Swissvale-based Kopp Glass has appealed an enforcement order issued by the Allegheny County Health Department July 27 requiring it to submit a plan to comply with federal air quality regulations, specifically the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Glass Manufacturing Area Sources. The company was also ordered to submit a Title V Permit application to the ACHD. In the Aug. 26 appeal, Kopp Glass argues that it is not subject to those air quality standards. You can read the appeal here. You can read the enforcement order here. The appeal comes in the wake of an Aug. 6 announcement by ACHD that it would be conducting an air toxics monitoring project near the glass manufacturing facility. You can read more about that announcement on our blog. #KoppGlass #enforcementorder #NESHAP #airqualityregulations #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #airquality

The Allegheny County Board of Health on Wednesday approved several Clean Air Fund requests, including a $340,544 proposal for a comprehensive air toxics study in the Mon Valley that would assess health risks to the community. The request from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) would include both passive and active air quality monitoring, as well as the addition of 10 portable hydrogen sulfide (H2S) monitors. Officials have said the mobile H2S monitors will allow the department to position them throughout the county as needed – allowing them to more effectively investigate odor complaints from community members. “This is a long time coming,” ACHD Deputy of Environmental Health Jim Kelly told the board. “It’s been number one on my wishlist for a long time.” Specifically, funding will cover the cost of analyzing airborne toxic metals in the form of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and several other pollutants of concern. The department said it plans to model its VOC monitoring around US Steel’s Clairton Coke and Edgar Thomson facilities after a program initiated in 2019 by the state Department of Environmental Protection to analyze benzene emissions from the now-defunct Erie Coke Corp. – something GASP this year petitioned officials to consider. GASP has long called on ACHD to conduct additional monitoring in the communities lying in the shadow of U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works facilities and applauds the approval of the study. “This is exactly the type of in-depth air toxics monitoring study we’ve been imploring the health department to undertake,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “We hope the investment in the mobile H2S monitors foreshadows a new era for ACHD – one where it prioritizes more robust, responsive monitoring and enforcement throughout the county.” She then called on ACHD to also make transparency a priority. “We hope the health department will work to ensure that the information garnered through this study is accessible to the public in a form that’s easy to digest,” Filippini said. The board also approved the following Clean Air Fund proposals: A $500,000 request from ACHD for experts and technical support that ACHD staff at an Aug. 24 Air Advisory Board meeting explained would allow the department to more effectively conduct compliance enforcement. Air Quality Program staff at the meeting alluded to a possible “surge need” for this assistance, explaining that there were “things that are upcoming that we fear.” The money, Kelly said at Wednesday’s BOH meeting, is for “unforeseen challenges.” He added: “If litigated against today, we would not have the resources to defend ourselves.” Board of Health member Dr. Edith Shapira said it’s time to send a message to industry that “we aren’t going to hamstring” the department. A $210,000 request from ACHD for new permitting and enforcement software. The software is expected to be deployed in early 2021. A $98,000 request from TreeVitalize would plant 200 trees in various communities in 16 Allegheny County school districts. The program will also train and educate volunteers about how to care for those trees. A $59,560 request from Plant Five for Life would plant more than 400 trees in various Allegheny County communities including Carnegie. The next meeting of the Allegheny County Board of Health is tentatively scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Nov. 4. The location and agenda for the meeting will be announced at a later date. Editor’s Note: You can read the entire air toxics proposal here. Check back, this story will be updated to include any associated media reports. #H2S #benzene #AlleghenyCountyBoardofHealth #airtoxics #VOCs #emissions #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD

