Staff Attorney John Baillie provided public comment on behalf of GASP. More than 200 people packed the Clairton Municipal Building Tuesday night, where elected officials, residents, environmental activists and U.S. Steel loyalists spoke out about the proposed settlement between the company and the Allegheny County Health Department—one that would fine the corporation more than $2.7 million, 90 percent of which would be funneled to a community benefit trust per the terms of the agreement. The proposed agreement addresses three enforcement orders and one administrative order that ACHD issued to U.S. Steel in 2018-19. In addition to the fine, the terms of the proposed settlement would put the company on the hook for millions of dollars in facility upgrades designed to reduce U.S. Steel’s energy consumption and increase its ability to comply with air emissions standards. But it was the amount of the proposed fine and the particulars of the community benefit trust (or lack thereof) that consumed the lion's share of the more than two-and-a-half-hour public hearing. Group Against Smog and Pollution’s staff attorney John Baillie provided public comment on behalf of the organization, using his three minutes to express concern over a lack of clarity and details regarding the community trust, including how beneficiaries are determined. He also questioned the process by which projects will be funded, and how the money will be doled out. GASP’s complete written comments can be viewed here. Zach Barber, an organizer with the environmental nonprofit Penn Environment noted U.S. Steel’s history of noncompliance with air emissions standards and said that ACHD would shut down a restaurant with as many violations. His driver’s license, he added, would be revoked if he wracked up as many traffic tickets. A number of residents also spoke out about the fine—as did Inversion Documentary’s Mark Dixon, who called it a “tiny slap on the wrist.” Elected officials, enviros, and residents alike echoed some of GASP’s concerns about how the community trust would be administered, and who would get the money. Several Clairton community members said they hoped theirs would be the community that receives the bulk of the money because of its proximity to the site. One woman said that all the money should be reserved for Clairton since it is the “host city” for U.S. Steel. Both the mayor and deputy mayor of Clairton were also in attendance. The deputy mayor, Richard Ford, used part of his time to laud work that GASP and Clean Air Council have done in the Clairton area to educate residents about air quality issues. He said, though, that he hoped the money from the community benefit trust would be given directly to the elected bodies of the five communities adjacent to Clairton Coke Works. Editor’s Note: Several members of the media covered the hearing. Here’s a roundup of coverage: KDKA-TV, “Hearing for Health Settlement With U.S. Steel” By Pam Surano, July 30, 2019 Also: https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/07/30/mon-valley-holds-public-meeting-on-settlement-between-allegheny-county-health-departments-and-u-s-steel/ StateImpact, WITF, “Community, Workers Air Their Responses to Settlement” By Reid Frazier, July 30, 2019 TribLive – “U.S. Steel Agreement Met with Praise, Criticism” By Jamie Martines, July 30, 2019 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – “Benefits of Clairton Coke Works Settlement Debated” By Don Hopey, July 30, 2019 For those who would like to watch the public hearing in its entirety, you can do so thanks to Inversion Documentary. Here’s a link to watch. https://www.facebook.com/InversionDoc/videos/1341591189352923/ https://youtu.be/KcRwopzmAyw Additionally, GASP live-tweeted the event. You can check out those tweets here. #ZacharyBarber #MarkDixon #airemissions #USSteel #JohnBaillie #emissions #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #PennEnvironment #settlement #ACHD #ClairtonCokeWorks #airquality

A Mt. Lebanon business owner on Oct. 10 pleaded guilty to illegally dumping asbestos-containing waste generated during the renovation of the former George Westinghouse Research and Technology Park in Churchill Borough. Vikas Jain, 47, chief executive at Paradigm Consultants, was charged Sept. 27 with one count of knowingly violating work practice standards of the Clean Air Act in the wake of an investigation by the FBI and Environmental Protection Agency. “As western Pennsylvanians, we cherish our abundant natural resources, and we take seriously our responsibility to protect them,” U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said in a statement. “In this case, an unscrupulous developer is charged with illegally removing and dumping asbestos in violation of the Clean Air Act, thereby compromising not only our region’s air quality but also the health of the workers hired to perform the removal activity.” Jain is expected to be sentenced in January. Understanding Asbestos: Health Impacts, Work Standards, and Disposal Requirements By way of background, asbestos is actually a group of six naturally occurring minerals composed of microscopic bundles of fibers. These fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and