Dear Fellow Breathers, Congratulations are in order: It’s Dec. 26 and the roller-coaster ride that was 2020 is nearing an end. We survived  ! With just a few days left in what was a challenging 12 months, GASP is shifting its focus from the year that was to the year that will be. While 2020 is a year that a lot of folks will try to forget, we’re hopeful that 2021 will be one to remember. In fact, we’re resolved to make it so. It might be a bit early, but we’re locking in our New Year’s Resolutions now – and we want you to know exactly what GASP will be striving for over the next year. Because not to sound like a Bryan Adams song from the 1990s or anything, but everything we do…we do in fact do it for you. Well, you and clean air. So here goes: In 2021, your friends at GASP resolve to… Keep a watchful eye on air quality data, as well as industrial air polluters and the officials in charge of regulating them to bring you not only watchdog reports – but real change in policy, enforcement, and ultimately, air quality as a whole. Fight for episodic weather regulations that are as protective of public health as possible. You can count on us to work with the Allegheny County Health Department to ensure that industrial polluters are forced to dial down operations that could negatively impact air quality during inversions and other weather events. Continue to serve as a resource for not only our members, but the public at large, residents of frontline communities bearing the brunt of Pittsburgh’s poor air quality, educators, and others committed to improving the air we all breathe. Work to diversify our board, our staff, and to ensure that our educational offerings, events, content, and initiatives are as inclusive as possible – we will continue to be a voice for frontline community members as well as a listening ear, a collaborator, and ally. We know we’ve said it many times before, but it’s true: We wouldn’t be able to do any of the above without support from members like you. As the battle for clean air continues, please know how much we appreciate having you fighting alongside us. As the year winds down, it’s not too late to become a member, renew your membership, or make a tax-deductible year-end donation. As a small token of our appreciation, we’d like to offer those making donations of $60 or more a special gift. Memberships can be purchased and donations can be made via check or online. For those who would prefer to make a credit card payment over the phone, our office manager Kathy would be happy to help you do that – please feel free to email her at kathy@gasp-pgh.org with your phone number and the best time for her to call. Yours for Clean Air, The GASP Team #airpollution #airquality

Allegheny County experienced two more air quality exceedances last week when the midnight-to-midnight 24-hour average concentration of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exceeded Pennsylvania’s air quality standard of 0.005 ppm. Those exceedances occurred at Allegheny County Health Department’s (ACHD’s) North Braddock air quality monitor on both Dec. 23 and Dec. 24, with 24-hour concentrations of 0.007 ppm and 0.008 ppm, respectively. For those keeping track: The latest H2S exceedances bring the total to 28 so far this year, according to preliminary data from ACHD. When it comes to H2S, Allegheny County saw the highest one-hour concentration (across all ACHD monitors for the entire year) between midnight and 1 a.m. today at the North Braddock monitor – 0.060 ppm. During that same hour, data show sulfur dioxide concentration at the North Braddock monitor was 0.070 ppm, close to the federal health-based standard of 0.075 ppm. We know that air quality data can be confusing and that sometimes visuals help – so check this out: #H2S #hydrogensulfide #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #NorthBraddock #ACHD #airquality

With everyone spending a whole lot more time inside, indoor air quality is more important than ever. Because the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) designates January as National Radon Action Month, it seems like the perfect time to remind you why testing for that particular pollutant is paramount. Just so we’re all on the same page before we get into the particulars: Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when uranium in the ground breaks down, entering homes through cracks in the foundation and other openings in the home. You can’t see it and you can’t smell it. