Children in the United States spend nearly seven hours a day, 180 days a year at school and while districts both public and private have many obligations to keep students safe, we want to talk about one intended to safeguard the air they breathe while there. One of the indoor air quality hazards school districts are required to monitor and manage is asbestos. What is Asbestos & Why is it Harmful? Asbestos is the name of a collection of silicate minerals used in many products throughout the 20th Century because of its strength and resistance to heat - we’re talking everything from cement to shingles. When asbestos is left undisturbed it does not pose a health risk. During renovation or demolition, however, it’s common for old, brittle asbestos products to release tasteless, odorless, microscopic fibers that can remain suspended in the air and enter your lungs when you inhale. Once inhaled, asbestos stays there forever. ​ Exposure to airborne asbestos can cause serious health issues including asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pleural disease. There is no safe minimum level of exposure to asbestos. It can take 20-40 years for some of these diseases to manifest, so we are currently seeing the results of exposures from the 1980s and 1990s now. The only way to be sure whether a material contains asbestos is to have it tested by a qualified laboratory. The EPA & Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (HERA) was developed in 1986 after Congress acknowledged that because of a lack of federal regulatory guidance about asbestos abatement “some schools have not undertaken response action while many others have undertaken expensive projects without knowing if their action is necessary, adequate, or safe.” HERA requires school districts - both public and private - to take certain actions related to the maintenance and removal of asbestos containing material in their buildings. It should be noted that these regulations are founded on the principle of so-called in-place management of asbestos since removal is not usually necessary unless it’s severely damaged or is expected to be disturbed during renovation or demolition activities. HERA stipulates school districts must: Perform an original inspection of its school buildings to determine whether asbestos containing material is present. Conduct reinspections every three years afterward. Develop, maintain and update an asbestos management plan. Make available that management plan to the public within five days of being requested, and send annual updates about any abatement actions undertaken and/or planned. Designate a contact person trained to ensure that the school is meeting its obligations under the act. Perform periodic surveillance of asbestos-containing materials. Provide custodial staff with specific asbestos-awareness training. Ensure that only trained and licensed professionals perform inspections and abatement activity. Understanding School Asbestos Management Plans School districts are required to create plans and document recommended asbestos response actions, the location of the asbestos within the school, and actions taken to repair and remove the material. In addition, districts must maintain these records and include them in their plan: The name and address of each school building and whether it has asbestos-containing building material, and the type of asbestos-containing material The date of the original school inspection The plan for re-inspections A blueprint identifying the location of remaining asbestos-containing materials in the school A description of response actions and/or preventive measures taken to reduce asbestos exposure A copy of the analysis of the building, and the name and address of laboratories that sampled the material The name, address, and phone number of the designated asbestos contact A summary of steps taken to inform school stakeholders (parents, employees, students) about inspections, re-inspections, response actions, and periodic surveillance GASP’s Asbestos Ask We hope parents, students, and community members stay engaged on important public health issues like indoor air quality in our public and private institutions and seek out information about what YOUR local school district is doing to protect their communities from asbestos exposure. Please reach out to your local district and request information on their designated asbestos management contact, their management plan, and the required annual disclosures on these issues. When you do, please let us know how it goes - you can email our Program and Education Manager Laura Kuster at laura@gasp-pgh.org. Finally, please share this information with fellow members of your school community so they, too, can stay informed and engaged. “Letting school administrators and board members know this is important to you helps ensure this crucial public health issue remains on their radar,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “We hope you continue to show up when it comes to indoor air quality and how we can better protect our children and greater school community.” Editor’s Note: Check out GASP’s Asbestos Awareness page here for more information and resources.

