GASP has nothing but cheers for the plan. The network is expanding, new monitors are being deployed, and more pollutants are being measured.  “We are particularly grateful for the additional hydrogen sulfide monitoring,” Campbell said. “GASP has been calling on the health department for years to do more to study and curb the Mon Valley’s H2S exceedance problem, and more robust monitoring is another step in the right direction.” How and Why to Submit a Public Comment GASP will be submitting formal comments in support of the plan and we will hope you will join us in weighing in on this crucial document.  Here’s how to submit your public comments: You can email them to ACHD’s David D. Good at David.Good@alleghenycounty.us  or mail them to 301 39th Street, Building 7, Pittsburgh, PA 15201.

Dear Fellow Breathers, Can you believe it?! Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) is celebrating its 56th year of fighting for healthy air in our community! And what better way to mark the occasion than with a special membership drive? We're so proud of the work we've done together since our inception in 1969. From advocating for stronger regulations at the local, state and federal levels, to educating the public about air quality issues, to taking legal action against prolific polluters, it’s been a wild advocacy ride so far. But with the recent Trump EPA regulatory rollbacks, ongoing local Air Quality Program funding issues, and the ever-present threat of industrial pollution, our work remains critical.  Honestly, we couldn’t do it without you.  Join the GASP Gang and Get Some Sweet Swag! To celebrate our 56th birthday, we’re hosting a membership drive to expand our ranks and raise much-needed cash for our watchdog work. And to sweeten the membership deal for first-time donors: We’ll send new members who make a donation of at least $50 a sweet GASP decal for your ride/laptop/water bottle.  So, what are you waiting for? Here’s how to make a donation.

Do you know - or are you - a high school student interested in environmental issues and storytelling? Because we need help getting the word out about our Fresh Voices youth education program starting this fall.  What is Fresh Voices? Fresh Voices  is a program designed to empower the next generation of environmental leaders. If you're a high school student in our region, this is your chance to get hands-on experience in environmental activism.  You'll work with the GASP team and other passionate students to learn about air quality issues, develop your advocacy skills, and create projects that make a real impact in your community. Students will meet once a month from October 2025 through June 2026 - with a convenient mix of in-person and virtual gatherings. Bonus: Participants will receive a $100 award at the conclusion of the program. “Our hope is to provide the education and tools to allow our participants to turn their passion into action,” GASP Program and Education Manager Laura Kuster said.  Sound like something that you or someone you know would be into? Here’s the link to the application. Remember: The deadline to apply is Sept. 28, with the first two meetings slated for Oct. 16 and Nov. 8. Not in High School? You Can Still Help! Maybe your high school days are behind you, but your connection to the air in our region isn't. We're launching an oral history project , and we need your stories! We're looking to interview two groups of people: Long-time residents  who have no specific background in air quality but have lived and breathed the air here for years. Environmental activists  in the region who have been on the front lines of this important work. Think of it as a casual chat, not a quiz.  “There's no need to prepare anything. We simply want to hear about your experiences and perspectives over time,” Kuser explained. “These interviews will become a public educational resource and will be used to create multimedia projects that highlight the voices of our community.” Whether you're a high schooler ready to lead or a long-time resident with a story to share, your voice matters. It's the most powerful tool we have in the fight for clean air. Here’s how to get involved.

The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) on Thursday testified at a public hearing hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - speaking out against a plan to delay full implementation of the revised National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) for Integrated Iron and Steel making facilities.   Here's what you need to know about the EPA proposal, which would (among other things) allow U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Works to emit greater amounts of hazardous air pollutants between now and July 3, 2027 , than it otherwise would have.  You can get the skinny on the proposal here. Here's what GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell told the EPA: Good morning. I’m Patrick Campbell, executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution, or GASP, a nonprofit working to improve air quality in western Pennsylvania since 1969. I am here today to share the Group Against Smog & Pollution’s opposition to EPA’s decision to delay the full implementation of the revised National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Coke Ovens and Coke Oven Batteries. This rollback directly impacts the health and safety of frontline communities in our region, specifically those living in the shadow of U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works and Cleveland Cliffs’ Monessen Coke Works. First, we are particularly concerned with proposed delays regarding the installation of fence line monitors to detect benzene levels—a known carcinogen and problem pollutant in our area. Second, GASP is specifically opposed to the delay in implementing new limits on leaking coke oven doors, lids, and piping. This delay will disproportionately impact residents in our region who are already overburdened by emissions from industrial polluters like U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works - facilities with well-documented and longstanding issues with leaking coke oven doors and lids. Third, we want to share our disappointment that EPA’s only justification for these delays is industry assertions about the time needed for facility modifications. However, the Coke Oven NESHAPS do not present new or unforeseen challenges. Industry groups have consistently sought to delay compliance with clean air regulations, and by accepting their arguments, the EPA undermines the very purpose of establishing protective emission standards in the first place. The EPA has stated that this delay would provide industry with a savings of $4.2 to $4.4 million. Yet, the agency charged with protecting our environment has failed to provide an estimate of the additional pollution that will foul our air as a direct result of this rollback. This egregious omission and lack of transparency regarding the public health cost is simply unacceptable. GASP urges the EPA to prioritize public health over vague industry assertions. We demand EPA enforce the original compliance deadlines. The health of our communities cannot wait.