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 deaths each year nationally. In fact, it’s the leading cause of death from lung cancer among nonsmokers in the United States. Unfortunately, folks here in Pennsylvania need to be particularly vigilant when it comes to this home hazard because the Keystone State’s geology makes some locations in the commonwealth hotbeds for the stuff. Fortunately, exposure to radon is preventable. The key is testing: And you don’t have to hire a certified professional to perform it (although you certainly could opt to do that) – you can do it yourself with the help of a simple, inexpensive testing kit. Bonus: Winter is the best time to test because doors and windows are closed, which provides more accurate results. Bigger bonus: The American Lung Association of Pennsylvania and DEP are currently providing radon testing kits at no cost throughout the month of January. You can get more info here. If the testing reveals high levels of radon in your home (EPA recommends no more than 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or more of the gas in your indoor air) it’s recommended that you install a radon-reduction system. The radon-reduction systems usually involve the installation of a pipe and exhaust fan to vent the gas outdoors. While the remediation may be costly, experts say mitigating a radon leak could make the sale of your home go more smoothly in the future. It’s important to note that radon exposure isn’t just a health hazard at home – it’s also one at many schools. A recent survey indicated that 20 percent of schools have at least one classroom with high, short-term radon levels. While the EPA does recommend all schools nationwide be tested for radon, only about 20 percent of schools have done so. This problem prompted about a dozen states to implement laws regarding radon exposure in schools. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania was not – and is not – among them. To learn more about radon in school, check out this helpful fact sheet from our friends at Women for a Healthy Environment. You can learn more about radon, its health impacts, and mitigation measures on the EPA website. Editor’s Note: For more information on radon, and other common home hazards like asbestos and lead, and how you can prevent associated health impacts join GASP and a panel of experts at 6 p.m. Jan. 14. #lead #radon #makingtheconnection #ROCIS #Asbestos #asbestosabatement #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #airquality

Maybe you’re looking to add some sustainable style to your wardrobe, or maybe you’re looking to rehome some clothing that no longer fits your body or look – either way, Buffalo Exchange in the South Side flats has you covered. Bonus: With every in-store purchase, you get the opportunity to support GASP and the clean air initiatives we spearhead. That’s because the resale shop selected the Group Against Smog and Pollution to be the beneficiary of its Tokens for Bags program through June. Here’s how it works: Instead of handing out plastic bags, Buffalo exchange offers shoppers a 5-cent token that they can donate to one of four nonprofit organizations – of which GASP is one. At the end of six months, the store sends the total amount to each non-profit for every token they received. Fun fact: Since the program’s creation in 1994, it’s helped raise more than $800,000 for thousands of nonprofit organizations and kept more than 16 million plastic bags from polluting the environment, to boot. But being eco-conscious is on-brand for the company. A pioneer in resale fashion, Buffalo Exchange is a sustainable business that works to protect the environment by reusing and recycling clothing. Customers buy, sell and trade their items, giving them a second life, and reducing clothing pollution. “It’s been a challenging year for many nonprofits – the Group Against Smog and Pollution included,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “We are so grateful to our friends at Buffalo Exchange for thinking of us – every bit of financial support is greatly appreciated!” #Buffaloexchange #plasticbags

Editor’s Note: The public comment period for Allegheny County’s draft coke oven regulations closed as of 4 p.m. Jan. 21. THANK YOU to all who submitted comments! If you are concerned about emissions from U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works, there is no better time than now to let the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) know how you feel. ACHD is now accepting public input on long-awaited revisions to its air quality regulations governing coke oven emissions. GASP will be submitting formal, legal comments, but we’re not writing just to let you know what *we* plan to do. We want to help you understand some of issues so that *you* feel comfortable and confident providing your own comments to the health department. Emissions from coke ovens have been an essential ingredient in our region’s poor air quality for over a century. Both ACHD and US Steel need to hear the public demand cleaner air. Here’s what you need to know to do just that: First, Just a Bit of Housekeeping Details of the proposed changes and supporting documentation are available online. The video on this webpage does provide a good overview of the changes. Also, save the date: Comments must be submitted to ACHD by 4 p.m. on Jan. 21. With that out of the way, let’s start at the beginning… Coke Oven Emissions 101 Simply put, coke is produced by baking coal in an air-tight oven at very high temperatures for about 17 hours. Without oxygen, the coal doesn’t burn but essentially sweats out all of its impurities. Because of the high temperatures, those impurities evaporate and are collected as coke oven gas. Coke oven gas is toxic, flammable, and carcinogenic because of ingredients like tar, benzene, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen sulfide. This mixture is processed to remove some of the more acutely toxic constituents and the remainder is then burned to heat the coke ovens. The problem from a public health standpoint is that this operation simply isn’t air-tight. Pipes leak. Oven doors leak. Emissions escape when loading and emptying the ovens. Equipment breaks down. And at every such point, the emissions could be extremely hazardous. Because of a host of factors, not every molecule of air pollution emitted at the facility ends up affecting ambient air quality, but frequent odor complaints linked to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) near Clairton Coke provide strong evidence that some of those emissions are finding their way into local communities. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless, flammable gas with a distinct rotten-egg odor. Industrial sources of H2S include petroleum and natural gas extraction and refining, pulp and paper manufacturing, and waste disposal. The largest emitter of hydrogen sulfide in Allegheny County is U.S. Steel. According to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Air Emissions reporting, Clairton Coke Works emitted about 156 tons of H2S in 2019—the most recent year for which data is available. For some perspective, all other sources of H2S in Pennsylvania combined only emitted 59 tons. That level of emissions makes H2S both a potential indicator of less odorous but more dangerous pollutants in the air as well as a problem all unto itself. Pennsylvania has an ambient air quality standard for hydrogen sulfide, which is monitored by ACHD. Air quality exceeded that standard 28 times in 2020, according to preliminary data. GASP has long called on ACHD to get a handle on those exceedances, last year petitioning the department to create stronger coke oven regulations – a move Air Quality Program officials said would help solve the problem. ACHD’s Coke Oven Regulations: What’s New & What They Will Do Presently, ACHD coke oven regulations spell out limits on emissions for aspects of the coking process where there is a potential for emissions such as when the ovens are loaded (called charging), when they are emptied (called pushing), and when the red-hot coal is cooled (called quenching). ACHD also has procedures for inspectors to follow to correctly determine compliance with those limits but they aren’t fully spelled out in the current regulations. In revising its coke oven regulations, ACHD indicated it had four primary goals in mind: Incorporate inspection procedures for coke ovens; Address “issues of stringency” with federal and state requirements; Correct the coke oven gas standards; and Remove outdated language GASP staff reviewed the proposed revisions at length. Our staff attorneys determined that modifications will essentially do three things: Retain existing limits on “fugitive emissions” from the coke ovens as well as concentrations of particulate matter in emissions from “combustion stacks.” FYI: Fugitive emissions include visible emissions from leaking doors, piping, etc., and the combustion stacks are essentially the chimneys for the ovens. Reduce limits on the sulfur content of coke oven gas burned at the facility in two steps – the first when the rule becomes effective and the second occurring on Jan. 1, 2025. Revise inspection protocols for fugitive emissions from the coke ovens. Easier Said than Done GASP supports ACHD’s efforts to reduce H2S and other coke oven emissions. In taking this step, we believe ACHD is acting to protect the health and safety of local residents and communities. Unfortunately, the revisions to the coke oven regulations fell short of our expectations. We know that when regulators create new rules or retool existing regulations, they must keep many (sometimes contradictory and conflicting) factors in mind. For ACHD, one of those factors is language in the 2019 settlement agreement with U.S. Steel, which requires the department to be able to demonstrate that revisions made to coke oven regulations would reduce concentrations of both hydrogen sulfide and benzene at the Liberty air quality monitor. The agreement also requires coke oven regulation changes to be “technically feasible.” “What this means exactly in any given situation is anyone’s guess, but it’s safe to assume that an engineer or other industry expert has to be willing to testify that a required control or measure could be done, with a realistic cost-benefit ratio,” GASP senior attorney John Baillie explained. And guesswork isn’t something we should be engaging in at this point. In the documentation accompanying the revisions, ACHD didn’t show its work. As a result, there’s no data establishing that the revisions will ultimately make the air in the Mon Valley any cleaner. “ACHD has not attempted to demonstrate that the new rule conforms to the 2019 Settlement Agreement, specifically the requirement that any revisions result in reduced H2S levels,” Baillie said. “Rather, it justifies the rule based on a purported need to incorporate applicable federal and state standards into the county regs.” But here’s the thing: GASP’s review shows that Allegheny County’s air pollution control regulations (known as Article XXI) already incorporate those rules by reference. “This means