Everyone deserves clean air, but sadly, too many of our neighbors struggle to breathe all too often thanks to industrial emissions from facilities like U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Work, which is one of the largest coke-making facilities in the country and one of the most egregious air polluters in the county. That’s why the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) petitioned the EPA to reject the air quality permit the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) issued to U.S. Steel because it lacked a compliance schedule and other remedies to ensure the plan’s compliance with clean air laws. The EPA’s decision to grant our objections has provided an opportunity for residents to voice their views and share their experiences with industrial air pollution from the mill. That’s why the GASP is teaming up with our friends at the Black Appalachia Coalition on a petition demanding ACHD host educational sessions as well as a public hearing in Clairton related to efforts to get air pollution poster child U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works back into compliance with air quality regulations. Here’s what we are petitioning ACHD to do: Championing environmental justice requires meaningful input from the people whose health and quality of life will be most impacted by operations at U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works. It is imperative that ACHD Air Quality Program leadership not only commit to hosting a public hearing regarding any proposed changes to the permit but also to convening an educational session in Clairton. This type of meeting would allow residents there to better understand the permit and how - and why - they should participate in the public comment process. While formal hearings allow residents to provide comments, they do not allow conversation and interaction between officials and residents. Sign this petition to urge ACHD to provide this important opportunity for public engagement and input. “We’ve said it before: The health department needs to build trust with the community and it can’t do that without transparency and accountability,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “Hosting a public hearing and educational sessions in Clairton is a first step to building back that lost trust.” No matter if you’ve been impacted by emissions issues at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works personally or simply want to stand with those who have been. we encourage you to check out and sign the petition here.

Dear Fellow Breathers, At GASP, we know that action is eloquence. So we won’t try to impress you with fancy prose because our work speaks for itself; work that helped drive real change here in southwestern Pennsylvania. For the past 54 years, we’ve taken a three-pronged approach to improving regional air quality, one that includes a mix of education, policy, and legal/watchdog work. On the education front this year we: Commenced our 3rd year of Fresh Voices for Clean Air - a program pairing Allegheny Co. high schoolers with peers in Birmingham, Alabama to elevate youth voices & support the next generation of environmental advocates. Partnered with myriad municipalities to educate officials about all things air quality so that they can more effectively serve their communities. Launched an asbestos-awareness campaign so folks understand it is still a clear and present air quality danger. On the policy front we: Helped launch a co-op in Allegheny County that helped residents and small business owners install solar panels for the best possible price. Joined Mayor Ed Gainey, state officials & fellow advocates to urge robust public support for zero-emissions vehicles and investments in clean transportation. Championed DEP’s draft Environmental Justice Policy and called on the department to go all-in on transparency. In the legal/watchdog arena we: Successfully challenged U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works Title V permit, forcing ACHD to include a valid air quality compliance schedule to ensure air quality obligations are met. Pushed ACHD to increase public access to air quality data that helped lead to the creation of interactive dashboards displaying H2S and other important emissions inventory data. Started work on a multi-year air quality monitoring project funded by the EPA that will help fill gaps in the regulatory monitoring network and allow residents to better understand what’s in the air they breathe. The momentum is real, and we hope we can continue to depend on you to help us keep up the pace. To our longtime supporters: Thank you and please consider renewing your membership today. For those new to the GASP crew, please join us. Memberships start at just $50 – or an amount comfortable for you. Membership to GASP gets you weekly Alerts and invites to special events and our members give us standing to intervene in air pollution-related legal cases when necessary. You can make a one-time or recurring donation by visiting gasp-pgh.org/donate. Note: Many employers (like Google and BNY Mellon) match employee donations to nonprofits like GASP so you could possibly double your impact just by reaching out to your human resources representative. THANK YOU! Sincerely, Executive Director Patrick Campbell & President Jonathan Nadle

Editor's Note: Good news! The DEP has extended the public comment period. This blog has been updated to reflect the new submission deadline of Nov. 30. Did you hear? The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently debuted its new Environmental Justice Public Participation Policy and is seeking YOUR input. For full details, please check out this explainer blog from our senior attorney. But to summarize: The DEP said the purpose of the new policy is “to facilitate environmental justice in communities across the Commonwealth and ensure equity and environmental justice” and that the agency intends to accomplish this by: reaching out proactively to environmental justice communities to encourage their participation in its permitting decisions for facilities that are likely to affect them prioritizing the concept of environmental justice in its compliance and enforcement activities using grantmaking, brownfield redevelopment, and pollution mitigation projects to promote environmental justice. GASP applauds DEP for instituting an updated Environmental Justice Public Participation Policy and is supportive of the agency’s three-pronged approach - and we hope you will be, too. However, the new policy would be more effective if DEP would determine how its permitting process can be made more transparent and open to public participation in general. Specifically, we believe DEP should (and could) include two additional measures in its new policy: First: DEP could make more - if not all - draft permits available online. Currently, residents interested in viewing those documents would need to make a public records request or file review. While lawyers and advocates are well-versed in open records rules, DEP would be wise to recognize that this process can be a barrier to residents and their public participation. Second: The agency could Identify what information it seeks from the public in its permitting decisions and then educate residents and encourage their participation in the process so that they can advocate for their communities by pushing for stronger environmental and public health protections. They say that decisions are made by those who show up, which is why GASP wants to make it as quick and easy for local folks to weigh in on the new policy. We hope you’ll join us in supporting DEP’s efforts to prioritize environmental justice and public participation while also calling for more transparency. You can do that by completing our simple form below. Go ahead and take a minute to second our calls to action and share your views and personal experiences. The deadline to weigh in is coming up Nov. 30, so don’t wait: Editor's Note: The public comment period is now closed - thank you to everyone who submitted a public comment.

