Photo courtesy of LCAN. About 50 people attended a meeting hosted by the local grassroots group Lawrenceville Clean Air Now (LCAN) on March 13 to hear an Air Quality 101 presentation by GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini. During the presentation, Filippini discussed what contaminants pollute Lawrenceville’s air,  the possible sources of that air pollution, as well as the health impacts associated with them. For those interested: LCAN is active on social media, and will be sharing air-quality information, as well as details of its next meeting. You can like them on Facebook to stay up to date. “It’s encouraging to see such a robust turnout for a community event,” Filippini said. “It was our pleasure to present, and we look forward to working with LCAN in the future.” #airpollution #RachelFilippini #LCAN #LawrencevilleCleanAirNow #airquality

Fact: People who are regularly exposed to poor air quality are at greater risk for developing a host of health problems, from cardiovascular disease to respiratory illness. But did you know that air pollution is also dangerous for your furry, four-legged friends? Sad but true: Recent studies confirmed that respiratory illness in dogs is associated with poor indoor air quality. Specifically, dogs that lived in homes where incense were regularly burned were more likely to suffer from respiratory illness. Another study—this one conducted in Mexico City, where air pollution is heavy—found that the brains of dogs exposed to the area’s poor air quality negatively impacted their brains. Specifically, their brains showed: Increased inflammation Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which are proteins that serve as a marker for Alzheimer’s Disease and human beings Cats are no better off than their canine counterparts. Several recent studies have exposed and explained the dangers of air pollution—indoor and outdoor—on feline health. According to recent studies, one in 10 cats suffers from asthma as a result of indoor and outdoor air pollution. Those studies also indicate that: Cats exposed to elevated levels of particulate matter were more likely to suffer from respiratory illness. Cats exposed to passive smoke in their home environment had reduced lung function when compared to those that lived in smoke-free homes. Cats who live with owners who smoke or burn wood fires are more likely to have a severe decrease in lung function. Knowing the risks associated with poor air quality is only half the battle: Here’s what you can do to protect your pet (and really, your whole family) from air pollution. When it comes to indoor air pollution, you can: Regularly change the air filter in your home Vacuum regularly to remove indoor air pollutants (as well as pet hair) Avoid smoking indoors Refrain from starting wood fires in your home Select pet- and environment-friendly cleaning products How do you protect your dogs and cats from outdoor air pollution? You can start by: Keep your pet indoors on days where air quality is poor Avoid walking your pets in high-traffic areas where they will be exposed to exhaust and other air pollution Do your part to be a clean air ambassador—decrease your carbon footprint by carpooling, riding your bike or the bus, or make a difference by joining GASP. #respiratoryillness #airpollution #pets #particulatematter #woodfires #airquality

Congratulations are in order for GASP board member Harold Rickenbacker, who will be honored in May with a Carnegie Science Award. “The Carnegie Science Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the remarkably talented individuals and organizations in our region’s science community,” said Jason Brown, Henry Buhl, Jr., Interim Director of Carnegie Science Center. “These innovators have had an immeasurable impact on Pittsburgh’s healthcare, manufacturing, energy, environmental, and education industries. Their achievements, dedication, and perseverance are truly inspiring.” Carnegie Science Award winners are selected by a committee of peers—both past awardees and industry leaders—who rigorously reviewed more than 200 nominations and selected the most deserving scientists, technologists, entrepreneurs, communicators, educators, and students whose contributions have led to significant economic or societal benefit in western Pennsylvania. Rickenbacker, of the Swanson School Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh, is being lauded for his work addressing indoor and ambient air quality in under-served Pittsburgh neighborhoods. While pursuing his PhD at Pitt, Rickenbacker “integrated engineering and environmental justice” through an initiative in Pittsburgh’s East End called the Environmental Justice Community Alert Matrix. He led training sessions to provide more than 200 residents with the technical knowledge to identify environmental concerns within their homes, while detailing the importance of addressing environmental sustainability at the nexus of water use, energy consumption, and air pollution. “Harold is committed to paying it forward, and his efforts are improving the health and quality of life of the communities he works with for years to come,” a press release announcing award recipients explained. Rickenbacker and other awardees will be celebrated at the 23rd Annual Carnegie Science Awards Celebration Friday, May 10. “Congratulations to Harold on this well-deserved recognition.” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “We are so lucky to have someone with his expertise working in local communities, helping to make the connection between public health and environmental justice issues.” #airquality #CarnegieScienceAward #EnvironmentalJusticeCommunityAlertMatrix #HaroldRickenbacker

