It was a big deal: On Aug. 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a proposal to revoke its own 2009 Endangerment Finding. Why is it a big deal? In the 2009 Endangerment Finding, EPA asserted ( for the first time ) that it had the authority to regulate new motor vehicles’ greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act because those emissions contribute to climate change, which creates effects that endanger the public health and welfare.   The framework of 2009 Endangerment Finding has also served as the basis for EPA’s assertion of its authority to regulate greenhouse emissions from other sources, including all stationary sources (an assertion with which the Supreme Court   disagreed ), power plants ( ditto ),   airplane engines , and oil and natural gas extraction (an assertion that EPA is now   backing away from ).  If EPA ultimately revokes the 2009 Endangerment Finding, existing regulations of greenhouse gas emissions will no longer be enforceable and there will be no new EPA regulations to control them, for at least the time being.   This will take some time, though. Here’s why: The proposed revocation must go through the formal rulemaking process (that Aug. 1 proposal was just the first step), and will undoubtedly be subject to challenge in court, likely going all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court before it is ultimately decided.    Bottom line? EPA’s proposed revocation of the 2009 Endangerment Finding was an entirely predictable result of the 2024 Presidential election, and the responses of environmental and industry groups that followed it have been just as entirely predictable.   You can read examples typical of industry   here  and typical of environmentalists   here .  What has largely escaped the attention of those writing about the 2009 Endangerment Finding is another avenue of attack on emission standards for motor vehicles that the regime has also recently opened up.   The so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which was signed into law July 4, contains a provision (specifically, its section 40006) that eliminates the penalty that automakers would have to pay if they failed to comply with the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency  (or CAFE) standards promulgated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, beginning with the most recent model year for which a manufacturer has not yet been issued a penalty for noncompliance.   The financial impact on automakers of eliminating the penalty could be significant – had the penalty not been eliminated, any automaker that failed to comply with the standard for its model year 2024 fleet would have been fined $17 per tenth of a mile per gallon by which it failed to meet the standard, multiplied by the number of model year 2024 vehicles it sold.   (Still with us? We know that’s a word problem and a half…) Automakers collectively paid well more than a billion dollars in penalties for failing to comply with CAFE standards between 1985 and 2020 (a breakdown of who paid what, and when, is available   here ). And while the proposed revocation of the 2009 Endangerment Finding will take some years to go into effect and may in the end be stymied by the courts, the One Big Beautiful Bill is already the law of the land. However, the elimination of the penalty for violating the CAFE standards does not necessarily mean that roads will fill up with even more gas guzzlers beginning with the next model year. The standards themselves remain on the books and automakers are (at least nominally ) obligated to follow them, as they are still the law.   \ Also, automakers plan for the cars they plan to sell years in advance, so it will be difficult, if not impossible, for them to retool quickly to manufacture vehicles that are not CAFE-compliant. Rather, the biggest immediate impact of the elimination of the penalty is likely to be to the bottom line of electric vehicle manufacturers.   “They were previously able to sell credits to other vehicle manufacturers to help them avoid or offset their penalties for failing to comply with the CAFE standards,” GASP senior attorney John Baillie said. “The income from these sales of emissions credits were   a significant part of some manufacturers’ revenue streams .” Baillie continued: “The elimination of the penalty likely destroys the value of those credits. Only time will tell if electric vehicle manufacturers are forced to raise their prices to make up for this lost revenue stream.  If they cannot, expect to see fewer electric vehicles on the road.” Editor’s Note: GASP continues to follow this issue closely and will keep you posted as new details become available.