Seriously, though. Yinz ARE the best. Thanks to all of the social media shares, likes, and donations you all helped raise more than $2,700 for GASP's air quality watchdog efforts - exceeding our goal of $2,500!!! We wanted to share this word of thanks from our executive director, Patrick Campbell: "GASP was founded 54 ago by ordinary people sick of extraordinarily bad air quality and we think it's so fitting that today, our watchdog efforts are still being led by ordinary people who care extraordinarily about improving the air we all breathe. Thank you so much for your support - on Giving Tuesday and every day of the year. We truly appreciate everyone who supports GASP and the clean air movement, whether it's been through a donation, a social media like or share, or a signature on one of our petitions." Editor's Note: If you missed Giving Tuesday, but would like to support GASP's work, here's the link!

Railroad locomotives, which typically burn massive amounts of diesel fuel, are a significant mobile source of air pollution, especially in areas near railroad yards and industrial facilities in which trains operate. Now, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are now teaming up in an effort to curb these harmful emissions - but the partnership has sparked controversy. Namely, two questions have arisen: Is CARB allowed to set emission standards for locomotives? Can EPA let it? GASP’s senior attorney John Baillie explains… Some Needed Background Info Section 213(a)(5) of the Clean Air Act gives the EPA the authority to set emission standards for “new locomotives and new engines used in locomotives.” The agency first promulgated regulations setting such emission standards in 1997. Stricter emission standards for newer locomotives were set by supplemental regulations that became effective in 2008. “Under EPA’s regulations, railroad locomotives are assigned to one of five tiers, labeled Tiers 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, based on when they were originally manufactured, and must continue to meet the emission standards applicable to their Tier when they are remanufactured,” Baillie explained. “The lower the number of the Tier, the older, and more polluting, the locomotive.” As one would expect, the emission standards for newer locomotives (specifically Tiers 3 and 4, which were set by that 2008 reg we mentioned earlier) are significantly stricter than those for older locomotives (specifically, Tiers 0, 1, and 2). Tier 3 and 4 locomotives are more expensive to manufacture and operate than lower-Tier locomotives, and thus, railroads have tended to keep lower Tier, more-polluting locomotives in service for longer than regulators anticipated in 1997 or 2008. “This has apparently caused some frustration in California and other areas where locomotives’ emissions contribute substantially to air pollution problems, including particularly chronic ground-level ozone pollution,” Baillie said. Who Has the Power (to Regulate)? Until recently, it was assumed that state regulators were without power to regulate locomotives’ emissions, and that EPA’s emission standards for locomotives would preempt any state’s attempt to do so. However, on Nov. 8 EPA published a final rule that purportedly would authorize it to waive federal emission standards for “non-new” locomotives - those operating with engines that have exceeded 133% of their useful lives - at CARB’s request. “CARB is attempting to impose its own standards on locomotives that operate in California, which, as a practical matter, could include all locomotives in interstate rail service as well as the locomotives of railroads based in California,” Baillie said. CARB’s emission standards for locomotives would require railroads to pay fees into spending accounts based on the amount of their locomotive emissions; the railroads would also be required to use the money in those accounts to upgrade existing Tier 0, 1, and 2 locomotives to Tier 4 (and beginning in 2030, zero emission) locomotives. CARB’s standards would also prohibit locomotives from idling for longer than 30 minutes. The Railroad Industry Response? A Legal Challenge The railroad industry has already filed an action challenging the legality of CARB’s standards in a federal district court in California, arguing that the standards are - despite EPA’s new waiver rule - preempted by federal laws governing railroads and locomotives, including: The Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act, which generally preempts all state laws, regulations, and rules that govern railroad operations as such; Section 209 of the Clean Air Act, which states that state standards or requirements “relating to the control of emissions from … new locomotives or