Level Line Building Company, LLC, and BRP4, LLC, on March 12 jointly submitted an appeal of an Enforcement Order issued to the two companies by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Air Quality Program on February 12, 2020. ACHD alleged in the Enforcement Order that it did not have a record of companies submitting a required asbestos abatement survey and related, required documentation prior to demolishing a commercial building in Wilkins Township in April 2019. In their appeal, the companies stated they provided those documents to ACHD on February 19, 2020, in compliance with the Order. The companies attached copies of those documents to their appeal filed with ACHD’s Hearing Officer. You can read the entire appeal filing here. You can read the entire Enforcement Order here. Editor’s Note: ACHD began posting Air Quality Program enforcement actions on its website. #ACHD #airquality #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #Asbestos

Considering Gov. Tom Wolf’s order asking residents of Allegheny County to stay home for everything but essential trips for things such as food and medicine in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19, your friends at GASP thought it might be an opportune time to talk about how to improve indoor air quality. For folks who suffer from seasonal allergies or have respiratory ailments, triggers can be a real problem when chillier weather has doors and windows shuttered. And now that everyone is spending a whole lot more time inside, understanding how to eliminate allergy and asthma triggers is even more imperative. The good news: You can easily improve the air quality in your home by taking some simple steps: Clean, Clean, Clean! Things like dust and pet dander are some of the usual suspects when it comes to seasonal allergies, so ramp up the frequency of chores like dusting and vacuuming to keep those triggers at bay – once or twice a week is recommended. It’s also a great idea to wipe down blinds and ceiling fans and launder bedding and drapes, which tend to trap allergens that will have you sneezing and reaching for your inhaler. When cleaning hard surfaces, it’s generally advised that folks use natural cleansers that have less-harsh fumes. However, if you are disinfecting your home during the Covid-19 outbreak, please know that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has published a list of approved products that will kill the virus. Change Those Filters With so much going on, it’s easy to forget to change the filters in your furnace and air conditioning systems, which is crucial to improving your indoor air quality. And don’t forget about ductwork: Having it cleaned can make a big difference, too. For those who need some advice on those fronts, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has this handy guide. Consider an Air Purifier Running an air purifier in the most-used areas of your home can help you get rid of those allergens that you really can’t eliminate (dander from your beloved four-legged friend, or cooking fumes, for example). Air purifiers range in price and functionality, but since folks are asked to stay home, we wanted to let you know about a DIY air purifier that requires only a box fan and a standard HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. Note: HEPA filters run about $25-$35 and can be purchased at local hardware stores and on Amazon. Forego Indoor Fireplaces While crackling flames can certainly add ambiance, studies have shown that homes with wood-burning fireplaces have elevated levels of indoor air pollution. With nighttime temperatures expected to dip into the 30s now and then over the next week or so, use your furnace instead of lighting a fire to keep the air you and your family breathe a little cleaner. Peruse Some Helpful Resources for More Tips Our friends at Women For a Healthy Environment have created these helpful infographics on the best ways to clean and disinfect your home. Pittsburgh-based ROCIS (Reducing Outdoor Contaminants in Indoor Spaces) also has a number of helpful resources. #airpurifiers #airquality #indoorairquality

Dear U.S. Steel Executives, Allegheny County on Thursday recorded its largest increase yet of confirmed COVID-19 cases and health officials expect that number to keep rising. Governor Tom Wolf, as well as regional leaders, ordered non-essential businesses to close and asked people to stay home if at all possible to combat the spread of the illness and “flatten the curve.” While the steel-making industry was exempted from that closure order, it is not exempted from being a good neighbor. At a time when local community members are grappling with a stay-at-home order, financial uncertainty, and other concerns, the last thing people need to fear is how industrial emissions could exacerbate poor air quality locally, as well as their family’s ability to breathe healthy air. Thursday saw the Liberty-Clairton area again among the top five places in the United States with the worst air quality, when the AQI peeked in the 130s in the early morning. It’s a stark reminder of the region’s constant struggle with air pollution, which has, among other things, contributed to higher-than-average asthma rates among children in the Mon Valley. Episodic weather events only make matters worse – the days-long inversion in December and the terrible air pollution it trapped made life unbearable for many in the Liberty-Clairton area in particular. We believe it is imperative that U.S. Steel shares publicly its contingency plan to safely operate its facilities should a large number of its employees contract COVID-19 and must self-quarantine. GASP also believes that U.S. Steel should communicate to the public how it will protect local residents should another inversion take place. Is the company prepared to extend coking times or dial down production during these episodic weather events? We’re calling on you to address these issues publicly. In doing so, U.S. Steel would not only assuage the very real fears people have in the Mon Valley and beyond, it also would show that the company does put people over profits. Sincerely, Rachel Filippini Executive Director GASP #airpollution #USSteel #RachelFilippini #COVID19 #airquality