March is Women’s History Month and truly, we couldn’t celebrate GASP history without highlighting all the women who helped us fight the good air quality fight for the past 50 years. Today, we are putting the spotlight on our co-founder and first president, the fiery Michelle Madoff. They say that, “Well behaved women seldom make history.” The quote seems fitting when describing Michelle Madoff, the feisty co-founder of the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP). Madoff, a four-term Pittsburgh city councilwoman who died in 2013, was often described as “colorful”—and for good reason. She once famously waited at the corner of Fifth and Smithfield streets under what was then known as the Kaufmann’s clock at high noon for a fellow council member who said he’d kiss her behind if one of her proposals succeeded to make good on his promise. For inquiring minds that want to know: The city councilman never showed up that day in 1983. About a dozen reporters and more than 100 onlookers, however, did. Madoff grew up in Toronto and moved to Pittsburgh in 1961, when she quickly realized that air pollution from industry sources was causing her to have asthma attacks. Her testimony before the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy about air quality in 1969 ultimately led to her involvement in and co-founding of GASP later that year. GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini remembers Madoff as a woman who was unwavering in her advocacy for improved air quality, as well as her belief that citizens had an absolute right to fight for it. Michelle Madoff, GASP’s co-founder and first president She described Madoff as a no-nonsense woman who pulled no punches. “When polluters claimed there was no technology to clean up their plants, she’d show them reports from engineers on how it could be done. When they said they couldn’t afford it, she’d say, ‘Show me your profit and loss statements.’” Under her leadership, GASP did its first high-profile push for clean air by creating what was known as, “The Dirty Dozen.” This list included the lawmakers who were profiting from the city’s “dirty industry at the cost of clean air.” “The Dirty Dozen” for the first time put these lawmakers on blast, forcing them to be more transparent and inclusive when it came to political decisions that affected air quality. While the list was one of GASP’s first wins under Madoff’s leadership, it certainly was not its last. In 1970, GASP pushed the federal district court to require Allegheny County to adopt environmental standards based on the federal Clean Air Act. Then in the 1980s, GASP’s advocacy efforts pushed the county to cooperate with the EPA to enforce air quality standards at Clairton Coke Works. What started as a conversation among concerned citizens in Madoff’s living room back in 1969 evolved into a nonprofit that now has five decades of experience making a difference in local air quality. Here’s to Michelle Madoff, and to another 50 years of making strides in local air quality improvement. Editor’s Note: Be on the lookout because GASP will need your help bestowing the Michelle Madoff Awards of Environmental Excellence. Check back soon for more information about how to submit a nomination. Posted March 8th, 2019 by Amanda Gillooly in Blog. Tagged # #airpollution #MichelleMadoffAwardsofEnvironmentalExcellence #MichelleMadoff #USSteel #CleanAirAct #ClairtonCokeWorks #airquality