engines used in locomotives” are preempted by EPA’s standards; and The Locomotive Inspection Act, which preempts all state laws, regulations, and rules that govern the design, construction, and equipage of locomotives. What Happens Now? It is not at all clear that CARB has the authority to enforce its emission standards for locomotives or that EPA has the authority to allow it. “Several court decisions have held that state regulations regarding locomotive emissions are indeed preempted by these and other federal laws,” Baillie said. “Nevertheless, if the CARB emission standards survive in the courts, they will eventually work a massive reduction in the pollution produced by locomotives.” We will continue to follow this issue and report on new developments as they occur.

We know that you’ve probably received DOZENS of emails and have seen even more social media posts from local nonprofits asking for your support this Giving Tuesday - and GASP is among them. Our pitch is short and sweet: Please consider supporting the local clean air movement by making a tax-deductible donation to GASP today. Every dollar given goes directly to fuel our air quality watchdog work, education initiatives, and progressive policy activism. Yes, our air quality has improved since the ‘Burgh’s “hell with its lid off” days but air pollution (especially from industry sources) is still a huge public health issue - one GASP has the expertise and experience to help solve. When it comes to air pollution, its local impact, and how GASP can help, we have a few numbers for you to consider: 100 - The number of blogs we’ve published so far this year to keep you informed and up-to-date about all things air quality. 93 - The number of times so far this year that Pennsylvania’s 24-hour concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at the Allegheny County Health Department’s Liberty monitor exceeded the state standard. GASP has worked for years to get ACHD to identify the source of the H2S problem (which they did in a study showing U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works operations were to blame for years of exceedances) and to fix what’s causing them. While ACHD fined U.S. Steel millions for those exceedances, the company appealed and the case is now winding its way through the system. In the meantime, our region has most recently experienced 12 straight days of stench and exceedances. We continue to fight for transparency and improved communications from ACHD - please know donations made to GASP will go directly to these watchdog efforts: 22.5 - The percentage of elementary school children in environmental justice communities like Clairton and Braddock that have asthma (that’s more than three times the national average). 10 - The number of virtual and in-person workshops GASP hosted across seven counties educating municipal and elected leaders about air quality regulations, sources, and resources so they can better serve residents working for cleaner air in their communities. 2 - The number of full-time attorneys GASP has on staff to lead our watchdog work, ensure permits are as strong as possible, and analyze air quality data and communicate it in a way people can actually understand. So far this year, they have provided technical comments for 20 air quality permits. 1 - The number of permits - U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works’ Title V - GASP successfully petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to reject for being insufficient to meet air quality standards. It was a major win for residents and local air quality. The permit is now in the hands of Allegheny County Health Department, which must include a compliance schedule and make other changes to make the permit stronger. $499,781 - The amount of an EPA grant supporting GASP and partner organizations for a multi-year air quality monitoring project that will help fill gaps in the regulatory monitoring network and allow residents to better understand what’s in their local air. We hope those numbers add up to just one simple decision: To support GASP with a Giving Tuesday donation today. You can make a donation through our website, by sending a check to 1133 S Braddock Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, or by phone (just email our office manager Kathy at kathy@gasp-pgh.org with your phone number and the best time to contact you). Yours for Clean Air, Executive Director Patrick Campbell & President Jonathan Nadle