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) announced in a press release Monday that its enforcement of the county’s air pollution control regulations will not be impacted by a temporary U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) policy announced last week. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the EPA last week announced a new environmental policy declaring the agency’s intention to exercise enforcement discretion when the COVID-19 pandemic prevents compliance with the Clean Air Act. “Air quality in our region, particularly in the Mon Valley, continues to be one of our most pressing public health challenges,” said Dr. Debra Bogen, Director of the Health Department. “Even during this pandemic, with our attention focused on response and actions to deal with COVID-19 in our community, we are not losing sight of that need.” As a result of this temporary policy, the EPA suspended its standard approach to issuing fines for violations of certain air, water and hazardous waste reporting requirements where compliance is not reasonably practical due to COVID-19. This suspension is only allowable if non-compliant facilities work to minimize the violation, identify when and why the violation occurred, identify how COVID-19 is the cause of the violation, return to compliance as soon as possible, and document all of the steps taken. This only applies to facilities that EPA directly regulates. The policy specifically allows approved air agencies, such as the ACHD’s Air Program, to take a different approach under local legal authority. As a result, ACHD’s enforcement of the county’s air pollution control regulations will not be impacted by the temporary EPA policy. Article XXI, Air Pollution Control, will remain in place to govern the county’s air pollution control regulations with ACHD as the local regulatory authority. Violators of Article XXI will continue to be subject to ACHD’s civil penalty policy; however, any air-improvement related construction may be delayed due to Governor Wolf’s COVID-19 orders to temporarily shut down non-life-sustaining business. The Health Department’s air quality program will continue to process air quality complaints and will maintain its air quality monitoring network throughout the county’s COVID-19 response. GASP thanked ACHD for its decision. “We are pleased to hear that ACHD will not be following the EPA’s lead and will instead continue to enforce the County’s air quality regulations,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “We appreciated hearing Dr. Bogen’s acknowledgment that air quality in our region, particularly in the Mon Valley, continues to be one of our most pressing public health challenges. We know she and all of our local officials are under tremendous strain as they deal with this unprecedented health crisis.” #EPA #ACHD #airpollution #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment

Here at the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), we get it: Science isn’t in everybody’s wheelhouse. We understand that when it comes to air quality issues, there’s a LOT of terminology and acronyms to digest. But we also realize that in order to protect yourself, your family- and yes, even your pets – having a basic understanding of what’s in the air, how it got there, and how it could affect your well-being is crucial. We want to arm you with all the need-to-know information on the most prevalent types of air pollution: carbon monoxide, lead, ground-level ozone, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide. Together, they are known as Criteria Pollutants and because they are known to cause harm to the environment and human health, the EPA has set science-based guidelines for how much of each one is permitted in the air. These limits are known as National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), and they were designed to prohibit pollution concentrations that could adversely affect people’s health.  