The saga of Pennsylvania’s quest to enter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative – or RGGI – has yet another chapter: Last week, a Commonwealth Court ruling essentially put the implementation of the program on pause for now here in the Keystone State. First, some quick background before we get into the nitty-gritty: RGGI is a multistate cap-and-trade program for certain power plants’ carbon dioxide emissions. Under RGGI, those power plants must purchase emissions credits in order to emit carbon dioxide and the proceeds from those purchases would (in Pennsylvania, anyway) be used to fund renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. Got it? OK – now here are some need-to-know details about how we got to this latest ruling. Here’s what’s going on: The regulations that would implement RGGI in Pennsylvania were subjected to legal challenge by industry groups and Republican legislators. On July 8 the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania sided with those groups and entered a preliminary injunction that prevents Pennsylvania from implementing, administering, or enforcing the RGGI regulations. “The court determined that the requirement that the power plants purchase emission credits is a tax rather than a regulatory fee, and was, therefore, a violation of Pennsylvania’s Constitution, which reserves the power to levy taxes to the General Assembly,” GASP senior staff attorney John Baillie explained. “The court also determined that by funneling the proceeds from the sale of emission credits to renewable energy and energy efficiency programs RGGI violates Pennsylvania’s Air Pollution Control Act, which allows DEP to impose fees only to cover the costs of operating its air pollution control program.” DEP has announced that it will appeal the Commonwealth Court’s decision. In the meantime, the groups that petitioned for the preliminary injunction must post a bond in the amount of $100 million (and nope, that is not a typo) to ensure the Commonwealth is compensated for any damages it might suffer if the injunction is eventually lifted. Stay tuned, we’re continuing to follow the issue and will keep you posted.

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has published a proposed revision to its air quality regulations that will impose a new set of “Reasonably Available Control Technology” (RACT) requirements on major sources of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Allegheny County. Why? Good question: New RACT rules are required under the Clean Air Act every time the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone is revised. NOx and VOCs are regulated under the Clean Air Act because they contribute significantly to the formation of ground-level ozone. Because this is the third time new RACT rules have been required, they are referred to as “RACT III.” Most if not all major sources of air pollution in Allegheny County will be subject to the new rules. This includes: Pittsburgh Allegheny County Thermal; Bellefield Boiler; Sunoco Pittsburgh Terminal; Brunot Island Generating Station; Imperial Landfill; Buckeye Pipeline Coraopolis Terminal; Monroeville Landfill; Kelly Run Landfill; Pittsburgh Terminals Coraopolis; Universal Stainless and Alloy; Energy Center North Shore; LHT Terminals; Springdale Energy; US Steel Clairton; US Steel Edgar Thomson; US Steel Irvin; Neville Chemical Co.; University of Pittsburgh; Liberty Polyglas Pultrusions; ATI Flat Rolled Products; and Eastman Chemicals & Resins. Here’s how we got here: The first round of RACT determinations followed the creation of the RACT requirement by the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act and were implemented in the late 1990s and early 2000s. RACT II determinations, which have only just been completed, followed the revision of the NAAQS for ozone in 2008. That brings us to RACT III, which follows the latest revision of the ozone standard, which occurred in 2015. We have blogged about the RACT requirement before, but to review: The RACT requirement instructs states to determine whether major sources of NOx and VOCs in areas that do not attain the NAAQS for ozone are using all “reasonably available control technology” to limit their emissions of NOx and VOCs. These rules are important because NOx and VOCs are the two principal precursors to the formation of ground-level ozone pollution. If such sources are not implementing RACT, the states must require them to do so, even if they were properly permitted when they began operating and have continued to operate within all applicable limits. “Although the Pittsburgh region has attained the NAAQS for ozone, all areas of Pennsylvania are deemed to be nonattainment for the purpose of implementing RACT, because the Keystone State is included in the ‘Ozone Transport Region’ established by the Clean Air Act,” GASP senior staff attorney John Baillie explained. “As a result, all major sources of NOx and VOCs in Pennsylvania will be required to comply with RACT III emission limits.” ACHD proposes to implement RACT III by including the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) RACT III regulations fully by reference into Allegheny County’s Air Pollution Control regulations. “Accordingly, RACT III will generally be implemented by imposing new emission limits for NOx and/or VOCs called ‘presumptive limits’ on certain categories of sources by regulation,” Baillie said. “A source may petition to opt out of such regulatory limits, but the reviewing agency would still have to determine RACT for the source on a case-by-case basis.” A case-by-case RACT determination for a facility generally requires the facility to identify all “technically feasible” controls for its NOx or VOC emissions, and then determine whether such controls are “reasonably available” using a cost-benefit analysis that looks specifically at the cost per ton of NOx or VOC emissions that each control would remove. For RACT III, it is believed that sources in Pennsylvania that opt out of presumptive RACT III limits will be required to implement NOx-limiting controls with a cost-effectiveness of $7,500/ton, and VOC-limiting controls with a cost-effectiveness of $12,000/ton. The presumptive limits in the RACT III regulations will cover several categories of sources that were not covered by RACT II’s presumptive limits, including certain (with “certain” meaning “depending on their capacities or ratings”): natural gas compression and transmission facilities rich burn stationary internal combustion engines solid fuel (but not coal) combustion units certain direct-fired heaters, furnaces, ovens, glass melting furnaces, and lime kilns. It should be noted that for the remaining coal-fired electric generating units in Pennsylvania, RACT III limits will be determined on a case-by-case basis. RACT III will also lower some of RACT II’s presumptive limits, including those for: certain combustion turbines, certain lean burn stationary internal combustion engines, and Portland cement kilns. DEP estimates that implementing RACT III could reduce NOx emissions on a state-wide basis by as many as 9,000 tons per year and yield a corresponding state-wide health benefit valued at between $337 and $732 million. ACHD’s proposed RACT III regulations are available by a link on ACHD’s website. As mentioned above, the proposed RACT III regulations will impose new limits on rates of emissions from certain source categories and are thus technical in nature, but ACHD is accepting comments on them through Aug. 18 by email at aqcomments@alleghenycounty.us.