don’t conduct electricity—all reasons why asbestos was widely used in the building and construction industries for everything from strengthening cement and plastics to insulation, roofing, fireproofing, and sound absorption since the late 1800s until the 1970s, when the EPA began regulating it. While health studies suggested a link between asbestos exposure and pulmonary illnesses as early as the 1930s, it wasn’t formally classified as a human carcinogen until 1987. In 1988, the EPA estimated that asbestos had been used in the construction of more than 750,000 public buildings. How does asbestos cause harm to a person’s health? When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may get trapped in the lungs and remain there. Over time, they may accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation, which can affect breathing and lead to serious health problems such as lung cancer and chronic lung disease. Because of its inherent health risks, the Clean Air Act authorized the EPA to establish work practice standards that must be followed to ensure the safe and proper handling and removal of asbestos during renovation work. The Clean Air Act also authorized the EPA to establish disposal requirements for owners/operators who wish to demolish or renovate a facility that has asbestos-containing materials. In Allegheny County, ACHD is the agency responsible for enforcing the EPA requirements and permitting activities where asbestos might be released into the air. ACHD’s webpage includes many resources covering the regulations and health hazards of asbestos. Asbestos is of particular concern in Allegheny County, where ACHD says the mortality rate is 50 percent higher than the national average. How Prosecutors Say Jain Violated the Clean Air Act According to court documents, Jain controlled various business entities, which focused primarily on residential and commercial real estate development and management. Through one of these businesses, he purchased the Westinghouse property with plans to redevelop it. Before purchasing the property in May of 2012, court documents show Jain obtained an environmental assessment of the property, which identified the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) in floor tile and pipe insulation throughout the complex. In early 2017, prosecutors allege that Jain directed workers to remove previously unabated asbestos-containing materials from two buildings at the Westinghouse facility—including large quantities of floor tiles, mastic, and pipe insulation – and subsequently directed one of his workers to remove and pulverize tiles and mastic that contained asbestos using rented floor grinders. Jain did not apply for or obtain an ACHD permit for this abatement activity, and workers allegedly conducted the removal of ACM without proper protective clothing or adequate respirators. But that’s not all: Once removed, prosecutors say Jain directed workers to place the ACM debris in black trash bags in a pick-up truck to dispose of it in a dumpster located outside of one of his residential rental properties. The contents of the dumpster, including sealed trash bags containing ACM, were subsequently taken to a local landfill that was not qualified to receive asbestos-contaminated waste. Then, after local authorities in Churchill and ACHD investigators learned of the illegal asbestos abatement, “(Jain) took steps to conceal the nature and extent of the removal activity, including by causing grinders to be removed from the Westinghouse Facility, cleaned, and, as to two grinders, returned to the equipment rental company prior to inspection by ACHD,” according to a Department of Justice press release. The Terms of the Plea Agreement Under the terms of Jain’s plea agreement, the sentence imposed on him could include: A prison term of no more than five years A fine of no more than $250,000 A term of unsupervised release of no more than three years A special assessment of $100 Making mandatory restitution Meanwhile, in addition to these criminal charges, Jain also faces a $1.4 million fine imposed by ACHD, which he is appealing. Sources: https://www.post-gazette.com/local/2015/07/06/Study-Asbestos-deaths-continue-to-rise-due-to-long-ago-exposure/stories/201507060007 https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdpa/pr/mt-lebanon-real-estate-developer-charged-illegally-removing-asbestos-former https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Health-Department/Programs/Air-Quality/Asbestos-and-Abrasive-Blasting.aspx #VikasJain #Asbestos #CleanAirAct #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #airquality