Yes, public officials, the Allegheny County Health Department, regulatory and citizen monitors all confirmed that before, during, and after Monday's deadly explosion at the Clairton Coke Works, air pollution levels were within the scope of what is typical in the Mon Valley ( awful baseline, but here we are). However, that doesn't mean Monday's incident won't precipitate others. In fact, if past performance is a predictor of future behavior, U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works could experience subsequent emissions events that impact public health and quality of life for local residents. A History of Non-Compliance Let's face it: Decades of breakdowns, explosions and lawsuits have taught us we must ensure that regulators, advocates, and residents all work to keep a vigilant eye on plant operations over the next few weeks. W e know Allegheny County Health Department is doing additional monitoring ( read more on that here ). However, Allegheny County is also home to air quality organizations and tech tools as well as a burgeoning network of citizen monitors so we can - collectively - be more aware than ever of abnormalities with Mon Valley Works emissions. Case in point: This morning, GASP staff reviewed Breathe Cam footage and noted bursts of what appeared to be dark brown fugitive emissions that occurred for about an hour on and off. Here's what it looked like: We took screen grabs and made sure to send that documentation to the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and we hope if and when you see, hear, or smell something concerning in the aftermath of Monday's tragic explosion, that you, too, make a phone call or send a written report letting our local health officials know what you are dealing with as a community member. Here's the link to file a report . What Now? As we await the cause and origin finding and the findings of promised investigations into what exactly went wrong, we wanted to provide some basic information about what U.S. Steel’s Title V permit requires the company to provide to ACHD in the aftermath of an incident like the one we saw Monday. At both Clairton Coke Works and Edgar Thomson, U.S. Steel is required to take certain actions “in the event that any air pollution control equipment, process equipment, or other source of air contaminants breaks down in such manner as to have a substantial likelihood of causing the emission of air contaminants in violation of this permit, or of causing the emission into the open air of potentially toxic or hazardous materials.” Those actions include: Notifying ACHD “immediately” but no later than 60 minutes after the breakdown. Providing written notice to ACHD within seven days after the incident. And those notices - no matter oral or written - need to contain a spate of information including: Identification of the equipment that broke down, including location and permit number The nature and probable cause of the breakdown The expected length of time the equipment is expected to be inoperable and emissions will continue Identification of what specific materials (and their quantities) that are being emitted and a statement concerning their toxic qualities “including its qualities as an irritant, and its potential for causing illness, disability, or mortality” Measures taken or being taken to minimize the length of the breakdown And that additional info requested by ACHD “be submitted as expeditiously as practicable…unless otherwise directed by the department.” The permits also require U.S. Steel to notify ACHD when the condition causing the breakdown is placed back in operation “by no later than 9 a.m. on the next County business day.” GASP intends to file a public records request to ACHD and other investigative agencies regarding the incident and will report back what it yields.

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) announced Mobile Air Units provided by state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) will be stationed in the Mon Valley today and tomorrow. Here's the press release issued Thursday afternoon: This increased air quality monitoring is part of the ACHD Air Quality program's continued investigation of the incident at the Clairton Coke Works on Monday, August 11, 2025.   The addition of the Mobile Air Units goes well beyond the normal and rigorous regulatory air quality monitoring that ACHD conducts. This monitoring is a joint effort between ACHD, PA DEP and CMU. Each of the Mobile Air Units will assess the possible presence and concentration of different types of pollutants such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), PM2.5, and sulfur dioxide.   The exact location and time of the MAUs deployments will be based on the real time meteorological forecast developed by ACHD and PA DEP staff.   County Executive Sara Innamorato said: "I want to thank Governor Shapiro for making the offer of additional mobile air quality monitors in the wake of Monday's explosion. We deeply appreciate the partnership between PA DEP, CMU, and our county health department so we can make the best public health decisions possible, informed by data and science."