Read press release here

For Amanda Gillooly, becoming the communications manager for the Group Against Smog and Pollution felt like coming home again. In the last several years she served as a writer, public relations, and social media specialist for several law firms and non-profit organizations, but she missed the watchdog role she enjoyed as a longtime member of the media. Gillooly, of Neville Island, graduated with a degree in journalism and mass communication from Point Park University and worked as a beat reporter for the Valley Independent, Beaver County Times, and Observer-Reporter. She then made the jump to digital journalism, working as the local editor for the Canon-McMillan Patch, one of a group of local news websites. That’s when she became aware of and concerned about issues related to Marcellus Shale development in the beat she covered. During her tenure at Patch, she made it her mission to be a watchdog for the communities she was covering. “As a reporter it was shocking to me to attend these municipal meetings and realize how little balanced coverage there was about Marcellus Shale issues,” Gillooly said. “The complex topic required me to learn a great deal about not only environmental issues, but also topics related to permitting and violations.” After the Patch network shut down local operations, she decided to launch an independent investigative reporting website devoted to Marcellus Shale issues, Marcellus Monitor. “At that point there was a flurry of activity in Washington County related to waste water impoundments, and violations there—all at a time when Act 13 was being challenged,” she said. “I found there was a major leak at an impoundment that was not being reported on by the mainstream media.” That all changed after Gillooly said she begged a local activist and pilot to take an aerial shot of the Jon Day Impoundment so that people and members of the media could see for themselves how much of a wreck it was. “Soon after, all the local media was covering the story,” she said. “DEP inspectors were called in, and the public thankfully became aware of how much of a mess the cleanup was.” The experience, Gillooly said, made her aware of just how much of a difference a few committed individuals can make and how it’s more important than ever to educate the public on environmental issues that impact us all. “In my capacity as communications manager at GASP I look forward to being part watchdog, part educator,” she said. Gillooly added that she’s beyond excited to come on board as GASP celebrates its 50th year. “GASP has done so much to help improve air quality in the Pittsburgh region over the last five decades and we continue to fight the good fight, holding truth to power, and acting as a true environmental steward,” she said. “I look forward to highlighting and celebrating all that we’ve accomplished and getting the word out about the work we continue to do in the name of clean air.” #MarcellusMonitor #WashingtonCounty #AmandaGillooly #airquality #JonDay

Contact: Rachel Filippini Executive Director, Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) 412-924-0604 x201 rachel@gasp-pgh.org Katie Edwards Social Media Director, Clean Air Council 215-567-4004 x102 kedwards@cleanair.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Group Against Smog and Pollution and Clean Air Council Sue Allegheny County Over Illegal Use of Clean Air and Title V Funds Pittsburgh, PA—Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) and Clean Air Council filed a “Complaint in Action for Declaratory Judgment” yesterday in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas seeking a judicial order that would prevent the County’s Health Department from using air improvement funding on an office renovation project. “Our region consistently struggles to meet the federal health-based standards for harmful ozone and fine particulates, and Allegheny County ranks in the top 2% of U.S. counties for cancer risk from inhaled air toxics,” said Rachel Filippini, Executive Director of GASP. “At the same time, the County Clean Air Fund has more than $11 million to spend on activities that can improve air quality. Why is Allegheny County diverting money away from the vital task of cleaning our air to an over-the-top office renovation?” “Allegheny County’s air quality is among the worst in the nation,” said Joseph Otis Minott, Executive Director and Chief Counsel of Clean Air Council. “The Health Department wants to use millions of dollars to renovate a County owned building instead of using this money to protect and improve Allegheny County’s air quality as the law setting up these funds requires. This is unacceptable and an illegal use of these funds.” Clean Air Council and GASP argue against using the Clean Air and Title V Funds for the building renovation project. Both organizations insist that the millions of dollars should be put towards protecting residents’ health by implementing more projects like university studies of local air pollution and upgrades of dirty diesel school bus and construction equipment engines, as well as permitting, inspecting, testing, and enforcing Title V regulations for major sources of air pollution. The environmental benefits that will be realized through the proposed renovation project are negligible and far too costly to be considered a sensible or effective use of Clean Air Funds. “GASP and Clean Air Council have documented the County’s lackluster performance when it comes to getting out health-protective Title V permits in a timely fashion,” said Filippini. “How can they justify using Title V funds for a building renovation project when there is a backlog of Title V permits and there are Title V facilities out of compliance with regulations in their permits?” Like Allegheny County’s roads, bridges, and parks, this building is owned by the County and the County alone is responsible for its upkeep. Allegheny County’s rainy day fund holds approximately $46 million and Allegheny County Council recently approved $114 million for infrastructure bonds. Allegheny County is able to complete the office upgrade project with funding from other, appropriate sources—but is unwilling. In its legal filing, GASP and Clean Air Council are asking the Court to declare, among other things, that the County is unlawfully interpreting its regulations and spending this money improperly. “For over a decade, the Allegheny Health Department has been squirreling away millions of dollars while neglecting residents’ health,” said Minott. “Using these funds to upgrade an office building, instead of improving air quality, only adds insult to injury.” ### See the background of this action in these articles: “Environmental groups fear county Health Department beginning to deplete Clean Air Fund,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 2, 2018. “More money from Allegheny County’s ‘Clean Air Fund’ goes to office renovation,” Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 2, 2018. #fineparticulates #airpollution #TitleV #CleanAirCouncil #RachelFilippini #airtoxics #diesel #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #airquality