Locally, these pollutants are monitored by the Allegheny County Health Department Air Quality Program. One of the most prevalent and dangerous of those six pollutants is particulate matter, a type of air pollution that’s prevalent in our region. Have you seen recent headlines about the Mon Valley making the list of places with the worst air quality in the country? The area made those lists because of spiked levels of particulate matter. What is Particulate Matter? Particulate matter pollution is referred to as PM. It is a complex mix of air-borne particles and droplets of liquid  made up of: Acids like nitrates and sulfates Ammonium Water Black carbon Organic chemicals Metals And soil matter The EPA breaks down particle pollution into two main groups: Coarse particles and fine particles. Coarse particle pollution is more commonly referred to with an acronym – PM10. Why? Because it refers to all particle pollution that is less than 10 microns in size. How big is a micron? To give some perspective, a single strand of human hair is the thickness of about 50 microns. This type of particle matter pollution, because of its larger size, can get stuck in nose hairs, cilia, and secretions in the throat. PM10 is irritating to the nose, throat, lungs, and eyes. Common types of coarse particle pollution include dust, pollen, smoke, and dirt. Fine particulate matter is more commonly referred to as PM2.5. You can probably guess why: It refers to all particulate matter pollution that is less than 2.5 microns. Fine particulate matter pollution is more harmful to human health because it’s smaller and more able to infiltrate the body through the nose, mouth, and skin. This means they can travel deep into the lungs and even into the bloodstream. PM2.5 is referred to as primary if it is directly emitted into the air and as secondary if it’s created as a result of chemical reactions from gases mixing in the atmosphere. There are myriad sources of PM2.5, but the most common include: Exhaust from cars and trucks Exhaust from diesel engines (including construction and other machinery) Open burning (i.e. wildfires, fireplaces, woodstoves) Cooking Dust from roads and construction on them Agricultural operations Combustion of coal and oil Emissions from industrial processes such as oil refining, steel making, as well as the production of paper and the refinery of oil Why You Need To Be Concerned About PM2.5 Exposure Studies have long shown that exposure to particulate matter pollution has significant health consequences and the size of the particle matters. Larger particles are linked to inflammation of the respiratory system, bronchitis, asthma, allergies, coughing, reduced lung capacity. PM2.5 is linked to heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmias, and lung cancers, while ultrafine particles are associated with brain damage and organ cancers. It should be noted: Some particle pollution might be more harmful than others – it largely depends on composition and oxidative potential, but it’s important to remember that there is really no safe level of PM2.5 pollution. Many people are familiar with particulate matter’s harmful effects on the lungs and heart, but did you know particulate matter pollution has been shown to increase the risk of miscarriage. Exposure to PM2.5 is also linked to everything from baldness to dementia to mental illness. According to the EPA, exposure to particulate matter hits children, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions harder than most. For these folks, PM2.5 has been shown to cause: Increased hospital admissions Increased emergency room visits Absences from work and/or school A restriction in participation in outdoor activities Standards for Particulate Matter Pollution By this point, you might be saying to yourself something like, “Sounds like pretty scary stuff. What’s considered safe exposure?” So glad you asked. National air-quality standards for particulate matter were first created in 1971 but were not significantly revised until 1987. That’s when the EPA placed the regulatory spotlight on so-called inhalable particles smaller than or equal to 10 microns. Then in 1997, the EPA established standards for fine particulate matter. Here’s where things get technical: The annual standard for PM2.5 was set at 15 micrograms per cubic meter, which is based on a three-year average of annual mean of PM2.5 concentrations. The 24-hour standard was set at 65 micrograms per cubic meter, which is based on the three-year average of the annual 98th percentile concentrations. It should be noted: These primary standards are set to protect public health. Secondary standards are set to protect public welfare (think protection against decreased visibility due to particulate matter pollution, as well as damage to crops, vegetation, structures, and even animals). But back to the rules: Those 1997 regulations also revised standards for PM10, limiting them to 50 micrograms per cubic meter based on the annual average, and 150 micrograms per cubic meter based on a 24-hour average. However, in 2006, the regulations were again revisited and rewritten in the wake of numerous studies shedding light on ill health effects of PM. The standards for PM2.5 were lowered to 35 micrograms per cubic meter for the 24-hour standard. As for PM10 standards? While the EPA retained the 24-hour standard, it tossed out the annual standards, citing a lack of evidence linking long-term pollution of course particles to health issues. The regulations were updated again in 2013, when the EPA again revised the annual standard for PM2.5, reducing the annual standard from 15 to 12 micrograms per cubic meter. Protecting Yourself from Particulate Matter Pollution Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to reduce your exposure to high levels of PM2.5. The first step is being aware of when PM2.5 levels are elevated. If you live in Allegheny County, you can track air quality data, including levels of particulate matter, by visiting its website and clicking on the Air Quality Program icon. You can also sign up for Allegheny Alerts, which delivers important messages about air quality and other health issues via text, call, or email. Live outside of Allegheny County? Bookmark the EPA’s Air Data webpage to