UPDATE: Late Monday afternoon, Allegheny County released this update: Allegheny County Emergency Services (ACES) and Allegheny County Police (ACPD) remain on scene of the confirmed explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works plant. Officials can confirm there has been a second fatality in connection with this incident. This was the last of the two individuals that was initially unaccounted for. Additionally, ten people were transported to area hospitals to be treated for a variety of injuries. Five are in critical but stable condition, five were taken to the hospital, treated and released. In addition, there were multiple individuals injured and treated on scene, but we do not have an exact number given the scope of the incident. The scene is now secure. ACES, ACPD, and ATF remain on site. The investigation is ongoing. Any additional updates will be release as appropriate. 6:38 p.m. UPDATE: Allegheny County issued the following update: The Allegheny County Health Department has been closely monitoring air quality in and around Clairton following this morning's incident at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works. No County Air Quality monitors have recorded an exceedance since the incident.  Based on this data, ACHD is lifting the Stay Indoors advisory effective immediately. Residents may resume normal activities. As always, please contact the Health Department with any concerns. ACHD thanks the community for its cooperation and partner agencies for their rapid response. 4:52 p.m. UPDATE: Allegheny County issued the following update via press release: Allegheny County Emergency Services and Allegheny County Police remain on scene of a confirmed explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works plant. At 10:51 am, Allegheny County 9-1-1 was notified of an explosion inside a battery operating area at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works. Officials can confirm there has been one fatality in connection with this incident. Within the past hour, rescue teams have rescued one of the two individuals that was initially unaccounted for. The individual was flown to an area hospital and their condition is unknown at this time. One person remains unaccounted for. Additionally, nine people were transported to area hospitals to be treated for a variety of injuries. In total, 14 local fire departments and 20 EMS services responded to the scene to assist. Two medics were taken to an area hospital for evaluation. This remains an active scene. There were multiple secondary explosions reported. No additional injuries were reported. Allegheny County Emergency Services continues to coordinate with local agencies to assist where needed. The Allegheny County Police Department's Homicide Unit has been requested and will lead the investigation in conjunction with the Allegheny County Fire Marshal and ATF. We will provide additional updates as appropriate. --- An explosion at U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works has been reported. GASP is following the news closely and will keep you posted as more details become available. Here is the statement issued this afternoon by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD): The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD)  is actively monitoring the explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works in coordination with emergency responders. Out of an abundance of caution, residents within one mile of the plant are advised to remain indoors, close all windows and doors, set HVAC systems to recirculate, and avoid activities that draw in outside air, such as using exhaust fans. ACHD Air Quality monitors have not detected levels of PM2.5 and So2 above federal standards. We will provide additional updates as more information becomes available. Editor's Note: GASP continues to follow this incident closely. This blog will be updated as noew details emerge. In the meantime, here is media coverage of the explosion: LIVE: US Steel Clairton Plant Explosion: Dozens injured Explosion at US Steel coking plant in Pennsylvania leaves people trapped under rubble | CNN Live updates: Multiple injuries reported in explosion at U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Explosion at Pennsylvania US Steel plant leaves people trapped under rubble | US news | The Guardian Explosion at Clairton Coke Works sends at least 9 to hospital as 'search-and-rescue' operation continues | TribLIVE.com Injuries reported after explosion at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works | 90.5 WESA

In early June, Mon Valley residents were dealt three straight days of persistent rotten egg odor caused by elevated hydrogen sulfide (H2S) levels  - a stretch punctuated by a breakdown at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works facility that prompted a public statement from the Allegheny County Health Department and outcry from frontline residents. At the time, details about the breakdown were preliminary: On the afternoon of June 2 an unknown breakdown occurred at Clairton Coke Works’ Control Room #5 that caused coke oven gas to only be partially cleaned before being emitted into the ambient air. ACHD said it was investigating both the incident and an associated spike in both H2S and sulfur dioxide (SO2) . But now, a public records request made by GASP has shed new light on the incident and its impact on our local air quality. Namely, that during the nearly eight hours that Clairton Coke Works’ Control Room #5 was offline, the facility emitted a crazy amount of pollution. Here’s what U.S. Steel told ACHD in a follow-up breakdown report required to be submitted within seven days of a breakdown: H2S grains were elevated in the coke oven gas during the bypass of No 5 Control Room. Approximately 8 tons of SO2 emissions from Clairton, Edgar Thomson, and Irvin were emitted until No 5 Control Room was fully brought back online. That means U.S. Steel emitted more than 24-hours' worth of SO2 during that eight-hour breakdown - its Title V permit allows an average of 5.22 tons a day (or 1,907.33 tons annually). A couple other things we wanted to flag… What Should Have Happened After a U.S. Steel Breakdown For both Clairton and Edgar Thomson, U.S. Steel must follow a strict procedure in the event of a breakdown of air pollution control equipment or other machinery that has a "substantial likelihood" of releasing illegal air contaminants or toxic materials. When this happens, there are a couple of key actions U.S. Steel is required to take: They must notify ACHD immediately , and no later than 60 minutes  after the breakdown. They must also provide a detailed written breakdown report to ACHD within seven days  of the incident. And that follow up report needs to include a spate of info, like: What piece of equipment broke down and its location  The nature and probable cause of the breakdown How long they expect the equipment to be out of service and how long emissions will continue. A list of the materials being released, including their quantity and details on their toxic qualities, like if they're an irritant or if they could cause illness The steps they're taking to fix the problem as quickly as possible Finally, once the broken equipment is back up and running, U.S. Steel must let the ACHD know by 9 a.m. the next business day. What Did Happen After the June 2 Clairton Coke Works Breakdown The documents GASP obtained through the state Right to Know process show that U.S. Steel met the deadlines set forth for reporting the June 2 Clairton Coke Works breakdown. U.S. Steel called ACHD’s after-hours answering service to report the incident within the required 60 minutes. Company representatives appear to also have met the deadline to submit an initial written breakdown report to ACHD. Here’s what was sent the morning of June 3: U.S. Steel also submitted the written follow-up report within the required seven days: However, we want to flag that while the reports were submitted on time, they lacked required details related to how the breakdown would impact ambient air - as well as the irritating effects of the air pollutants being emitted. “As usual, U.S. Steel pretty much ignored that part of the question - something that seems to be on brand for the company,” GASP communications manager Amanda Gillooly said. “If you look back at previous breakdown reports you will see U.S. Steel’s breakdown reports are notoriously light on those types of details. Imagine that.” ACHD’s Internal & External Response: A Timeline According to internal emails, ACHD staff became aware of the breakdown at the Clairton Coke Works at 8:30 a.m., when an air quality secretary forwarded U.S. Steel’s initial breakdown report information to department leadership. By 9:43 a.m., ACHD Deputy Director of Environmental Health Geoff Rabinowitz sent an email to staff asking for more information on the breakdown and how it might be related to an outage at ACHD’s Liberty monitor: ACHD Air Quality Manager David Good responded immediately, saying in an email that he, “provided all of the information I currently have on the matter as it relates to monitoring in an email earlier.” Unfortunately, that email was not made public by ACHD (more on that in just a bit). Then, at 9:56 a.m., ACHD Enforcement and Compliance Manager Allason Holt responded with this high-level overview of what was currently known about the Clairton Coke Works incident: Then, at 1:52 p.m., an ACHD air quality engineer sent an email to U.S. Steel requesting answers to a set of follow-up questions. U.S. Steel responded to those questions in a 3:02 p.m. email, which you can read here . Note that ACHD’s questions are in black text and U.S. Steel’s responses are in red. At 4:40 p.m., ACHD Public Information Officer Ronnie Das sent an internal email indicating that a press release on the matter had been issued: “Our public records request gives a tiny behind-the-scenes glimpse into how our local air quality regulator responds internally to an industrial breakdown at a local Title V facility,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “For years, we have been asking ACHD and county leaders to be more transparent and responsive when these types of incidents occur and we hope the department continues to do as much as it can to rebuild trust in frontline communities through prompt communication and even more transparency in the future.” A Word About What Records ACHD Withheld For the uninitiated: Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law allows agencies to withhold certain kinds of documents. We wanted to let you know that GASP’s request for documents related to the June 2 incident at Clairton Coke Works was approved in part and denied in part - which means that some documents within the scope of the request were withheld and that some were exempt. ACHD's final determination letter noted that: Information that involves a non-criminal investigation, namely complaint information and investigative material, notes, correspondence and reports. Such information is exempt from disclosure under Section 708 (b) (17) (i) and (ii) of the RTKL. It begs the question: Could there be an enforcement action in the works related to the June 2 breakdown? GASP continues to follow this and all U.S. Steel enforcement and compliance issues closely - we will keep you posted as more information becomes available.