facilities are already subject to such rules,” Baillie explained. While there is no need to spell them out expressly in Article XXI, doing so may make it easier for industry, the public, and regulators to determine exactly which limits apply. “To the extent ACHD wants to incorporate applicable state and federal rules, it should incorporate all such rules for the sake of clarity. The new rules would not do this,” he noted. The new rules also do not incorporate: A federal limit on the total dissolved solid content of quench water (no more than 1,100 mg/L); or Federal limits on fugitive emissions that are based on rolling 30-day averages of observed emissions rather than instantaneous observations. The “new” limits on fugitive emissions are, in fact, existing emission limits so any air quality improvements from them will thus depend on increased enforcement and compliance, he added. Fortunately, it’s not all bad news: The proposed limit on the sulfur content of coke oven gas is likely to help reduce the concentration of sulfur compounds – including both SO2 and H2S – in the ambient air at the Liberty monitor and in the vicinity of Clairton generally. Unfortunately, while this limit may be technically feasible for U.S. Steel to achieve, ACHD has not demonstrated that it is the case as required by the 2019 settlement agreement. “This leaves the regs vulnerable to a legal challenge brought by U.S. Steel,” Baillie said.  “ACHD should provide such a demonstration so that the regs hold up in court.” How You Can Make Your Voice Heard on Allegheny County’s New Coke Oven Regulations If you’ve read this far, you already know: Regulations are complex and the terminology and process can be confusing. GASP is fortunate to have two staff attorneys who review all this stuff and explain it to the rest of the team in a digestible way. So we get it if you’re thinking to yourself, “I know this is important. I know that crappy air quality impacts my life – I smell the stank all the time – but I don’t think I know enough about it to really submit comments.” Please know: You don’t need to be a lawyer or an expert to weigh in. Regulators, the regulated community, and watchdog groups like GASP might know the technical details and understand the underlying rules, limits, and regulations but we aren’t on the frontlines – YOU are. It’s important for ACHD to hear this unified message from residents: We’re hopeful the revisions will help stem fugitive emissions from coke ovens and H2S exceedances but we are concerned there’s no guarantee the proposed changes will lead to cleaner air in the Mon Valley. ACHD must continue to do all it can to protect the health of residents impacted by decades of poor air quality. The public deserves to know that these updates will improve air quality. It’s equally important for residents to share their personal experiences – your first-hand accounts give you your own expertise. We hope you use that expertise to help decision-makers understand how industrial air pollution impacts your day-to-day life. We hear the stories all too often: About children who needed to be taken to the ER after playing outside on a bad air day, about people shuttering their doors and windows on unseasonably warm days to keep pungent industrial odors at bay, about people who fear they will have to sell their beloved homes to protect their families from egregious emissions. Those experiences are important for public officials *and* U.S. Steel to hear, and we hope you will consider sharing them by testifying at a public hearing slated for 5 p.m. Jan. 20, by sending in written comments by the Jan. 21 deadline, or both. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to submit comments and encourage you to do so through our online form. Your comments will automatically be routed to ACHD. More instructions on how to submit public comments can be found here. Those who would prefer to present verbal testimony at the hearing must register through Zoom at least 24 hours in advance of the virtual hearing. Please note that testimony is limited to three minutes. #cokeovenregulations #benzene #airpollution #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #airquality

Editor’s Note: The public comment period for Allegheny County’s draft coke oven regulations closed as of 4 p.m. Jan. 21. Time is running out to weigh in on proposed revisions to Allegheny County’s coke oven regulations – rules the health department hopes will reduce certain air pollutants emanating from U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works as well as clarify inspection procedures. As Mon Valley residents know all too well, emissions from coke ovens have been a primary source of our local air pollution for decades. While GASP and fellow clean air groups have long called on the Allegheny County Health Department to retool them, it’s imperative that ACHD and U.S. Steel hear from the people who are most impacted by emissions and malodors from the plant: You. Fortunately, there is ample opportunity for you to speak out: ACHD is accepting public comments on the draft regulations through 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21. The department will also accept oral testimony at a public