Media Contact Amanda Gillooly Communications Manager Group Against Smog and Pollution amanda@gasp-pgh.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GASP Appeals Eastman Chemical Installation Permit Issued by Allegheny County Health Dept. PITTSBURGH – The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) on Friday formally appealed an installation permit issued by the Allegheny County Health Department for the Water White Poly Process Unit at Eastman Chemical Resins, Inc.’s plant in Jefferson Hills Borough. The installation permit purportedly was to comply with the court order that resolved the 2011 enforcement action and to authorize changes to, and increased production by, the process unit. GASP appealed the installation permit Oct. 11 because it does not include applicable requirements imposed by the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Miscellaneous Organic Chemical Manufacturing relating to (at least) recordkeeping and equipment leak detection. ​GASP has previously blogged about Eastman Chemical Resins, Inc.’s plant, which is one of two major sources of air pollution in Allegheny County that has never had a Title V Operating Permit issued to it by the Allegheny County Health Department, even though ACHD’s own regulations required it to issue such a permit by November 2004. Further, Eastman was the subject of a federal enforcement action in 2011; the order that resolved that action required Eastman to comply with a comprehensive testing and permitting process that has been ongoing for close to eight years. We have all heard that a course of antibiotics must be completed, but researchers are not sure that it is necessary if you feel better. According to recent data, early termination of antibiotic therapy doesn’t contribute to the development of resistance. However, too long treatment really increases this risk. In addition, for the convenience of the patient, new drugs are created that shouldn’t be taken for a long time. There are even antibiotics for a single admission. Both the Clean Air Act and ACHD’s own regulations require sources to comply with all applicable National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Indeed, ACHD omitted the applicable requirements from Eastman’s installation permit despite acknowledgments by both ACHD and Eastman that the process unit was, in fact, subject to those requirements. ### #WaterWhitePolyProcessUnit #JeffersonHillsBorough #NESHAP #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #EastmanChemical

For those who are unfamiliar with the term, energy vampires (otherwise known as vampire draws or phantom loads) are appliances and other plugged-in devices that use electricity when they are plugged in but not in use. The U.S. Department of Energy also defines them as products that need standby power to run—things like clocks, cable boxes, and coffeemakers. The result? The department estimates that these energy suckers could tack on as much as 10 percent to your monthly electricity bill. So how do you slay the energy vampires in your home and life? Here are 5 easy ways: If you can, unplug.  Sure, this might not be a workable strategy for things like clocks, which need 24-7 power, but for devices that you don’t switch on often, it could be a big energy saver. That television in your basement rec room, your laptop computer sitting on your upstairs desk, and your cell phone charger on the kitchen counter should all make your shortlist to unplug when not actively using. Consider this: Cell phone chargers left plugged in after disconnecting your home use .26 watts of energy and 2.24 watts when your phone is 100 percent charged but still connected. Remember that power strips = better control. When you plug-in devices that don’t need 24-7 energy into a power strip, it makes it that much easier to turn them off when not in use. Just say no to idle time. Instead of setting your computer to sleep mode, or pausing a video game console for long periods, shut ‘em down instead. Time for a new appliance? Then think ENERGY STAR. When it’s time to retire your old washing machines, dishwashers, or other appliances, consider replacing them with ENERGY STAR devices, which use less energy generally. Know them for what they are and stay vigilant. There’s probably an energy vampire in nearly every room of your house. While coffeemakers are one of the more well-known passive energy users, many don’t realize that their microwave is also an offender. Believe it or not, your microwave will likely use more electricity on vampire draw than on warming your food and drinks in its lifetime. While the cable box is guilty of being an energy vampire, don’t forget about culprits like video game consoles and DVD players. When it comes to the bedroom, be aware of devices like space heaters or window AC units, in addition to the usual suspects: your cell phone and laptop chargers. Then there’s your bathroom, where you find the hairdryers, straighteners, and electric razors. Happy energy vampire slaying! #energyvampire #vampireenergy #GASP #vampiredraw #energyefficiency