monitor criteria pollutants like PM2.5. You might also consider getting yourself a PurpleAir monitor. That way, the next time you are aware of high PM2.5 levels you can limit exposure by: Limiting time outdoors if possible – PM levels are generally lower indoors Going easy on yourself if you cannot limit your time outdoors. If you were slated to take a run, go for a walk instead. Need to take the dog out? Try a shorter route. Avoid traffic-choked streets and congested roadways, where levels of emissions from cars and trucks are greater. Please know that you don’t have to wait for a poor air quality day to reduce your exposure to particulate matter and other kinds of pollution. An easy way to improve your indoor air quality is to purchase an air filtration system designed to trap particle pollution. The kind of air filtration system you use does matter, so make your selection carefully. To help with that endeavor the EPA created a “Guide to Clean Air and Filters in the Home,” which is available on the agency’s website. #PM25 #airpollution #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #particlepollution #ACHD #airquality

With everyone spending a whole lot more time at home, why not take some time to learn a little more about your indoor air quality, how it affects you and the fam, and maybe most importantly: How you can improve it. Our friends at ROCIS (Reducing Outdoor Contaminants in Indoor Spaces) are providing the perfect opportunity with an upcoming program that allows local folks to borrow low-cost air quality monitoring equipment for a month – all while engaging with other participants and members of the ROCIS team. This first-ever virtual cohort will begin April 16 and run through May 15. Yes, all meetings will be online. Interested? The first step is to take part in a ROCIS webinar that will explain its free Low-Cost Monitoring Project (LCMP). After the webinar, participants will be contacted to confirm their interest in continuing and their commitment to meet the LCMP expectations for the upcoming cohort. Sign up for the webinar here. You can learn more about ROCIS on its website. #airquality #airqualitymonitors #ROCIS

CO is one of six common air pollutants regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Known as a criteria pollutant, the Clean Air Act requires the EPA to set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for CO, as well as ground-level ozone, particulate matter, lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide – all of which are known to harm your health, your property, or the environment generally. What is Carbon Monoxide? Again: CO is a colorless, odorless gas that can be harmful when inhaled in large amounts. Carbon monoxide is released when something is burned. The greatest sources of CO are: Cars, trucks and other vehicles or machinery that burn fossil fuels Items in your home such as unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, and gas stoves How Can Carbon Monoxide Impact Your Health? Here’s why carbon monoxide is so deadly: When you breathe air with a high concentration of CO, it reduces the amount of oxygen that can be transported in the bloodstream to critical organs such as the heart and brain. As previously discussed, CO can cause dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and death when inhaled at very high levels – something that is far more likely to happen indoors than outside. The fact is, extremely elevated levels of CO aren’t very likely outdoors. In the rare instance that outdoor CO levels are elevated, it can be a concern for folks with some types of cardiovascular issues. That’s because people with heart disease already have a reduced ability to get oxygenated blood to their hearts when more oxygen than usual is needed. And it means they are particularly vulnerable to the potential health impacts from CO when they exercise or otherwise under increased stress. For these people, even short-term exposure to elevated carbon monoxide levels could lead to waning oxygen to the heart, leading to chest pain (which is also known as angina). How is Carbon Monoxide Regulated? How Much is Too Much? According to the EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards, carbon monoxide levels are not permitted to exceed an average of 9 ppm (parts per million) over an eight-hour period, or an average of 35 ppm during any one-hour period in a calendar year. Some Good News About Carbon Monoxide Levels The EPA requires that states meet NAAQS standards for each of the criteria pollutants, including carbon monoxide. Areas within each state are “designated” as either attaining carbon monoxide standards or not meeting them – in some cases, an entire state may attain a standard. Those areas that do not meet the standards are known as “nonattainment areas.” The good news when it comes to carbon monoxide levels in the U.S.? According to the EPA, there have been no nonattainment areas for CO as of 2010 (the most recent federal data available). You can learn more about reducing your exposure to dangerous indoor levels of CO here. If you don’t have a CO detector, you can purchase one online. #airpollution #airquality #CarbonMonoxide #CO