Over the last few weeks, we have blogged about myriad (bad) decisions by Trump’s EPA leaders to delay the implementation of Clean Air Act emission standards, especially those that were finalized in the waning months of the Biden Administration.   For a little bit of background on all that, look here and here .   Then it happened again July 31: The regime published a rule extending the deadlines for implementing two sets of standards which would limit greenhouse gas emissions from oil and natural gas production facilities – one set of standards dealing with such facilities that were built after Dec 6, 2022 (Subpart OOOOb), and the other dealing with emissions from such facilities which were already in operation by Dec. 6, 2022 (Subpart OOOOc).   Interestingly, although both Subpart OOOOb and Subpart OOOOc address the same types of emissions from the same types of facilities, they are authorized by different provisions of the Clean Air Act.   We gotta get a little technical - stay with us, promise it won’t be painful: Subpart OOOOb is a New Source Performance Standard promulgated by EPA under section 111(b) of the Act. Section 111(b) authorizes EPA to establish performance standards for a category of new facilities that are anticipated to cause or contribute to air pollution that endangers the public health or welfare.  In contrast, Subpart OOOOc is promulgated under little-used section 111(d) of the Act.  Section 111(d) a uthorizes EPA to require that the states submit plans to EPA to regulate existing facilities that are otherwise unregulated by the Clean Air Act  directly (however, they may be regulated by state law) and which would otherwise be subject to standards under section 111(b) if they were new.  If section 111(d) rings a bell, it is because the U.S. Supreme Court rejected EPA’s attempt to use it to overhaul the electric generating industry by requiring existing fossil fuel-fired generating plants to capture and sequester their greenhouse gas emissions using section 111(d).   We wrote about that here . In the case of Subpart OOOOc, the states may (but are not required to) fulfill their obligations by adopting a model rule that EPA provided when it published Subpart OOOOc as a final rule.   Pennsylvania is proposing to do just that. The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) published proposed regulations which mirrored EPA’s model rule back on May 31.  Presumably, DEP will finalize and adopt those proposed regulations sometime later this year or early next.  Because Subparts OOOOb and OOOOc were promulgated under different statutory subsections, their compliance deadlines originally moved on different timelines.  Subpart OOOOb for new oil and natural gas production sources purportedly went into effect on May 7, 2024.  For Subpart OOOOc, the states were originally required to submit their proposed regulations to EPA by March 9, 2026; facilities subject to the regulations likely would have been obligated to comply with them at that time.  The compliance deadlines for both subparts will now be Jan. 22, 2027. According to the interim final rule published last week, EPA decided to extend Subpart OOOOb’s compliance deadlines based on petitions for reconsideration from the oil and natural gas industry  following the final publication of the subpart in 2024.   EPA stated that those petitions showed that industry’s compliance with subpart’s original deadlines was “untenable,” in many cases because there are not enough technicians or equipment available to upgrade facilities in the timeframe originally set by Subpart OOOOb.  Also according to EPA, it decided to extend the deadline for the states to submit their plans to implement the requirements of Subpart OOOOc because a number of states have as yet been unable to determine what the contents of their plans will be, largely because of the “large and complex nature of the source category” and the difficulty some states are having harmonizing their existing oil and gas regulations with the requirements of Subpart OOOOc.  "Again, we see the EPA delaying the implementation of an environmental regulation, sacrificing public health to appease industry interests," GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. "EPA's failure to address the Climate Crisis has hit a sad new low." You can submit comments on EPA’s plan to delay implementation of these standards and limits for emissions of hazardous air pollutants from coke ovens through Sept. 2, 2025, at https://www.regulations.gov . Note: Identify your comments by two Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2025-0162 and reference that docket number in your comments.

Here at GASP, we are on the front lines of the fight for clean air. We know first hand how communities -  especially those living in the shadows of facilities like U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works and Cleveland Cliffs’ Monessen Coke Works - have long endured a disproportionate burden of toxic air pollution.  We collectively fought tirelessly for stronger regulations to protect our families, our neighbors, and ourselves from the hazardous emissions that can lead to serious health issues, including cancer and respiratory diseases. That’s why we are so outraged by the EPA’s recent decision to delay the full implementation of the revised National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) for Coke Ovens.  