The Clean Air Act authorizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone, among other pollutants. Pursuant to section 107 of the Act, EPA designates regions that do not attain such standards as “nonattainment areas.” Ozone nonattainment areas are obligated to impose “Reasonably Available Control Technology” (RACT) requirements on stationary sources that are large emitters of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are both ozone precursors. The RACT requirement ensures that such sources are using available emission controls that are economically feasible. Accordingly, the measures that constitute RACT must be re-evaluated each time a NAAQS for ozone is promulgated or revised. Under section 184(a) of the Clean Air Act, all of Pennsylvania is included in an “Ozone Transport Region.” Under sections 182 and 184 of the Act, sources within an Ozone Transport Region are subject to RACT requirements even if they are located in areas that actually attain NAAQS for ozone. In 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) published a set of regulations that it determined would constitute RACT for the 8-hour ozone NAAQS for certain sources in Pennsylvania. Those regulations are codified in the definitions of 25 Pa. Code § 121.1 and in 25 Pa. Code §§ 129.96 – 129.100. One of the RACT regulations, 25 Pa. Code § 129.98, allows system-wide averaging of emissions of subject sources when a particular air pollution source cannot meet an applicable RACT requirement. Under section 129.98, sources are eligible for emissions averaging only if they are “among sources under control of the same owner or operator [and] within the same ozone nonattainment area.” DEP’s regulations expressly define “nonattainment area” to mean “[a]n area designated by EPA under section 107 of the Clean Air Act in 40 C.F.R. 81.339,” which does not include the Ozone Transport Region. Thus, according to DEP’s regulations, the air pollution sources to be averaged must both be located in an area that EPA has designated as nonattainment for an ozone NAAQS and listed in 40 C.F.R. § 81.339. Nevertheless, the preamble to the RACT rules that appeared in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on April 23, 2016 contains this doublespeak: “The averaging must be conducted within the same ozone nonattainment area in this Commonwealth.  The Department interprets this provision to allow emissions averaging in areas designated as unclassifiable/attainment for the ozone NAAQS.” DEP thus acknowledges that its RACT rule requires air pollution sources to be averaged to be within the same ozone nonattainment area, but says that it is interpreting “nonattainment area” to include areas that are also designated “attainment” and “unclassifiable.” Of course, DEP’s interpretation effectively writes the requirement that the averaged air pollution sources be “within the same ozone nonattainment area” right out of the regulation. How does all of this matter? It enables DEP to let one operator of a major source of NOx emissions cheat the rules. On April 21, 2018 DEP published notice that it has approved a system-wide NOx averaging plan involving two power plants that are operated by Talen Energy: the Brunner Island Steam Electric Station in York County, and the Montour Steam Electric Station in Montour County. The Montour Steam Electric Station is equipped with low-NOx burners and selective catalytic reducers that limit NOx emissions; the Brunner Island Steam Electric Station has no NOx controls installed, is a notorious polluter, and presumably is unable to meet Pennsylvania’s NOx RACT requirements as a result. Most importantly, the Montour Steam Electric Station is located in an area that EPA designates as “Unclassifiable/Attainment” for the ozone NAAQS in 40 C.F.R. § 81.339, and the Brunner Island Station Electric Station is located in an area classified as “Attainment” in that same regulation. Accordingly, neither facility should be eligible for system-wide NOx averaging under 25 Pa. Code § 129.98(a), which, you will recall, expressly requires averaged facilities to be located in “the same ozone nonattainment area.” DEP’s “interpretation” of its RACT regulations thus allows Brunner Island to avoid installing NOx controls (or shutting down), and to continue to emit ozone-forming NOx at a high rate. The draft permit revisions needed to implement the system-wide NOx averaging plan for the Montour and Brunner Island Steam Electric Stations were originally published for public comment in January 2018. Citizens who may be impacted by DEP’s approval of the plan have until May 21, 2018 to appeal to the Environmental Hearing Board. –John Baillie, Staff Attorney #NationalAmbientAirQualityStandards #RACTrequirements #NOxemissions #NAAQS #airpollution #JohnBaillie #CleanAirAct #DEP #airquality