hearing slated for 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20. GASP wants to make speaking out as simple as possible for you: On our blog, you can get the skinny on the draft revisions, access sample language for your comments that you can copy-and-paste or add to, as well as a simple form that will automatically route your message to the Allegheny County Health Department. You can check all of that out here. “We want to extend a big thank you to all the folks who already submitted their comments, and encourage those who’ve been impacted by emissions from Clairton Coke Works not to sit this one out,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “We also want to encourage those who have submitted written comments to also sign up to testify at the public hearing.” She added: “U.S. Steel has often tried to stack the deck when it comes to public testimony at these types of hearings. Don’t let them drown out the voices that most need to be heard.” Remember: You don’t have to be an expert on all things coke ovens in order to speak out. Regulators (i.e. ACHD), the regulated community (i.e. U.S. Steel), and watchdog groups like GASP might know the technical details and understand the underlying rules, limits, and regulations but we aren’t on the frontlines – YOU are. And that gives you your own brand of expertise. REMEMBER: People wishing to present verbal testimony at the hearing must register through Zoom at least 24 hours in advance of the virtual hearing – which means you must sign up by 5 p.m. today, Tuesday Jan. 19. Testimony is limited to three minutes. Need a little inspiration? Check out what some of your neighbors had to say about the new coke oven regulations and then complete the form below: “I am old enough to remember growing up in Swissvale when at noon red noxious emissions from Carrie Furnace would enter the air and we kids would have to hurry up and take our clothes off the clothesline☹️ Now, I live on a mountain ravaged by coal mines in earlier centuries looking down on toxic emissions from the USS Clairton Works.☹️ When will these environmental injustices stop?” – JL “We citizens of Allegheny County rely on the ACHD to take all stands to ensure that the air we breathe is clean and healthy. The Proposed Coke Oven Regulation Revisions will limit the sulfur content of coke oven gas is likely to help reduce the concentration of sulfur compounds – including both SO2 and H2S – and to improve our health standards. Does it go far enough to make sure our air is cleaned up? Probably not, but it’s a move in the right direction. Please act in the best interest of Allegheny County citizens, and avoid the temptation to enact policy designed to maximize profits for local industry. “ – KP “I am a long-term resident of Allegheny County and suffer from the below average air quality. Clariton Coke is one of the main culprits and should either be shut down or forced to comply with existing or updated regulations. The usual economic arguments to maintain the status quo have been disproven over and over again. Please take action now!” – RN “I am a long-time resident of Allegheny county with experience living in the east end communities (Shadyside, Oakland and Squirrel Hill). The time for Pittsburgh to address the Clairton coke pollution issues is long overdue. Year after year we have waited for action on this important health issue. I have been using the “smell Pittsburgh” app to log air quality issues and NEAR HALF of summer days I can smell the Sulfer/rotten egg small. It was especially acute this past summer- and seems to be GETTING WORSE, NOT BETTER! It is not just a smell but rather the feeling of burning sensation from breathing the air on those days that prompts me to keep children indoors rather than play outside which would otherwise be the healthier option. Important improvements have occurred in western Allegheny county with the clean up and shutdown of the Neville Island industrial polluters. I would like to see equivalent action taken for the East end communities which have long suffered with the smell and unnecessary health hazards from the Clariton coke emissions. PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW – IT IS ALREADY LONG OVERDUE!” – DN “Please do everything in your power to regulate air pollution from the coke works! I live in Whitehall. We have lots of trees around our house, but still have issues with intense, toxic smelling air at least once a week and lately, several times a week, usually late at night or in early morning. We bought two big air cleaners and I wear masks to let the dogs out. Yes, it’s that bad sometimes because I’ve had asthma attacks from it. I talk about moving all the time as I’ve had less problems breathing while visiting in bigger cities. I’ve lived in over 20 places in Pittsburgh and this is by far the worst in air quality! My husband reports it to an app every time. He’s lived here for over 25yrs and says it’s getting worse.” – SG “ACHD, I am a Munhall resident and have just learned about your plans for revisions to the coke oven regulations at Clairton Coke. Works. What are you doing to ensure the health and safety of Mon Valley Residents? We live with the ill effects of this industry daily. There are many days when I cannot even be outdoors at my own home. Not the quality of life the health department should want for County residents. I would love some assurance that these proposed updates will provide an improvement to the air quality in the Mon Valley. Thanks.” – VB “Dear ACHD, I didn’t grow up in Pittsburgh – I moved here from eastern PA for college and decided to stay because I liked it here so much. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, my job, like many others in the region, has shifted to a full-time remote position and is expected to remain that way. Despite how much I like Pittsburgh, as a person who also loves spending time outdoors biking and running, I’m not sure I can justify staying here any more because the air quality is so poor. Why should I live here when I can move anywhere else in the country and not have to deal with this disgusting air? I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling this way about this city that I like so much. I’m so tired of walking outside in the morning and smelling that awful sulfur smell. I’m tired of getting an itchy throat and watery eyes several days each month while exercising outdoors. I’m worried that when I decide to have children, raising them here will mean subjecting them to increased asthma risks and lung complications. I think Pittsburgh is a beautiful city but so many days of the year are ruined by horrible air pollution. Add to that the poor water quality and excessive amounts of litter everywhere and one has to ask, why should I stay in Pittsburgh if all that matters to the government is US Steel, not me? Please put out stronger air quality regulations and enforce them. If not, many people, myself included, will have little justification for staying in this city much longer.” – AB #airpollution #USSteel #emissions #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #ClairtonCokeWorks

We’ve got some good news to report: The revised fee schedule for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Air Quality Program officially went into effect this past weekend – a move that will allow it to adequately administer and enforce air pollution laws in the 65 of the state’s 67 counties (excluding Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties) for which it is responsible. That’s because the Air Quality Program is funded by the fees that it charges rather than by general tax revenues. “The new proposed fee schedule should put the Air Quality Program on sound financial footing for at least the next five years,” GASP senior attorney John Baillie said. “The new schedule will also impose fees for the first time on a number of the determinations DEP routinely makes for facilities, a welcome revision that will make the companies that use the most of the department’s resources pay a larger share of the cost of providing them.” “That opposition seems to have evaporated during the fall and winter,” Baillie explained. For those interested, the new fee schedule is available here. How will this impact fees collected by Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality Program? “ACHD has already revised the structure of the fee schedule for the Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality Bureau to match the structure of DEP’s proposed revisions,” Baillie explained. GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini added: “We expect that ACHD will finalize its new fee schedule in the near future and that the fees charged to facilities in Allegheny County will be similar, if not the same as, DEP’s new fees. ” #DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection #airpollution #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #feeschedule #DEP #AirQualityProgram #ACHD

Editor’s Note: The public comment period for Allegheny County’s coke oven regulations closed as of 4 p.m. Jan. 21. Residents talked about having to shut their windows on nice days to keep out noxious odors emanating from the Clairton Coke Works. They spoke about asthma attacks, about suffering itchy eyes and throats, about dust that cakes their windows and kills their outdoor plants. Some talked about fears that persistent poor air quality would ultimately force them to uproot their families in search of a healthier environment. Others noted that even if they wanted to – needed to move – some simply do not have the resources to do so. They told ACHD stories about being afraid to let their pets outside. About keeping their children indoors on days when pollution levels skyrocketed. They asked, “Do your children have to worry about going outside to play?” They begged health officials in three hours of testimony: Please do more to protect us from Clairton Coke Works emissions. GASP and fellow environmental groups joined those residents at a virtual public hearing Wednesday evening to testify about draft revisions to Allegheny County’s coke oven regulations in an effort to send the message to ACHD that the public is relying on them to ensure the regulations are as strong as possible. Intended to reduce certain air pollutants from U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works and clarify inspection procedures, the draft revisions