Now more than ever, we find ourselves spending most of our time at home, becoming an increasingly important place of security and solitude. The home is an escape from the demands of daily life, and a place you would never want to be unhealthy for you or your family. For some, this has sparked a question: How safe is my home environment from toxins? It’s important to consider that danger could be lurking in the home—harming you and your loved ones. It’s equally as important to be informed about dangers such as airborne toxins, and learn to identify ones that could potentially impact your family. Although you may not be able to mitigate these risks yourself, you will know when to call a professional for help. Importance of Indoor Air Quality Indoor air quality is a silent and often an invisible way in which one’s health could be compromised in your own home. Many toxins that go undetected in homes such as radon, mold, and even formaldehyde can cause serious health effects from extended exposure. Possibly one of the most dangerous toxins still found in homes today is asbestos. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) still remain in basements, attics, roofs, and the sides of homes, following decades of use in hundreds of building materials. Asbestos can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestos Dangers Asbestos is the name of a collection of silicate minerals used in many products throughout the 20th century. Everything from cement to shingles was made with asbestos because of its strength and resistance to heat. ACMs were used in residential and commercial settings for decades, even after the carcinogenic effects of this fiber became apparent in humans. It wasn’t until the 1980s that asbestos was partially banned from being used in the United States in new building materials. However, some products are still permitted to use small amounts of asbestos and, as we’ve recently seen with products containing talcum powder, asbestos still contaminates consumer products. When asbestos is left undisturbed it does not pose a health risk. If asbestos pipe insulation, for example, is intact and has not deteriorated, it’s likely not affecting indoor air quality. If that pipe insulation were falling apart and the fibers became friable and airborne, this creates a dangerous situation. An example could be that the hot water pipes heading to the kitchen from the hot water heater are wrapped in asbestos pipe insulation. Halfway down the pipe is your furnace and the cold air intake has a break in the ductwork. As friable asbestos breaks off from the old pipe wrap, it can be sucked into your home’s HVAC system. When released into your home, airborne asbestos can be inhaled or ingested. Once in the body, the fibers can become trapped in the abdomen where tumors can form. Often, these tumors are diagnosed as mesothelioma after a biopsy. This rare and aggressive cancer’s only known cause is asbestos exposure. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and could certainly cause other respiratory problems. If asbestos is circulating in the home, it could be affecting those with asthma or COPD, as well as posing a serious threat to your health later in life. Modern Design Meets Dated Materials Today, houses are extremely well insulated and sealed. This increases the efficiency of the home’s cooling and heating systems. It also increases the reliance on recirculated air throughout your home. By not drawing outside air into the building, the heating or cooling system only has to work to cool the ambient air in the house that’s gone up or dropped just a few degrees. Sealing and insulating the house is integral to this method working effectively and saving energy from being wasted. Those with older homes know they often need to be sealed and insulated to meet our modern standards. This is a great idea to improve efficiency while updating a historic home or renovating an older home for cost savings. One concern is trapping toxins in the home and recirculating them. Before renovating a building one should always investigate pipes, old insulation, and any other potential ACMs. It’s important to contact an abatement professional to determine the safest way to contain any asbestos. This will ensure that your updated home is safe and won’t be putting you or your family at risk. Playing It Safe No one should have to worry about being poisoned by inhaling dangerous carcinogens in their own home. In a world where air quality and airborne dangers in public places have become increasingly apparent, it’s prudent to remember that air quality in one’s own home is important to understand, too. If you are buying an older home or plan to renovate and are not sure how to identify asbestos-containing materials, hire a professional to help. Editor’s Note: Interested in learning more about asbestos and abrasive blasting requirements in Allegheny County? Take a look here. Interested in learning more about improving indoor air quality? Our friends at ROCIS can help. You can learn more by visiting its website. #indoorairquality #ROCIS #AlleghenyCounty #Asbestos #asbestosabatement

