Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has assessed a $32,280 civil penalty against GenOn Power Midwest, LP, for 13 exceedances of a daily emissions limit at its Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale. The facility – the last remaining coal-fired electric generating plant in Allegheny County – is prohibited from emitting more than 3,176 pounds-per-hour of sulfur dioxide (SO2) on a daily average basis. But between Jan. 1, 2018, and March 31, 2019, GenOn exceeded its SO2 limit on 13 different days. Each of those instances is considered a separate violation of ACHD’s Air Pollution Control Regulations. While the facility’s total SO2 emissions for all of 2018 were well below its annual permitted limit, individual daily exceedances can be a cause for concern. Without an SO2 monitor near the facility, we can’t be certain if or to what extent the exceedances impacted air quality, but short-term exposures to SO2 can harm the human respiratory system and make breathing difficult. People with asthma, particularly children, are sensitive to the effects of SO2. SO2 and other sulfur oxides can also react with other compounds in the atmosphere to form fine particles that reduce visibility (haze) in parts of the United States. GenOn told ACHD that the exceedances were the result of a recycle pump failure on a scrubber after the pump was brought online following an extended time out of service. “The spray nozzle(s) associated with the pump became clogged with lime crystallization and failed to control excess emissions,” the enforcement order noted. Repairs to that nozzle were completed on April 24, 2019. ACHD indicated that GenOn did not initially disclose the violations in quarterly reports as required. The company also did not provide a required breakdown report detailing the pump failure that caused the SO2 exceedances as of July 30, 2020 – the date of the enforcement order. You can view the entire enforcement order on the ACHD website. #noticeofviolation #SO2 #CheswickPowerStation #emissionsviolations #emissions #GenOn #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) on June 8 filed an enforcement order against Pittsburgh Cremation Services for failing to submit an application to renew its minor source operating permit. Minor source operating permits are valid for five years. Pittsburgh Cremation Services permit expired more than two years ago – May 30, 2018. The enforcement order also indicates that the company failed to submit required semi-annual reports. ACHD noted in the enforcement order that Pittsburgh Cremation Services was “reluctant, slow, took some corrective action but not all reasonable action.” Both are violations of Allegheny County’s Air Pollution Control Regulations. Pittsburgh Cremation Services had 30 days to pay the civil penalty, as well as the two most recent semi-annual reports. Within 60 days of the date of the order, the company must submit an application to renew its minor source operating permit. It was not immediately clear whether Pittsburgh Cremation Services paid the fine and reports – no further details were shared on the ACHD website. No associated appeal has been published on the ACHD appeals docket. Editor’s Note: ACHD on Aug. 13 posted information regarding several enforcement actions. One of them was related to emissions issues at U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson facility, which you can read about on our blog. #enforcementorder #USSteel #minorsourceoperatingpermit #airqualityregulations #emissions #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #PittsburghCremationServices #EdgarThomsonPlant #ACHD #civilpenalty #airquality

According to the orders posted to the ACHD website Aug. 13, the companies violated Allegheny County’s Air Pollution Control Regulations by failing to submit required asbestos surveys and asbestos abatement demolition forms – documents that must be sent to ACHD 10 days prior to work commencing. For those who might be unfamiliar: Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring, fibrous minerals that can cause major breathing problems and even cancer. During demolition, old, brittle asbestos products can release tiny – even microscopic – fibers. These fibers are odorless and tasteless and can remain suspended in the air, entering your lungs when you inhale. Because of the significant health risk, ACHD regulates asbestos-handling activities. Allegheny County requires that all asbestos abatement contractors be licensed through ACHD.  