were the topic of nearly three hours of testimony from residents, environmental leaders, and U.S. Steel loyalists. The meeting was held remotely and streamed live on the Allegheny County Health Department’s Facebook page. You can read all about the draft revisions on our recent blog. Here’s testimony presented Wednesday by GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini: Good evening. I’m Rachel Filippini, the director of GASP. These verbal remarks are in addition to the more extensive and technical comments we will be submitting tomorrow. For years now, we have implored the ACHD to do more to control emissions coming from the Clairton Coke Works that cause malodors and are linked to asthma, heart attacks, cancer, and myriad other health problems.We know, for instance, that emissions from the Clairton Plant regularly contribute to exceedances of Allegheny County’s ambient air quality standard for Hydrogen Sulfide. The Clairton Plant is the largest emitter of hydrogen sulfide in Allegheny County. PA DEP Air Emissions reporting shows Clairton Coke Works emitted about 156 tons of H2S in 2019. For some perspective, all other sources of H2S in PA combined only emitted 59 tons.Over the past several weeks we have worked to assist community members in submitting their own comments. From those comments, we heard from people who fear going outside without a mask – not just because of the pandemic, but because of the seemingly ever-present emissions and malodors from the Clairton Coke Works. We heard gut-wrenching stories about community members having to rush their asthmatic children to the ER on days when air quality was particularly poor. We heard others lament that while they love the city of Pittsburgh, they may need to uproot their families because of the abysmal air quality, and how it impacts their day-to-day lives.With these regulations, ACHD can potentially make a positive impact on our local air quality and those who breathe it. Are these revisions everything we’d hoped for? Absolutely not. Do we support the health department’s efforts to reduce hydrogen sulfide and other coke oven emissions? Absolutely. What follows are some of our concerns:The department says these revisions are necessary to incorporate a number of existing state and federal standards relating to coke oven emissions in Article XXI. However, they are already incorporated by reference and thus the department has had, for a long time, the ability to enforce these standards.The “new” limits on fugitive emissions are, in fact, existing limits so any air quality improvements from them will depend on increased enforcement and compliance. A regulation is only as good as the enforcement of it.To the extent ACHD wants to incorporate applicable state and federal rules, it must incorporate all such rules for the sake of clarity. In their current form, the new rules do not incorporate: ● A federal limit on the total dissolved solid content of quench water (no more than 1,100 mg/L); nor ● Federal limits on fugitive emissions that are based on rolling 30-day averages of observed emissions rather than instantaneous observations. Additionally, ACHD should demonstrate that the limits on emissions of particulate matter from coke oven battery combustion stacks, leaking doors, leaking topside port lids, leaking offtake systems, and visible emissions per charge are at least as stringent as the federal regulations. The proposed limit on the sulfur content of coke oven gas is likely to help reduce the concentration of several pollutants in the ambient air. Unfortunately, while this limit may be technically feasible for U.S. Steel to achieve, ACHD has not demonstrated that it is the case. ACHD should provide a demonstration showing what, if any, reduction of concentrations of H2S in the ambient air near the Clairton Plant generally, and at the Liberty monitor specifically, will occur once the proposed revisions take effect. Thank you for your consideration of these comments. While the public hearing may be over, the public comment period is not. If you haven’t yet weighed in on the revised coke oven regulations, here’s a sample message to use in its entirety or as a guide. Fill out our form below to have your comments routed directly to ACHD: Editor's Note: The deadline to comment has passed. Thanks to all who weighed in. #cokeovenregulations #airpollution #hydrogensulfide #USSteel #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #ClairtonCokeWorks #Clairton #airquality #cokeovengas