GASP on Wednesday testified at a public hearing hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding an interim final rule that would delay compliance deadlines for National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS) for Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing Facilities like U.S. Mon Valley Works right here in western Pennsylvania. You can read more about the rule and how it will impact public health here . Here's is what GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell told the EPA: Good morning. I am Patrick Campbell, the Executive Director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution, or GASP - a nonprofit working to improve air quality in western Pennsylvania since 1969. We are here today to voice our opposition to the interim final rule to delay compliance deadlines for the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Integrated Iron and Steel Making Facilities. This delay, while purportedly saving nine facilities an estimated $3.3 to $3.5 million, will unleash an additional 120 tons of hazardous air pollutants into surrounding communities. That’s 120 tons of hazardous air pollutants that would have been avoided under the existing deadlines. Delaying these vital protections jeopardizes any progress that has been made on air quality and prolongs frontline communities’ exposure to pollutants known to cause severe health issues, including chronic respiratory illnesses, neurological damage, and cancer. The EPA’s mission is to protect human health and the environment. Yet, this interim final rule directly contradicts that core mission It sends a chilling message that financial considerations can trump public health safeguards. This delay is a handout to industrial polluters that shamelessly prioritizes corporate convenience and budgets for facilities like U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson facility here in western Pennsylvania over our collective - fundamental - right to clean air. GASP urges the EPA to withdraw this interim final rule immediately. Enforce the original compliance deadlines. Uphold your commitment to public health and environmental justice. Our communities deserve nothing less. Thank you.

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is requesting public comment on its 2026 Air Monitoring Network Plan, an annual report that provides a detailed description of how and where air pollution is monitored in Allegheny County. The 2026 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. All correspondence must include first and last name and a complete mailing address. Comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Sep. 25.   You can read the plan here . Comments may be submitted via e-mail to david.good@alleghenycounty.us  or by mail to: Allegheny County Health Department Attention: David D. GoodAir Quality Program 836 Fulton StreetPittsburgh, PA 15233 Editor’s Note: GASP staff is currently reviewing the monitoring plan. Stay tuned for more details and public comment guidance from us soon!

GASP on Wednesday voiced our vehement opposition to the Trump regime’s proposal to dismantle what’s known as the 2009 Endangerment Finding - one that resulted in greenhouse gas emissions regulations for motor vehicles and engines. The Endangerment Finding is the legal prerequisite EPA used to regulate emissions from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines. Absent the Endangerment Finding, EPA would lack statutory authority under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to prescribe standards for greenhouse gas emissions.    It’s a big deal. Here’s what Patrick told EPA: Good afternoon. My name is Patrick Campbell, and I serve as the executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution, or GASP. For more than 55 years, we’ve fought for cleaner air and healthier communities in southwestern Pennsylvania. Today, I want to speak plainly: we are outraged and deeply concerned about the dismantling of environmental protections that the EPA was created to uphold. The latest example is this administration’s attempt to undermine the 2009 Endangerment Finding—the legal foundation that allows the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars, trucks, and engines under the Clean Air Act. If this proposal goes through, the EPA would lose its authority to regulate climate-altering pollution from vehicles.  That means greenhouse gas standards for light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles could disappear, wiping away years of progress. And why? The justification focuses almost entirely on industry profits and so-called consumer choice. What’s missing? Any serious acknowledgment of the devastating consequences for our environment and our health. Let’s be clear: this is not just about legal technicalities or economic models. This is about the air our children breathe. It’s about rising asthma rates, respiratory illness, and heat-related deaths. It’s about the escalating climate crisis we already see around us—in the floods, wildfires, and extreme weather events becoming the new normal. To claim, as this administration does, that U.S. vehicle emissions don’t significantly contribute to climate change is to ignore both settled science and decades of legal precedent. It is nothing less than an abdication of responsibility. The EPA’s mission is simple and profound: to protect human health and the environment. Full stop. This proposal does the opposite. It represents a betrayal of public trust and a dangerous gamble with our future. We call on the EPA to remember its purpose, to honor the science, and to put people—not polluters—first. Our communities, our children, and generations to come depend on it. Thank you.