The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) strongly supports Allegheny County Council for introducing long-sought clean construction legislation on Tuesday, April 7, 2020. “We commend Councilwoman Anita Prizio for her leadership on this issue and for both her and Councilwoman Olivia Bennett for their sponsoring this important legislation,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “We know that diesel particulate matter poses one of the greatest cancer risks from any toxic outdoor air pollutant and that black carbon found in diesel pollution is a potent global warming agent. Reducing diesel emissions from all sources must be a priority for our region.” The county’s legislation is very similar to guidelines passed by the City of Pittsburgh in 2016. The proposed county legislation requires all county government construction projects costing $2.5 million or more to use diesel emission control strategies on construction vehicles, including the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The guidelines require the use of the best available control technology, such as a diesel particulate filter, on all on-road vehicles, like dump trucks, and off-road equipment, such as backhoes and bulldozers, that are involved in the projects. According to the National Emissions Inventory, diesel-powered construction and mining equipment emitted more than 130 tons of fine particulate matter in 2014 in Allegheny County. That amounts to approximately 27 percent of all fine particulate matter produced in Allegheny County in 2014 by all mobile diesel-powered sources and two-thirds of fine particulate matter produced by all mobile non-road diesel equipment. Several other organizations and agencies have already adopted their own Clean Construction policies, including the Urban Redevelopment Authority and UPMC. The legislation was referred to the Public Works committee. #diesel #airquality #CleanConstruction #emissions

With sunny skies and warmer weather, nobody wants to feel cooped up in their house, so taking care of outdoor chores seems like the perfect reprieve from an abundance of couch time. And now that visiting with friends and family is ill-advised, we get how hanging out with housemates around a backyard bonfire might seem like a small consolation. But there’s an air quality toll to pay when people throw another log on the fire. The truth is, it’s more important than ever to take care of your lungs and be a good neighbor. As Pittsburghers grapple with the flu, seasonal allergies, asthma and now COVID-19, your friends here at GASP wanted to encourage everyone to be the type of neighbor that Fred Rogers taught us to be – to be cognizant of those who live around you, especially the most vulnerable (like older folks and those with respiratory problems). To put it another way: Don’t be a jag when it comes to wood smoke. Saying it a little louder for the people in the back: Don’t be a jag when it comes to wood burning. It’s one thing if you live on a large piece of property in a rural part of the county and have a small fire to roast marshmallows with the kids. It’s another thing to live in a densely populated part of town and start a smoking, raging inferno in your small backyard because you’re bored. We hate to be a Debbie Downer, but wood smoke is no joke. Let us break it down for you: Wood smoke contains very fine particles – ones that are tiny enough to reach deep into the lungs. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, fine particles can trigger heart attacks, stroke, irregular heart rhythms, and heart failure, especially in people who are already at risk for these conditions. Fine particles can also make asthma symptoms worse and trigger attacks. We’re asking that you have some common sense and common courtesy and do your part to ensure everyone can breathe easy at a time when fear over respiratory ailments is high. We’re all being asked to stay safely at home, so we all need to do our part to make sure that we’re all comfortable and healthy there. GASP is also calling on the Allegheny County Health Department to do all that it can to protect us from air quality bad actors during this unprecedented time, and ensure robust enforcement of both industrial polluters like U.S. Steel and residents who just take it too far when it comes to wood smoke and put their neighbors at risk. #airpollution #airtoxics #benzene #woodsmoke

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced a new May 1 deadline to apply for funding under its Community-Scale Air Toxics Ambient Monitoring grant program, giving the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) a chance to submit a project proposal. Given that the grant guidelines state, “(A)ir toxics of particular interest to EPA in this solicitation include benzene,” and that U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works accounted for 80 percent of all benzene emissions in Allegheny County in 2018 (a total of 15.1 tons per Department of Environmental Protection data), GASP has a project in mind. More About the Grant Program & Why it has Benzene Monitoring at Clairton Coke Written all Over it. By way of background, EPA anticipates awarding 10 to 20 grants, up to a maximum of $750,000 for any one project proposal, to assist air agencies in identifying and characterizing air toxics, also known as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), through work that falls into one of four categories: characterizing the impacts of air toxics in a community; assessing the impacts of air toxics from specific sources; programs that evaluate new and emerging testing methods for air toxics; and, programs that analyze existing air toxics data and develop or enhance analytics, modeling, or implementation tools Federal grant applications can demand a lot of detail, but here ACHD’s administrative burden would be light given that the DEP developed a benzene-sampling program around the fence line of Erie Coke’s facility this past summer.  