All renovation and demolition work on buildings containing a certain amount of asbestos must follow ACHD rules and regulations (private homeowners, though, are exempt from these regulations when performing work on their own homes). ACHD issued enforcement orders against: Bristol Environmental on June 4, 2020 Urban Redevelopment Authority – Schaaf Excavating Contractors, Inc. on June 4, 2020 City of Pittsburgh – Schaaf Excavating Contractors, Inc. on June 4, 2020 Curtis Morehead – Jadell Minniefield Construction on June 4, 2020 PTV 1071 LLC, Lutterman Excavating, LLC on June 4, 2020 City of Pittsburgh, Deller Professional Services, Inc., June 30, 2020 ACHD ordered the companies to submit those documents or face a possible $25,000-a-day civil penalty. The companies had 30 days from the date of the enforcement orders to appeal. It was not immediately clear whether the companies complied – the ACHD website includes no further information on the orders. No associated appeals have been published on the ACHD appeals docket. In addition, ACHD issued an administrative order against CSI Construction, Inc., a licensed asbestos abatement contractor for prior compliance issues. The June 19 order details additional requirements the company must meet to keep its license: The company must have all pre-abatement setups inspected by ACHD prior to demolition. It must provide information to ACHD regarding the specific water source that will be used to adequately wet debris. The company must notify ACHD of the start date for demolition two days prior to its commencement. It must request a final clearance inspection from ACHD within 24 hours of demolition completion. #enforcementorder #airpollution #Asbestos #asbestosabatement #AlleghenyCountysAirPollutionControlRegulations #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) on Aug. 11 issued a demand for stipulated penalties in the amount of $6,000 to ATI Flat Rolled Products and Harsco Corp. following residents’ complaints about dust on their cars that emanated from the nearby Natrona-based slag processing operations. The demand indicated that Brackenridge-based ATI (a specialty steel manufacturer) and Harsco (which processes slag from ATI) violated the county’s Air Pollution Control regulations four times between April 1, 2020 and June 30, 2020. According to ACHD, an investigation revealed that the dust observed on residents’ vehicles was consistent with slag fugitive emissions from Harsco/ATI operations. A previous investigation by the health department determined that the dust was primarily lime. Inhaling lime dust may lead to irritation of breathing passages, coughing and sneezing. How did ACHD come up with the $6,000 figure? A consent agreement between ACHD, ATI, and Harsco on Jan. 7, 2020 set a penalty of $1,500 per violation. ATI and Harsco have 30 days from the date of the demand to submit payment to ACHD. You can read more about the consent agreement – which required that the companies construct a building to enclose slag operations as well as pay a $107,000 civil penalty – on our blog. In a separate enforcement action, ACHD on July 30 assessed a $1,320 civil penalty against ATI for an opacity violation that occurred July 7, 2019 and was brought to light in a semi-annual report the company submitted to the department on Jan. 30, 2020. You can read the entire Notice of Violation here. Editor’s Note: The enforcement actions against ATI and Harsco were among many that ACHD published to its website on Aug. 13. The department also filed enforcement actions against U.S. Steel for visible emissions issues at its Edgar Thomson plant, as well as the GenOn plant in Springdale. There were also a number of asbestos-related actions, as well as one involving a local crematorium. #enforcementorder #ATI #stipulatedpenalties #Harsco #emissions #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #EdgarThomsonPlant #ACHD

Media Contact: Amanda Gillooly GASP Communications Manager amanda@gasp-pgh.org/ 412-924-0604 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GASP Delivers Widely-Supported Petition to ACHD Demanding Public Update on Emissions Issues at U.S. Steel Facility Signed by nearly 600 residents & 16 local organizations, it asks for an update on a compliance plan for the Edgar Thomson plant promised back in 2017. PITTSBURGH – The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) today delivered a petition to the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) signed by nearly 600 people and 16 local organizations calling for a substantive public update regarding ongoing emissions events at U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson plant, as well as information on a compliance plan promised by the department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency following a 2017 joint notice of violation. The call to action comes in the wake of recent emissions events at the Braddock-based facility, as well as a June 1 enforcement order related to visible emissions violations there. GASP’s petition asks the health department for a substantive update on the long-promised compliance plan, which was supposed to detail what financial penalties would be assessed against U.S. Steel, as well as what equipment and operational upgrades would be required to bring Edgar Thomson back into compliance. “While ACHD acknowledged a reddish-brown plume emanating from the plant in June, telling the public it was investigating the incident and later revealing that a faulty valve was to blame, nothing further has been publicly stated about air quality compliance at Edgar Thomson,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippin said.  “What reassurance does the public have that this won’t happen again?” And enough is enough. “The public has waited long enough for an update on this public health issue, which impacts the day-to-day lives of our neighbors living in the communities surrounding the plant, those downwind of it, and everyone in between,” she said. “ACHD officials have repeatedly asked residents to be patient; to trust the process. But without transparency, there can be no trust. They must provide a detailed update as soon as possible.” North Braddock resident Edith Abeyta agreed. “We are told there needs to be more evidence. In addition to me and my neighbors there are hundreds of professionals and universities that are working on gathering enough proof – enough evidence – to back up the centuries-long lived experience that we are being harmed,” she said. “The sources of pollution are known. It is time for citizens to regain control of their air, water, time and health.” East Pittsburgh Borough Councilwoman Stacey Simon said the importance of a public update is paramount. “It’s a no-brainer to me: Breathing is essential to human life. The activities going on at the Edgar Thomson Works impact the quality of air that we breathe,” she said. “Knowledge is power, and we deserve to know more — so that we can do more — about the ongoing emissions issues at Edgar Thompson.” Lisa Graves Marcucci, a lifelong resident of the Mon Valley and Pennsylvania Community Outreach Coordinator at the Environmental Integrity Project said it’s long past time that U.S. Steel be held accountable for the ongoing emissions at Edgar Thomson. “We’ve waited too long for health to be the priority,” she said. “ The Allegheny County Health Department needs to stop coddling this company and get to work protecting public health and seeking the remedies outlined in the 2017 compliance plan.” Clean Air Council said the public deserves better. “ACHD owes it to the public to be transparent about its progress on a plan for ensuring U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson facility complies with the Clean Air Act,” said Joseph Otis Minott, Esq., Executive Director and Chief Counsel of Clean Air Council. “Allegheny County residents, especially those affected by air pollution from this facility, deserve nothing less.” The organizations that signed onto the petition were 3 Rivers Outdoor Co., Allegheny County Clean Air Now, Breath Project, Clean Air Council, Clean Water Action, East End Neighbors Concerned About Air Pollution, Environmental Integrity Project, Lawrenceville Clean Air Now, Nine Mile Run Watershed Association, North Braddock Residents for Our Future, Patagonia, PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, PennFuture, Plant Five For Life, Rail Pollution Protection Pittsburgh and Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter. GASP  is a nonprofit citizens’ group in Southwestern PA working for a healthy, sustainable environment. Founded in 1969, GASP has been a diligent watchdog, educator, litigator, and policy-maker on environmental issues, with a focus on air quality in the Pittsburgh region. #EdgarThomson #noticeofviolation #USSteel #MonValley #LisaGravesMarcucci #emissions #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #airquality

A proposed consent decree that would settle a federal citizen’s suit filed in California regarding control emissions of volatile organic compounds from oil and gas industry sources could have an impact right here in Pennsylvania. That’s because the decree, published Aug. 21, would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to find that Pennsylvania failed to submit proposed revisions to its State Implementation Plan (SIP) required by the Clean Air Act regarding the control of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the oil and gas industry in the Keystone State. Such a finding would be required by Oct. 30, 2020. But let’s back up a minute: Under section 110(c) of the Clean Air Act, an EPA finding that a state has failed to submit required revisions to its SIP, gives EPA two years to promulgate its own regulations and impose them on the state to ensure that requirements are being met, albeit belatedly. A state may, however, submit its own proposed SIP revisions to EPA during that two years, which EPA is free to approve, assuming the revisions meet the Clean Air Act’s requirements. The Clean Air Act requirements at issue arise out of a Control Techniques Guideline (CTG) for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry that EPA published in 2016 that provides guidance to the states as to what constitutes Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for the control of VOC emissions. It should be noted that the Control Techniques Guideline is not itself a regulation. The Clean Air Act requires states with ozone nonattainment areas and those in the Ozone Transport Region (which includes Pennsylvania), to revise their SIPs to ensure sources covered by the Control Techniques Guideline implement RACT to control their VOC emissions. By way of background: Under the Clean Air Act, facilities covered by the 2016 Control Techniques Guideline in all areas of