Image courtesy of the DEP website. The Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board (EQB) on Sept.  15 voted to promulgate a regulation to limit carbon pollution from power plants. The proposed regulation will be reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General and a public comment and participation period will be announced at a later date. The vote in the EQB was 13 to 6. GASP lauded the approval. “Pennsylvania contributes a disproportionate amount of climate change-causing air pollutants in the United States – an issue that badly needs to be addressed,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “We applaud this first step. When you’re in a climate emergency, you must take decisive action.” Under the proposed regulation, electric power plants that emit carbon dioxide will be required to obtain credits compatible with other states in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Modeling from DEP shows that participating in RGGI will decrease climate change-causing carbon dioxide pollution as well as generate new jobs and reduce air pollution-related illnesses. “This is an important step for Pennsylvania’s efforts to combat climate change, which is already having and will continue to have a dramatic effect on Pennsylvania,” DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said in a press release. “This is incredibly important and we are looking forward to hearing from the people of Pennsylvania about this effort.” Electricity generation is one of the leading sources of carbon dioxide emissions in Pennsylvania, and the commonwealth is a leading emissions source in the country. The proposed regulation would reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 188 million tons between 2022 (when the regulation would go into effect) and 2030. In addition, DEP officials said other benefits of RGGI for Pennsylvania include: Reduce carbon emissions by 188 million tons Increase of more than 30,000 jobs Reduction of other air pollutants like SO2 and NOx Avoiding 639 premature deaths from air pollution-related health issues Editor’s Note: More information about RGGI can be found at www.dep.pa.gov/RGGI #CarbonMonoxide #SO2 #RegionalGreenhouseGasInitiative #RGGI #NOx #carbonemissions #DEP

GASP and several local environmental groups and nonprofit partners sent a letter this week to Allegheny County Chief Executive Rich Fitzgerald calling on him to take swift, aggressive action to improve local air quality – reminding him that in many cases, the lives of his constituents literally depend on it. The letter was sent as part of the Toxic Ten Week of grassroots actions calling on Fitzgerald to demonstrate his commitment to air quality improvement by stemming air pollution from industrial sources. For those who may be unaware, the Toxic Ten refers to 10 local facilities that together emit 70 percent of all air pollution reported in Allegheny County. Enough is enough. We need clean air now. You can learn more about Toxic Ten Week from our friends at PennEnvironment. You can read our letter here: #airpollution #USSteel #alleghenycountyairpollution #AlleghenyCounty #alleghenycountyairquality #RichFitzgerald #ToxicTen #airquality #cokeovengas

The payment was part of a consent order and agreement between Prism Response and the ACHD finalized Sept. 22. As part of the settlement, the company further agreed to withdraw its appeal of the underlying Sept. 21, 2018 administrative order. That order called for Prism to pay a $20,770 civil penalty, about $7,000 of which was assessed for “intentional or reckless conduct” related to Prism’s response and water damage remediation work following a fire at the Coraopolis-based Sheraton Hotel in May 2017. Prism had disputed the “nature and extent” of those allegations, maintaining that it had not conducted any asbestos abatement or encapsulation work at the hotel, and cooperating as ACHD conducted a full investigation. The company provided ACHD with what health department officials deemed a “significant amount” of additional information. As a result of those disclosures, ACHD agreed to remove the penalties assessed for intentional and reckless acts, determining that “the findings in the administrative order are not representative of the full facts and actions of Prism,” according to the settlement. The consent order also indicates that Prism denied and continued to deny the facts of the case, as well as the violations alleged in the administrative order, maintaining that it was not liable for civil penalties. “It is agreeing to the obligations imposed…solely to settle the disputed claims without incurring the time and expense of additional litigation,” according to the agreement. Health officials said asbestos-related enforcement actions are on the rise. Why does that matter? Because asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring, fibrous minerals that can cause severe breathing issues and even cancer. During demolition and some building renovations projects, old, brittle asbestos products can release tiny – even microscopic – fibers. These colorless, odorless fibers can remain suspended in the air, entering the lungs when you inhale. Editor’s Note: You can read the entire settlement agreement here. The administrative order filed against Prism was one of several related to the response to and cleanup following the Sheraton Hotel fire. You can read more about those