What Does This Delay Mean for You? This rollback allows industrial facilities like Edgar Thomson Works to continue emitting dangerous pollutants for an extended period. The specific delays are unacceptable and pose a serious threat to public health: Benzene Monitoring is on Hold:  The crucial requirement for fenceline monitors to detect benzene—a known carcinogen—will be delayed. This means we won't have the necessary data to understand and address the levels of a cancer-causing chemical in our own backyards. Pollution from Coke Ovens Continues Unchecked:  New limits on emissions from coke oven pushing, quenching, and battery stacks, which would have had a major positive impact on the Pittsburgh region, will be pushed back. Leaking Facilities Get a Pass:  The new, stricter limits on leaking coke oven doors, lids, and offtake piping—a persistent problem with U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works—will also be postponed. The EPA claims these delays are necessary because of "industry assertions" about the time needed for modifications. But let's be clear: these challenges are not new.  “The industry has a long history of seeking delays to avoid compliance, and the EPA’s acceptance of these arguments puts corporate profits over our public health,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “The agency even provided an estimate of the millions of dollars the industry will save from this delay, but offered no estimate of the cost to human health and the additional pollution our communities will be forced to endure. This lack of transparency is completely unacceptable.” Why Your Voice Is Crucial We can’t keep stressing this enough: This delay is part of a larger, systematic dismantling of environmental and public health protections.  If we don’t stand up and resist these rollbacks, we are giving a green light to a future with dirtier air and more health risks. The EPA is accepting public comments on this decision, and it is vital that we make our opposition loud and clear. While a public comment period may sometimes feel like a mere formality, it remains a powerful tool for putting our concerns on the record.  “Each unique, well-reasoned comment becomes a permanent part of the official record, providing a strong basis for future legal challenges and advocacy efforts,” Campbell added. “Your personal story about how this pollution affects your life, your family, or your community is incredibly powerful and cannot be ignored.” How to Take Action We must resist this latest attempt to sacrifice our health for industry convenience. Here's what you can do right now: Submit a Comment to the EPA:  Go to the official regulations website and submit your comment. You can find the relevant documents by using the Docket ID numbers: EPA-HQ-OAR-2002-0085 and EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0051. Need a little help getting started? Feel free to use our comments in full or part. Make Your Voice Heard:  In your comment, state your opposition to the delay. Explain why these regulations are important to you and your community's health. Refer specifically to the postponed requirements like fenceline benzene monitoring and the new limits on leaks. Urge the EPA to Reverse Its Decision:  Demand EPA enforce the original compliance deadlines. The health of our communities cannot and should not be delayed. This is our chance to push back. Let's send a clear message that our health is not for sale, and we will not accept a future of dirtier air. The time to act is now.

The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) along with Cancer and Environment Network of SWPA (CENSWPA) and Cancer Bridges today announced, "The Air We Breathe: Health, Cancer, and Our Community," a panel event designed to inform and engage Allegheny County residents on the critical intersection of public health and air quality. The event will be held 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4 at Cancer Bridges, located at 2816 Smallman St, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. The event aims to shed light on local air quality challenges and empower attendees with knowledge on how to protect themselves and their families, especially those in sensitive populations. A light dinner with vegetarian options will be provided. "Understanding the direct impact of air quality on our health is crucial for every resident of Allegheny County," GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. "This panel brings together leading experts to discuss not only the scientific data and local challenges but also practical ways individuals can safeguard their well-being. We believe that informed communities are empowered communities when it comes to advocating for cleaner air." The event will feature a distinguished panel of experts: ●  Patricia DeMarco, Ph.D.  (Moderator): a Pittsburgh author with a doctorate in Biology from the University of Pittsburgh. She has spent a fifty-year career in energy and environmental policy in both private and public sector positions. She now writes and lectures in the fields of sustainability, energy and environmental policy, and natural history. ●  Dr. Gabriel Cisneros : A pediatrician at UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics and co-chair of the Advocacy Committee and the Climate and Environmental Health Committee of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Cisneros will discuss the health impacts of air pollution, focusing on vulnerable populations and public health initiatives. ● Nesta Bortey-Sam, PhD : An Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. Dr. Bortey-Sam will delve into local air pollution types, research, and scientific data. ● Meghan Tipre, DrPh, MSPH : An instructor in Malignant Hematology and Medical Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Hillman Cancer Center. Dr. Tipre will address the intersection of air quality with cancer and sensitive populations. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a moderated discussion and an audience Q&A session. This event is ideal for anyone who understands that poor air quality is detrimental to health and wants to delve deeper into why, while also learning practical ways to safeguard their well-being. Due to space limitations, registration is capped at 40 registrants.   You can register here . Parking validation will be available for the garage directly across from the Cancer Bridges building.