Pennsylvania (not just ozone nonattainment areas) are required to implement RACT to control their VOC emissions. The act gives the states two years to submit the required SIP revisions to EPA following the publication of a Control Techniques Guideline. It is important to note that states are not bound by a Control Techniques Guideline on how they implement RACT – they are free to come up with their own approaches to satisfy the Clean Air Act’s requirement. However, the emission limits contained in a Control Techniques Guideline establish a presumption for how the RACT requirement must be met. “A state that departs from the recommendations in a CTG must, therefore, establish to EPA’s satisfaction that the VOC controls in its proposed regulations satisfy the RACT requirement,” GASP’s senior attorney John Baillie explained. Pennsylvania failed to submit proposed revisions to its SIP that would require sources covered by the 2016 Oil and Gas Control Techniques Guideline to control their VOC emissions within two years of EPA’s publication of that Control Techniques Guideline. “In fact, Pennsylvania did not publish proposed rules to limit VOC emissions from sources covered by the 2016 Oil and Gas Control Techniques Guideline until earlier this summer,” Bailie said. “Because those proposed rules depart from the recommendations of the CTG in several respects, it is not certain that they meet the RACT requirement.” “Assuming that the Consent Decree is approved, we may find ourselves watching a race between the rule maker at two bureaucracies,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “What will happen first? Will Pennsylvania come up with its own regulations to control the oil and natural gas industry’s VOC emissions requiring the oil and natural gas industry to meet the RACT requirement, or will EPA write its own rules and impose them on industry sources in Pennsylvania?” A copy of the proposed consent decree is available by clicking through EPA’s website. EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed consent decree through Sept. 21. Editor’s Note: Stay tuned – we will keep you updated as this develops. #emissions #OilandGasIndustry #VOCs #volatileorganiccompounds

U.S. Steel’s Braddock-based Edgar Thomson Works is one of 11 integrated iron and steel manufacturing facilities in the country to be subject to amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs) that were finalized recently by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These amendments didn’t just come out of the blue: Section 112 of the Clean Air Act directs the EPA to categorize sources of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and develop NESHAPs for them in order to minimize or eliminate emissions from sources in those categories. Here’s how it works procedurally: Within eight years of the promulgation of a NESHAP, EPA must review (and if necessary, revise) the standards to incorporate any new and improved “practices, processes, and control technologies” in the source category. The EPA must also determine whether the emissions allowed under the NESHAPs still pose an unacceptable risk to the public health or environment (after incorporating any new and improved practices, processes, or control technologies), and if they do, revise the standards to further limit emissions. The recent amendments, which are a result of such technology and residual risk review, will add limits on emissions of mercury from major sources in the iron- and steel-making industry, effective July 13, 2021. Airborne mercury causes harm to wildlife and to the human brain and nervous system, especially in fetuses and young children. Mercury can be present in emissions from the iron- and steel-making process when a facility charges the iron or steel it produces with automotive scrap if mercury-containing switches and devices have not been removed from it. The Edgar Thomson Works’ Title V Operating Permit currently does not include an emission limit for mercury but does prohibit the facility from using “#2 automotive scrap” (a term that does not appear to be defined by the permit) in any charge. The Edgar Thomson Works is otherwise allowed to use up to 40,000 pounds of “galvanized scrap” (also apparently undefined) per charge. “Going forward, the Edgar Thomson Works will either be subject to a stringent emission for mercury or need to certify that none of the automotive scrap it uses contains mercury,” GASP Senior Staff Attorney John Baillie explained. The recent amendments will also eliminate exemptions to the emission limits imposed by Subpart FFFFF for startup, shutdown, and malfunction events. This change was spurred by a 2008 federal appeals court decision – Sierra Club v. EPA – that determined such exemptions violate the Clean Air Act. “That means that startup, shutdown, and malfunction exemptions for sources in the category will cease to have effect beginning Jan. 11, 2021,” Baillie said. #airpollution #USSteel #JohnBaillie #EdgarThomsonWorks #emissions #CleanAirAct #TitleVPermit #NESHAPs #Mercury #EPA #airquality

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