By way of an Opinion and Order issued Thursday, the Environmental Hearing Board essentially ended the Department of Environmental Protection’s bid to appeal the Board’s Aug. 28 granting of supersedeas to Erie Coke. The supersedeas decision allowed Erie Coke to continue operations at its facility – subject to certain restrictions – pending the outcome of its appeal of DEP’s denial of the company’s air quality operating permit renewal application. The decision issued yesterday all but assures that Erie Coke’s fate now hangs on the outcome of the February 2020 hearings in the appeal case. Specifically, the Environmental Hearing Board denied the Department of Environmental Protection’s motion requesting the Board amend its Supersedeas Opinion and Order regarding Erie Coke to certify two questions for immediate appeal to the Commonwealth Court. Judge Steven C. Beckman wrote that “[c]ertifying the two questions will not materially advance the ultimate termination of Erie Coke’s appeal of the Department’s denial of its Title V Permit renewal application and neither of the two questions involves a controlling question of law.” While GASP respects the Board’s position that “these types of appeals are not favored by the law,” we remain very concerned about the potential adverse health impacts to Erie residents while the supersedeas is in place. GASP strongly believes neither Erie Coke’s evidence nor the Board’s Aug. 28 Opinion and Order gave local residents any solid assurances that they would be free from harm while the appeals process plays out. You can read the entire order here. Meanwhile, DEP this week published three new notice of violation letters against Erie Coke Corp. The NOVs were dated Sept. 4, Sept. 20 and Sept. 25. The Sept. 4 and Sept. 25 NOVs stemmed from incidents on Aug. 29 and Sept. 22 during which DEP inspectors noted off take leaks greater than 5 percent, which they said was in violation of both state law and the company’s expired operating permit. The NOV dated Sept. 20 stemmed from a Sept. 11 inspection during which DEP reported pushing emissions with an opacity greater than 20 percent. DEP requested Erie Coke submit written responses to both letters “explaining what actions you will take to correct the violation and prevent future violations.” The Sept. 4 letter can be viewed here. The Sept. 25 letter can be viewed here. Editor’s Note: Here’s the media coverage so far… Judge Declines to Certify DEP Appeal in Erie Coke Case, GoErie.com #ErieCoke #noticeofviolation #StevenCBeckman #NOVs #DEP #EHB #supersedeas

On Monday, attorneys for DEP filed a Motion to Amend Interlocutory Order Granting Petition for Supersedeas “to provide that the order involves controlling questions of law as to which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion and that an immediate appeal from the order may materially advance the ultimate termination of the matter,” according to the Motion. Much of DEP’s motion revolved around whether or not continued operations at Erie Coke, which Beckman’s Aug. 28 Order made subject to 18 specific conditions, would negatively impact the health and welfare of the environment, as well as folks who live and work nearby. DEP is adamant that continued operations would present an air pollution threat to both residents and the environment. “The Board’s Opinion and Order did not make a finding regarding whether pollution or injury to the public health, safety, or welfare exists or is threatened during the period when the supersedeas will be in effect,” the DEP motion reads. Counsel for the Department argued that while a decision to issue a supersedeas is “ordinarily within the Board’s discretion” a supersedeas “may never issue where pollution or injury to public health, safety, or welfare exists or is threatened during the period when (it) would be in effect.” But that’s not the only reason the department is seeking to appeal. DEP attorneys continued: “In addition, three of the 18 conditions set forth in the opinion and order…relieve Erie Coke from operating a facility in accordance with the terms of Erie Coke’s expired Title V Permit, and the Pennsylvania air quality regulations.” According to DEP lawyers, one of the Judge’s conditions “allows more minutes of opacity violations each month than Erie Coke averaged per quarter in the eight quarters preceding its compliance problems that began in 2017.” Another condition Beckman handed down “allows more minutes of opacity violations each quarter than Erie Coke has had since 2015,” DEP attorneys wrote. DEP further argued that an immediate appeal would “advance the termination of the matter.” How? “As Erie Coke has stated throughout these proceedings, it will choose to shut down if supersedeas is denied. The present appeal will become moot and terminate. At a minimum, denial would incentivize Erie Coke to reconsider its settlement position in this matter,” DEP lawyers wrote. “If Erie Coke does not shut down, a decision on this issue will provide probative evidence regarding the ultimate issue in this appeal. The central issue in the underlying appeal is Erie Coke’s ability to comply with the law and regulations applicable to the operation of its air contamination sources at its coke production facility.” You can read the entire motion here. You can get caught up on Beckman’s Aug. 28 ruling here. Editor’s Note: Here’s some associated media coverage from YourErie.com. #DEP #ErieCoke #PetitionforSupersedeas #TitleVPermit