Editor’s Note: The following is from a news release issued by the Allegheny County Health Department Thursday morning. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) announced on Thursday morning that its air quality monitor network has been updated to remove the Lincoln air quality monitor. The site was first installed in 1993 to collect data on PM 10 to measure compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set by the Environmental Protection Agency. In 2011, the department installed a PM 2.5 monitor to collect data for a study that compared levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) to larger particulate matter (PM 10). The study concluded years ago, but the PM 2.5 monitor continued to operate. Concentrations of PM 10 have been generally declining since 1997, and there has not been a violation of the PM 10 NAAQS at that site since 1997. The most recent exceedance of the PM 10 NAAQS at the Lincoln site was in 2005. The Lincoln monitoring site was on a hill on private property near Clairton. Trees surrounding the site became overgrown and blocked airflow to the site, causing it to no longer meet regulatory requirements for air quality monitoring sites. PM 10 monitors continue to operate in Liberty, Clairton, Glassport, and North Braddock. PM 2.5 is measured in the Mon Valley at three of the four sites (Glassport being the exception). Beginning immediately, the Lincoln monitor will no longer appear on the Air Quality dashboard. The monitor was taken offline last week and dismantled. #ACHD #airquality #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #Lincolnmonitor

The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) is seeking Allegheny County students in grades 9, 10, and 11 who are interested in becoming environmental game-changers. If that’s you or someone you know, we invite you to apply today for an innovative new program called Fresh Voices for Clean Air. GASP is partnering on this unique opportunity with Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution (GASP), a non-profit organization working in the greater-Birmingham area in Alabama that works to advance healthy air & environmental justice through education, advocacy, and organizing. They strive to reduce air pollution, to educate the public on the health risks associated with poor air quality and to encourage community leaders to serve as role models for clean air and clean energy development. “We are so excited to partner with GASP in Birmingham on this project and to see what the students come up with,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “While our organizations are unrelated, our commitment to clean air is unbreakable.” Sound interesting? Here’s how Fresh Voices for Clean Air works: GASP will pair a small group of high school students in Allegheny County with a group of their peers in Birmingham, Ala. for a year-long collaborative partnership. Throughout 2021, the cohorts in each city will meet virtually to participate in discussions with each other and with guest speakers. The team will learn more about air quality while building the skills necessary to become effective environmental advocates. By the end of the program year, the team will have created, developed, and executed an air quality-related project of their own choosing, with the support of adult mentors in both Pittsburgh and Birmingham. Bonus: Upon successful completion of the program year, participants will earn a $250 award. “This new partnership between air quality-focused non-profit organizations in Pittsburgh and Birmingham reflects our cities’ similar industrial and environmental history,” said Michael Hansen, executive director of the Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution. “A century ago, Birmingham was nicknamed the ‘Pittsburgh of the South.’ The two cities have experienced some of the worst air quality in the nation, and residents have been fighting back for decades.” GASP Air Quality Educator Laura Kuster agreed: “Discovering and discussing the similarities and differences between experiences in these two regions will be a key component of the collaboration,” she said. The program will run from March through December 2021 and is open to students in grades 9, 10, and 11 who attend school in either Allegheny County, PA or Jefferson County, Ala. To be considered, students must be willing and able to participate in Fresh Voices for Clean Air until the end of 2021. Please note that the program spans two academic years and includes the summer in between. Those interested in participating will need access to a laptop or desktop computer, tablet or smartphone to participate in virtual meetings, as well as written consent from a parent or guardian. The deadline to apply is Feb. 19. You can apply here. Have some questions or need a little more information before committing to the program? Learn more and get a chance to introduce yourself to program advisors starting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16. You can register here. The Fresh Voices for Clean Air initiative was made possible by funding through the Grable Foundation. The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), a non-profit founded in 1969, works to improve air quality in southwestern Pennsylvania in order to safeguard human, environmental, and economic health. GASP is a diligent watchdog, educator, litigator and policy-maker on a variety of air quality issues impacting our region. Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution (GASP), a non-profit organization working in the greater-Birmingham area in Alabama, advances healthy air & environmental justice through education, advocacy, and organizing. They strive to reduce air pollution, to educate the public on the health risks associated with poor air quality and to encourage community leaders to serve as role models for clean air and clean energy development. #airpollution #airquality #cleanair