If you live in or near the Mon Valley, you have our condolences. The stench has been TERRIBLE lately. How terrible? Today marks the 12th day in a row that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations at the Allegheny County Health Department’s air quality monitor in Liberty exceeded Pennsylvania’s 24-hour-average standard. Of course, you don’t need us to tell you it stinks. But we thought you might like knowing the run we’re on is unprecedented in recent years. GASP reviewed hourly H2S data through 2017 and determined that this 12-day H2S exceedance streak is the longest stretch of stench at the Liberty monitor over that time period. Check out this graph we crafted showing every H2S exceedance by date since 2017: A few insights to consider: This latest spate of exceedances at the Liberty monitor puts Allegheny County solidly on track for 2023 to be the worst year for exceedances since 2017. According to air monitor data, November, as luck would have it, is the stinkiest month for us here in Allegheny County. On the flip side, January is most stank-free by quite a big margin. Talking about patterns: There has been an exceedance on June 29 in six of the past seven years, and on the “good year” (2020), we were only 0.001 ppm away from a perfect seven for seven. Despite this long stretch of abysmal H2S levels, ACHD has provided the public with zero updates regarding the ongoing exceedances and what it is doing to stem the issue. “For residents, the past two weeks must have felt like a horrible version of ‘Groundhog Day’ - one without Bill Murray or laughs,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “Every day for the past 12 days, our neighbors have dealt with outrageous levels of industrial stench and associated physical symptoms.” He added: “These exceedances have been a known issue for years. Residents need to know what their public health officials are doing to address this issue. GASP is AGAIN calling on ACHD to be transparent.” Editor’s Note: To make an air quality complaint regarding H2S, residents can use ACHD’s online system or reach the department at 412-578-8103.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Thursday announced that a civil penalty arising from the former Cheswick Generating Station demolition project will benefit Springdale Borough. Cheswick Plant Environmental Redevelopment Group, LLC, Controlled Demolition, Inc., and Grant Mackay Company, Inc. violated Pennsylvania’s Solid Waste Management Act during a demolition of two chimneys (smokestacks) at the former Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale Borough on June 2, 2023. In this consent order and agreement (COA), DEP documented that when the smokestacks fell, debris from the site caused damage to several nearby buildings and a thick coating of dust covered numerous properties. This debris and dust are considered waste under Pennsylvania’s environmental laws and regulations, and the deposition of this waste without DEP authorization constitutes a violation. Of the $39,100 civil penalty, $21,600 will go to Springdale Borough for upgrades and/or maintenance of borough-owned parks and recreational areas. The remaining $17,500 will go to the Commonwealth’s Solid Waste Abatement Fund. “As we pursued environmental enforcement, DEP prioritized directing the majority of the penalty money back to the community,” DEP Southwest Regional Director Jim Miller said in a release. “Springdale Borough will be able to decide how best to use these funds for park and recreation projects.”

Mon Valley friends beware, the stench is really bad today. In addition to starting off the day with one of the worst NowCast AQIs in the nation, concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H2S, which has a nasty rotten-egg odor) are alarmingly high. Actually, it’s been more than a week of stench for our neighbors in and downwind of the Mon Valley, home to one of the worst neighbors around, U.S. Steel: Today marks the eighth straight day of H2S concentrations that exceed Pennsylvania’s 24-hour-average standard. Consider this: Allegheny County Health Department’s Liberty monitor has seen 89 exceedances of the state 24-hour H2S standard so far this year (through today), which puts Allegheny County solidly on track for 2023 being the worst year since 2017. We are on pace for 101 exceedances at Liberty; there were 94 exceedances at Liberty in 2021 and 105 in 2017. Or to put it another way, there have been 19 exceedances of the 24-hour standard at Liberty in the past 25 days (including today). "U.S. Steel is currently paying who knows how much to run TV ads trying to convince residents about its commitment to improve local air quality in the Mon Valley," GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “If the company wanted to actually be a good neighbor, it would fix whatever issues are causing these days-long periods of malodor.” Editor’s Note: ACHD on Thursday morning issued a Mon Valley Air Pollution Watch. You can learn more about those here.