Photo courtesy of the HECA website. Environmental Hearing Board Judge Steven C. Beckman on Wednesday ruled Erie Coke Corp. can continue operating – subject to certain limitations – pending its appeal of DEP’s decision to deny the company’s Title V operating permit. “We recognize that allowing Erie Coke’s operations to continue, even for a limited time, extends the timeframe that people located in the area surrounding the facility will likely experience the negative impact of those operations on their lives,” the Judge wrote in his Opinion. “Those impacts are real and clearly disrupt the daily lives of individuals who testified at the hearing.” Beckman continued: “We are sympathetic to your concerns and have taken steps in this decision to address those concerns.” He added that the evidence presented at the six-day hearing suggested that Erie Coke is “finally working to address air issues at the facility.” He wrote: “It is certainly reasonable to question why it has taken so much time and effort by the Department to get Erie Coke’s full attention on these issues. Even with that full attention, it is by no means certain that Erie Coke will be able to meet its obligations under the environmental regulations.” He continued: “If Erie Coke cannot convince the Board that the Department was wrong about its lack of intention and ability to comply with those requirements, it is difficult to imagine Erie Coke prevailing at the full hearing. We will have to see what the fully developed evidence presented at that hearing will demonstrate to the Board, but ultimately, we think that it is only fair to allow Erie Coke the opportunity to present its case.” Judge Beckman’s Order detailed 18 total provisions Erie Coke must meet in order to continue operating during the appeal. Many addressed specific operations at the facility but one of note called for Erie Coke to deposit $1 million into a newly created bank account designated for capital improvement projects that would be subject to review by the DEP. And what happens if Erie Coke fails to comply? According to the Order, DEP may petition the EHB to lift the supersedeas, “if (DEP) concludes that Erie Coke is out of compliance with any of the conditions set forth in this Order.” Beckman also noted there is “nothing in this Opinion or Order that restricts the (DEP) from continuing its inspections and taking appropriate enforcement action if it finds that Erie Coke has committed additional violations.” These restrictions notwithstanding, the Opinion and Order failed to provide an explanation as to how the “18 conditions” Erie Coke must now follow would protect public health. Indeed, Erie residents might not find great comfort in steps that “hopefully will minimize the environmental impacts” during further operations at the facility and that are “intended to limit the impact of Erie Coke’s operations during the time necessary to conduct a full hearing on the Department’s denial of Erie Coke’s Title V permit renewal application.” (italics added) GASP was disappointed with the outcome of the proceedings to date but the case is far from over. As Judge Beckman noted, “a Board ruling on a petition for supersedeas is a limited decision that addresses the status of the Department’s action during the time interval between the filing of the appeal and the full Board’s final ruling on the merits of the appeal. It is not, nor is it intended to be, the final word on the legality of the Department’s action.” “Erie Coke ‘won’ this round but it is under a microscope now,” said GASP staff attorney Ned Mulcahy. “The community and DEP both are watching Erie Coke like a hawk and you can bet Judge Beckman will hear about any hiccup from that facility in February, if not sooner.” The Order set a Feb. 3, 2020 date for an evidential hearing on Erie Coke’s appeal. That hearing will be held at 10 a.m. at the EHB’s Erie facility. “No requests for extensions of the hearing date will be granted by the Board,” the Order reads. Editor’s Note: Here’s associated media coverage: “The Complete Erie Coke Decision,” YourErie.com “Judge Allows Erie Coke to Continue Operating with Conditions,” Erie News Now “Judge: Erie Coke Can Stay Open with Conditions,” GoErie.com The order and opinion can be viewed here. #ErieCoke #JudgeBeckman #JudgeStevenCBeckman #DEP #PetitionforSupersedeas #EnvironmentalHearingBoard

GASP was on hand Wednesday morning to support our friends at PennEnvironment and a group of 63 elected officials from across Allegheny County calling for cleaning up the region’s air quality and cracking down on industrial polluters. In a letter released by PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, the officials called for stricter, health-based emissions limits and stronger penalties for illegal pollution. “Allegheny County is a great place to live, but air pollution is threatening residents’ health,” wrote the elected officials. “We can fix this problem by setting strict, health-based emissions limits on polluters; making sure they face meaningful penalties if and when they break the law, and ensuring our region has strong clean air champions who fight for residents. We, the undersigned local elected officials from across Allegheny County, are committing to make Allegheny County a great place to live and breathe.” Zachary Barber, a field organizer with Penn Environment, said the fact that so many local elected officials are coming together to speak this message with a single voice should send a clear message: cleaning up our air quality is a top priority for our region and Pittsburghers are ready to put our days as ‘The Smokey City’ behind them. “Maybe once there was a time where air pollution was just the cost of progress, but today, in 