Trump’s EPA on Tuesday announced yet another proposal to undermine environmental regulations designed to protect our environment and public health - this time taking aim at a 2009 Endangerment Finding that resulted in greenhouse gas emissions regs for motor vehicles and engines. Quick and necessary background: The Endangerment Finding is the legal prerequisite used to regulate emissions from new motor vehicles and new motor vehicle engines.  Absent this finding, EPA would lack statutory authority under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to prescribe standards for greenhouse gas emissions.  If finalized, this proposal would remove all greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and heavy-duty engines, starting with EPA's first greenhouse gas set in 2010 for light-duty vehicles and those set in 2011 for medium-duty vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles and engines. While the regime announced the decision in a press release, more details are expected when formal notice of the proposal is published in the Federal Register and the public comment period is announced. GASP remains deeply concerned with the systematic rollback and repeals of regulations rooted in science and intended to help protect the environment and human health.  “This is a dark age for the EPA,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “The press release the regime released was heavy on details about how industry will benefit from the repeal but very light on details related to the impact on the environment and human health. It’s absolutely mind blowing.” GASP continues to follow this issue closely - stay tuned, we will share more information when the proposal is published in the Federal Register. In the meantime, here’s some coverage of the announcement: EPA moves to repeal finding that underpins current limits on greenhouse gas pollution from cars, factories, power plants E.P.A. Moves to Revoke the Legal Basis for Tackling Climate Change - The New York Times EPA to repeal landmark 2009 finding on greenhouse gas threat Trump administration moves to repeal climate ‘holy grail’ - POLITICO Trump's EPA to repeal core of greenhouse gas rules in major deregulatory move | Reuters

Here’s something completely different…Some positive news from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding air quality in our corner of the Keystone State. Our local EPA office announced in a press release Monday that the agency has approved Pennsylvania's request to designate the Liberty-Clairton area as a maintenance area, signifying that the area meets 1997 annual and 2006 24-hour PM2.5 air quality standards .  Here’s what the EPA said in that release: This significant milestone marks a collaborative effort between EPA, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to improve air quality for the communities within Liberty, Lincoln, Port Vue, Glassport boroughs, and the City of Clairton to redesignate a nonattainment area to attainment, the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires EPA to determine the state has met all applicable requirements for that National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Fine particulate pollution, known as PM2.5, can originate directly from sources or form secondarily through atmospheric chemical reactions involving precursor pollutants. EPA's decision reflects the successful implementation of strategies to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NOx), ammonia (NH3), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to PM2.5 formation. EPA’s final rule details how the Liberty-Clairton Area meets the CAA requirements for redesignation, including a maintenance plan outlining sustained practices for continued compliance. What You Need to Know About Allegheny County’s Maintenance Plan Approval In addition, EPA has approved the Commonwealth’s plan to maintain air quality standards in the Allegheny County Area for the 2012 annual PM2.5 standard through 2035.  This plan encompasses all municipalities within Allegheny County and includes provisions for local controls should the 2012 annual PM2.5 standard be violated. This action does not redesignate the Allegheny County Area to attainment for the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. We know: This is all VERY technical. The bottom line? This is truly positive news for the residents of the Liberty-Clairton airshed and indeed, all of Allegheny County. The EPA's designation of attainment for the Liberty-Clairton area for PM2.5 standards is a testament to the decades of hard work, advocacy, and a commitment to cleaner air from countless individuals and organizations like GASP and so many others. “We've collectively pushed for stronger regulations, held polluters accountable, and championed solutions to clear our skies,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “But this isn't the finish line; it's just a crucial milestone. The approval of the maintenance plan for Allegheny County is precisely what we need to ensure this progress isn't fleeting.” Think of it like this: After a long fitness journey, you wouldn’t just go back to your old habits, right? You implement a maintenance plan - a new lifestyle with healthier habits to ensure your progress. “This maintenance plan is a vital tool, outlining the ongoing strategies and contingency measures that will prevent backsliding and ensure the hard-won air quality improvements we've achieved are sustained for generations to come,” Campbell continued. “We must remain vigilant and committed to its implementation." GASP wants to stress that future progress depends on more than just a maintenance plan, we need to ensure that our local regulator - the Allegheny County Health Department - has the staffing and resources it needs to fulfill its duties. “Right now, ACHD leadership has made it clear that they do not have those resources,” Campbell explained. “This attainment news should be a wakeup call to Allegheny County Council members who have been stalling on a vote to approve fee schedule changes that would ensure this air quality progress continues.” We also want folks to understand that this type of local progress could be derailed by proposed rollbacks of crucial regulations announced recently by Trump’s EPA. Help us fight these rollbacks and protect the air we have all fought so hard to clean up. Here’s one way to resist.