Comments delivered to the Allegheny County Board of Health on May 2, 2018 Good afternoon. My name is Rachel Filippini. I am the Executive Director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today. Under Agenda Item 5(E), Jayme Graham and Ron Sugar will be asking you to approve $66,000 from the Clean Air Fund for pre-construction oversight of the Clack Building One renovation project. I am here to urge you to vote NO on this Clean Air Fund request because I do not believe one more cent of the Clean Air Fund should go toward this project. The Clean Air Fund exists because companies have broken the law and are being penalized for threatening our health. This money belongs to the residents of Allegheny County, who have suffered from the adverse health effects of air pollution, and should be used to improve air quality. This is not the County’s slush fund or a back-door economic development fund. The money in the Clean Air Fund should go toward projects that will result in tangible improvements in air quality. I do not believe the County can justify using $66,000 now and possibly as much as $4.5M in the future for a building renovation project. Imagine the worthwhile, air quality improvement projects that $4.5M could make possible. Projects that the Board of Health could truly be proud of supporting. Allegheny County’s childhood asthma rates, our elevated cancer risk due to breathing in air toxics, and the fact that we can’t get off the American Lung Association’s top 10 list for most polluted air all make it crystal clear that using the County’s Clean Air Fund for anything but for projects that will actually improve air quality would be WRONG. GASP believes county employees deserve to work in healthy, safe, and productive office space. The buildings they work in are a County asset and the County should find a sustainable way to fund their upkeep. We’ve just learned that the County fund balance (meaning cash on hand) is over $44 million dollars. The County is in good fiscal shape. There is no reason that the Clean Air Fund should be raided to pay for this work. As a member of the Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee, I am concerned with the lack of information disclosed to me by ACHD. My staff discovered that the $66,000 proposal being considered today is only a small portion of a $583,000 contract the County already signed, with Massaro, back in July 2017. In addition, the $66,000 proposal before you today partially covers payments already made to Massaro back in December 2017. It appears to me that ACHD staff have already decided that the Board will approve using millions of dollars from the Clean Air Fund for this project. Their actions to date have not been transparent and the request they are making today is not within the scope of Clean Air Fund expenditures. I urge you to vote NO today and direct ACHD staff to pursue County funding for the remainder of this project. Thank you. #AirPollutionControlAdvisoryCommittee #AlleghenyCountyBoardofHealth #childhoodcancer #renovation #Massaro #RachelFilippini #CleanAirFund #ACHD

Over the next few months, GASP will be spending a lot of time at the Frick Environmental Center, and we’d love for you to join us! We’re working with the Naturalist Educators from the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to bring you a series of educational events focused on air quality and the natural world. With a variety of events and topics, we’re sure to have something for everyone. The series begins Thursday, February 8th with an evening workshop about all things indoor air quality. Working with guest speakers from ROCIS (Reducing Outdoor Contaminants in Indoor Spaces), we’ll cover the basics about the types of air pollution outside your home, how they get in, and what you can do to protect yourself. As the weather warms up, we’ll be taking our programming outside into different parts of Frick Park. On March 4th, we will “march forth” to learn more about local industrial contributions to air pollution, air pollution regulations, and how poor air quality impacts those who are active outdoors. A hike in April will focus on exploring forest bioindicators, and in May we’ll be leading a family-friendly stroll that will provide fun, educational opportunities for children. The event series ends in May with GASP featured at one of the Environmental Center’s “Sustainable Sipping” events. If you are 21 or over, you can sit back and relax with a glass of wine or beer and learn more about the air quality in our area. Along with the event series, the Frick Environmental Center will soon be the home of a set of air quality flags. The display is to include the flags, which will correspond with the day’s air quality index, as well as information on how to protect yourself in case of high air pollution levels. We’re really looking forward to spending time in the park and hope to see you there! For more information, or to register for any of these free events (soon to be on the registration page), check out our Facebook page or visit the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy at https://www.pittsburghparks.org/park-events. #airpollution #airquality #FrickEnvironmentalCenter #PittsburghParksConservancy