2019, there is no reason why anyone should be forced to breathe dirty air that jeopardizes their health,” he said. Pressure has ramped up to crack down on industrial polluters in 2019. Following U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works running without critical pollution controls for four months this year, the PA House and Senate Democratic Policy Committees held hearings looking into air pollution from the plant and state Rep. Austin Davis introduced legislation that would increase the maximum fine for illegal air pollution and require public reporting. Both Pittsburgh City Council and Allegheny County Council have passed unanimous declarations of support for stronger enforcement efforts against U.S. Steel. “People for too long have been left in the dark when it comes to air quality,” Davis, D-35th District, said at the press conference. He called his district “ground zero” for air pollution – and vowed to continue fighting for clean air protections during his time at the Capitol. Davis also gave an update on his recent legislation. “I strongly believe that all elected officials have an obligation to fight for a healthy environment, “ said Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O’Connor. “When City Council unanimously passed my Will of Council to support Allegheny County’s Health Department ‘s actions to prevent air pollution, we sent a message to our constituents that they are not on their own in the fight for safe and clean air.” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini lauded PennEnvironment for its efforts to bring together local officials for this increasingly important issue. “Thank you, PennEnvironment, for being a leader in the ongoing fight for clean air for all,” she said. “One of the ways to help solve big, complex issues is to bring people together—to provide a unified front. And with an army of more than 60 local elected officials, our shared battle for improved air quality will be more easily won.” #ZacharyBarber #airpollution #RachelFilippini #emissions #AustinDavis #PennEnvironment #airquality

Girl covers nose with hand showing that something stinks isolated on gray background Sad but true: Waking up in the middle of the night to the odor of rotten eggs isn’t that uncommon in Allegheny County—especially downwind of the Mon Valley. For those who aren’t aware: That tell-tale rotten egg smell is characteristic of malodorous hydrogen sulfide (more commonly referred to as H2S) and is perceptible by most people event at very low concentrations. The H2S odor is so unpleasant and common that Allegheny County has required an ambient limit of .005 parts per million (ppm) averaged over 24 hours. Unfortunately, the standard has been repeatedly violated at the air pollution monitor in Liberty (located in the Mon Valley). Here’s a breakdown of the number of violations of the .005 ppm standard by year: 2018: 35 2017: 59 2016: 41 2015: 87 2014: 49 2013: 28 2012: 65 Please add your voice to the hundreds of Allegheny County residents who’ve said “enough is enough” and sign our petition today.GASP thinks we deserve better, and that the folks charged with ensuring compliance—the Allegheny County Health Department—can and should do better. That’s why we’re collecting signatures for our petition calling on ACHD to do what it takes to achieve the H2S standard. Here’s how. #H2S #rottenegg #airpollution #hydrogensulfide #petition #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD

Photos courtesy of Rep. Summer Lee’s office. Residents packed the Forest Hills Municipal Building on Tuesday to take part in an environmental forum there hosted by state Rep. Summer Lee—and GASP was honored to be among those asked to present. The event kicked off with an update from Lee, D-34th Legislative District, who provided an update on legislation regarding environmental issues, and was followed by presentations from several panelists. GASP’s executive director Rachel Filippini provided information about air quality, educating those in attendance about everything from what’s in the air, to how to make a complaint about poor air quality. Other panelists included Patricia DeMarco, of Forest Hills Borough Council and professor of biology and environmental studies; Jonathan Reyes, of North Braddock Resident for Our Future; Megan McDonough, of Food and Water Watch; and Dr. Deborah Gentile, researcher and esteemed expert on pediatric asthma. Folks who attended were also given the opportunity to ask questions and share their opinions on environmental issues ranging from fracking to air pollution. GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini lauded Lee and those who attended. “It’s refreshing to see legislators taking the lead on environmental issues of paramount importance to not only their constituents but people across Allegheny County. We thank Rep. Summer Lee for being a needed voice for our community,” Filippini said. “Equally refreshing was the robust turnout. Residents who are informed and engaged are a key ingredient to changing our area’s lackluster performance when it comes to air quality.” #PatriciaDeMarco #airpollution #SummerLee #DrDeborahGentile #RachelFilippini #ForestHillsMunicipalBuilding #airquality