In addition, GASP believes that submitting a grant application for additional benzene monitoring around Clairton Coke based entirely on the DEP’s existing program would have a high probability of being funded. In fact, such a program would resoundingly check all four boxes in EPA’s criteria: The data collected would help ACHD better understand the impacts of benzene on the communities surrounding Clairton Coke; This monitoring program would assess the impact of benzene from a specific source; The DEP’s monitoring program adapts an existing method of sampling used for petroleum refineries.  In addition, sampling at Clairton Coke’s fence line would supplement and / or validate benzene data that is already being collected intermittently in the County; and, This monitoring data would allow ACHD to better-assess exposure models for Clairton emissions and the efficacy of the coke oven regs we hope to see soon. Why the Focus on Benzene? To understand the importance of monitoring benzene, you first have to understand a few things about this hazardous air pollutant, its impact on human health, and what the local sources of benzene are. The EPA first listed benzene as a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act in 1977 based on reports “strongly suggest(ing) an increased incidence of leukemia in humans exposed to benzene.” While the EPA has determined that average benzene concentrations of one part-per-billion (ppb) can potentially cause one in 100,000 excess cases of cancer, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that as a carcinogen, “no safe level of exposure (to benzene) can be recommended.” While several agencies agree that long-term exposure to benzene concentrations less than 1 ppb are unlikely to have non-cancer effects, the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry believes that exposure to levels at or more than 9 ppb for even one day can be harmful to your health. ACHD monitor data showed a benzene concentration of 12.74 ppb at the Liberty Monitor site in December 2018. In fact, ACHD measures benzene and other toxic air pollutants at two sites in the County: downtown Pittsburgh and at the Liberty Monitor (air toxics monitoring was discontinued at the Avalon monitoring site last year). Without variation, the Liberty Monitor shows the highest readings. According to the 2018 Allegheny County Air Quality Annual Report, the annual average benzene concentration in downtown Pittsburgh at Flag Plaza was 0.37 ppb. The data show—and ACHD’s Report confirms—that over the same period, benzene barely registered in Avalon but was 0.96 ppb at the Liberty Monitor. While ACHD air quality monitor data show concentrations of benzene well below Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace safety levels at the Liberty Monitor site, it is still above acceptable risk levels for ambient air. For all of these reasons, GASP believes it’s imperative for ACHD to expand benzene monitoring so it can better understand the potential human exposure to emissions from Clairton Coke, which is far and away the largest stationary source in Allegheny County. Understanding DEP’s Benzene Monitoring in Erie & Why ACHD Should Emulate It For those who might be unfamiliar, DEP this past July announced that it would begin conducting air quality monitoring near the now-shuttered Erie Coke plant and throughout the surrounding area to assess health risks to the general public. The monitoring came in the wake of several enforcement actions that required Erie Coke to address numerous, ongoing violations. DEP’s monitoring program focused on the so “BTEX” compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) because they are related to coke productions specifically. Monitor sites were placed in 13 locations along the perimeter of the Erie Coke facility and at four locations in the community. DEP regularly updates its website with those sampling results – including the full lab reports – along with maps showing where there were high concentrations. This is a level of transparency that GASP greatly appreciates and believes could and should be mirrored here in Allegheny County. If not now, when? ACHD simply must develop a plan to monitor benzene near Clairton Coke. Assessing such risks is absolutely part of the department’s public health mission. For all of these reasons and more, ACHD must take advantage of a funding opportunity that would not only provide for much-needed data and analysis of a harmful air toxic, it would also preserve ACHD funds for other core work and projects that directly benefit the communities most affected by local air pollution. “Grant funding is never a certainty, but to just not apply, to let this opportunity pass our region by at a time when it is continually assigned failing grades for air quality is incomprehensible and bordering on fiscally irresponsible,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “If our regulators want to better control emissions and in turn better protect public health then they should apply for this funding. The health department’s counterpart at the state level is undertaking this kind of monitoring right now and implementing it here would be a perfect fit for ACHD and the community.” #benzene #airpollution #USSteel #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #airquality