cases on the ACHD administrative appeals docket. #AlleghenyCountyAirPollutionControlAct #Asbestos #asbestosabatement #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #airquality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday announced a settlement with MarkWest Liberty Bluestone, L.L.C. to settle alleged Clean Air Act violations at its natural gas processing plant in Evans City. EPA cited MarkWest for violations that included: Failure to timely conduct a third-party leak detection and repair audit, Failure to timely comply with requirements for monitoring leaks at connectors, and Failure to timely apply to incorporate these leak detection requirements into a federally enforceable state operating permit. These alleged violations increased the risk of excess fugitive volatile organic compound emissions from the facility. Also known as VOCs, volatile organic compounds can cause both short-term and long-term health effects, including everything from headaches and irritation of the respiratory tract to organ damage and even cancer. EPA identified the alleged violations while reviewing the company’s compliance with a previous administrative compliance order from March 2017 related to prior violations. As part of the settlement, MarkWest did not admit liability for the alleged violations but has agreed to pay a penalty of $150,000 and has certified that it is now in compliance with applicable Clean Air Act requirements. #volatileorganiccompounds #MarkWest #fugitiveemissions #leakdetectionsystem #VOCs #CleanAirAct

UPDATE: BRP4 LLC and Level Line Building Co. on Oct. 20 appealed the enforcement order issued by the Allegheny County Health Department. You can read the appeal here. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) on Sept. 25 assessed a more than $31,000 civil penalty against two companies it says violated local Air Pollution Control Act regulations relating to asbestos abatement at a commercial structure in Wilkins Township. According to an associated enforcement order, BRP4 LLC of Wexford (the company that owns the property) and Pittsburgh-based Level Line Building Co. (the company responsible for the demolition of the property) demolished the structure without first submitting required asbestos abatement documentation for the 2019 project. ACHD said the companies failed to test the roof for asbestos. In areas where no samples were taken, ACHD deems it to be what it refers to as asbestos-containing material (ACM). “When removing the roof for demolition, Level Line did not follow standard work procedures while removing (asbestos-containing material) due to asbestos waste not being properly bagged and transported to an approved landfill,” ACHD indicated in the order. Of the $31,500 civil penalty assessed, $9,000 was for reckless conduct. “The gravity-based component of the civil penalty reflects the severity of the violation and the potential harm to the public or environment from the violation,” according to the order. BRP4 and Level Line have 30 days to either pay the fine or appeal the enforcement order. The enforcement order is one of many issued recently from the health department, which has reported an uptick in asbestos-related infractions. For those who might be unfamiliar: asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring, fibrous minerals that can cause severe breathing issues and even cancer. During building renovations projects, old, brittle asbestos products can release tiny – even microscopic – fibers. These colorless, odorless fibers can remain suspended in the air, entering the lungs when you inhale. You can read the entire enforcement order here. #enforcementorder #LevelLineBuildingCo #BRP4 #Asbestos #asbestosabatement #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD

To the folks she’s led on hikes and other activities, she’s a wealth of knowledge about air quality and how it impacts the natural world around us. To the children she’s taught about air pollution through hands-on workshops,  she is affectionately known as The Pig Lung Lady. But to GASP, Chelsea Hilty is an all-star educator – and a teammate we are going to miss terribly. After nearly four years at the helm of our education and events planning, Chelsea is (sadly) leaving GASP following an out-of-state move. While we wish her the best, we couldn’t let her go before we let her know just how much of an impact she helped make during her tenure here. Because although GASP has long engaged in educational efforts, Chelsea came on board when GASP was awarded an EPA grant to create an air quality educational summer camp for kids – and she jumped right in to create a curriculum and a plan to reach as many classrooms as possible. “She came on board when youth education was really taking off at GASP,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. And she had to hit the ground running. “She essentially created an entire curriculum for our summer youth education program,” she added.  “It was all in Chelsea’s lap.” It was clear from the very beginning that she was at home in front of a roomful of kiddos. “She just has a very good rapport with youth. She doesn’t talk down to them. She treats kids with the respect they deserve,” Filippini said. “Kids can tell when someone is being sincere and when they’re being fake.” It’s not just youth education that Chelsea spearheaded during her tenure at GASP: She also taught OSHER courses – where she educated retirees about issues related to air pollution and public health at Pitt and CMU. But education is just half of what Chelsea did here at GASP: She was also our events coordinator and spent the better part of a year planning and prepping for our 50th-anniversary gala. While the event was a team effort, Chelsea was the one taking the lead- identifying potential sponsors, researching locations and menus, brainstorming decor ideas, and even creating a year’s worth of weekly tips for folks to follow to be greener as a leadup to the event. She was also chiefly responsible for sifting through boxes (and boxes – so many boxes) of GASP’s archived material to showcase the very best watchdog, educational, and advocacy work from our 50-year history. Patty Himes, a naturalist educator at Frick Environmental Center who was honored with a Michelle Maddoff Award of Environmental Excellence at our 50th, met Chelsea when she worked at the organization as an intern. “Her time here was a tremendous gift, “ she said. “Chelsea is a talented and thoughtful educator. She is down-to-earth and practical. I have always thought of her as a ‘go to’ colleague,” Himes added.”She was someone I could ‘go-to’ and work through work-related challenges. She was someone I could count on to do a thorough and quality job. She was someone that was committed and I could trust.” GASP Board President Jonathan Nadle agreed. “Her passion for education and community engagement was evident and she developed several well-regarded, innovative and successful education programs,” he said. Filippini agreed. “While we are sad to see Chelsea go she leaves the organization in a stronger, more effective place when it comes to environmental education. Thank you, Chelsea, for everything you’ve done for us over the last couple of years,” she said. Editor’s Note: Feel free to leave a little love for Chelsea in the comments section below! We’ll make sure she sees ’em.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced recently that two companies have entered a plea agreement that calls for a combined $4.3 million in penalties for their involvement in Clean Air Act violations. One of those firms is local: Rockwater Northeast is headquartered in Washington County. The Marcellus Shale water hauling firm agreed to plead guilty to tampering with emissions-control devices on 31 of its heavy-duty diesel vehicles and pay a $2 million fine. According to court documents, Rockwater employees disabled emissions-control devices on 31 of its diesel trucks using aftermarket devices between Aug. 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014. And that’s not all. “Rockwater Northeast also is alleged to have caused the trucks to pass annual vehicle safety inspections by the Department of Transportation (DOT), despite the modified emissions systems,” prosecutors said in a press release. Separately, Select Energy Services, Inc., a Texas-based company and the successor to Rockwater Energy Solutions, Inc., entered a three-year non-prosecution agreement resolving Clean Air Act violations for modified emissions systems on 29 additional heavy-duty diesel trucks that were owned by Rockwater Energy Solutions. The company will pay a $2.3 million fine. Vehicle owners sometimes tamper with or disable emissions-control devices because they believe they cause their vehicle to lose horsepower and/or reduce the vehicle’s gas mileage. Whatever the reason it’s a bad idea. Tampering with a vehicle emissions control system is illegal and can negatively affect vehicle performance, void warranties, and contribute to air pollution. Six individuals were also prosecuted in connection with this investigation – four of whom are current or former employees of Rockwater Northeast, and two of whom are former third-party vendors of the company. “The defendants in this case knowingly and repeatedly installed ‘defeat devices’ to remove emissions controls in dozens of diesel trucks in violation of the Clean Air Act,” said Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Lynn of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Pennsylvania." The damage done? Tons of excess nitrous oxide and particulate matter were released into the air from those trucks during that time period. For those who might be unfamiliar: Breathing in nitrous oxide can cause a host of health impacts such as dizziness, unconsciousness, and even death. Long-term exposure can lead to infertility. Particulate matter is associated with respiratory and cardiovascular problems, cancer and even death. You can read more about what was alleged in U.S. District Court here. You can read the entire plea agreement here. #diesel #particulatematter #CleanAirAct #RockwaterNortheast #dieselemissions