GASP is seeking Allegheny County students in grades 9, 10, and 11 interested in becoming environmental game-changers. If that sounds like you or someone you know, we invite you to apply today for an innovative new program called Fresh Voices for Clean Air. For the second year, GASP is partnering with Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution (GASP), a non-profit organization working in the greater-Birmingham area in Alabama to advance healthy air and environmental justice through education, advocacy, and organizing. “Like us, they strive to reduce air pollution, educate the public on the health risks associated with poor air quality, and encourage community leaders to serve as role models for clean air and clean energy development,” Patrick Campbell said. “We’re excited for the opportunity to partner with our friends in Birmingham and can’t wait to see what the students come up with this time.” Interested? 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 school year-long collaborative partnership. Throughout 2022-23, the cohorts in each city will meet virtually to participate in discussions with both each other and 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. And that’s not all: Upon successful completion of the program year, participants will earn a $100 award. GASP Air Quality Educator Laura Kuster said she was impressed by last year’s participants not only for their great work but their passion for and commitment to environmental advocacy. “The students loved hearing from a wide variety of guest speakers, and those speakers valued interacting with the students even more,” GASP educator Laura Kuster said. “It’s inspiring to engage in conversations about air quality and the environment with our Fresh Voices participants, and I often think back to their perspectives and insights while doing my work.” GASP Birmingham Executive Director Michael Hansen said he looks forward to seeing what this year’s program brings. “We are so excited to work with students in the Birmingham and Pittsburgh areas through Fresh Voices. This program creates an opportunity for young people impacted by air pollution to collaborate and find common ground. Together, we’re going to learn about air pollution and environmental health, share our stories, and craft solutions to the problems facing our communities.” The program will run through the 2022-23 academic year and is open to students in grades 9, 10, and 11 who attend school in either Allegheny County or Jefferson County, Ala. Students must be willing and able to participate in Fresh Voices for Clean Air until the end of the school year in May 2023 to be considered. Participants will need access to a laptop or desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone to take part in virtual meetings, as well as written consent from a parent or guardian. The deadline to apply is Monday, Sept. 12. You can apply here. Have questions or need more information before committing to the program? Learn more and introduce yourself to program advisors starting at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1. You can register here. The Fresh Voices for Clean Air initiative was made possible by funding through the Grable Foundation.

The Allegheny County Health Department this week announced a special meeting of its Air Quality Advisory Committee for 5 p.m. Aug. 29. The meeting will be held in person and online. Here’s what the department sent out to stakeholders in an email: Following the August 8, 2022 Advisory Meeting, the Director, Dr. Debra Bogen, and the Air Quality Program are seeking further advice and counsel from the Air Quality Advisory Council, specifically, as it relates to two items: a) the proposed regulation change regarding the use of Clean Air Funds and b) the possible spending plan related to the Clean Air Fund. For this reason, the Director is calling a Special Air Quality Advisory Committee meeting on August 29, 2022 at 5PM. ACHD and specifically the Air Quality Program want to thank each of the committee members for their continued service and advice to help further improve the air quality of Allegheny County. This special meeting will be in person at the Clack Health Center. A virtual option through Teams is available for those who cannot attend in person. GASP staff will be in attendance and will keep you posted on what happens. Here’s what you need to know if you’d like to join us: Join on your computer or mobile app Click here to join the meeting Meeting ID: 230 308 667 784 Passcode: tH5x9x Download Teams | Join on the web Or call in (audio only) +1 267-368-7515,,565728403# United States, Philadelphia

Federal health officials last week announced what’s being touted as the first national, place-based mapping tool designed to measure the cumulative impacts of environmental burden through the lenses of human health and health equity. The true value of the Environmental Justice Index (EJI) is its focus on cumulative impacts, which are the total harm to human health that occurs from the combination of environmental burdens like pollution and poor environmental conditions, pre-existing health conditions, and social factors. This tool – created by the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Environmental Justice –uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Mine Safety, and Health Administration, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to rank the cumulative impacts of environmental injustice on health for every census tract. The EJI builds off existing environmental justice indexes to provide a single environmental justice score for local communities across the United States so that public health officials can identify and map areas most at risk for the health impacts of environmental burden. Let’s pause here for a quick example of how pre-existing health conditions can be worsened by environmental burden: Imagine two people with asthma. One person lives in a community with elevated air pollution, and the other person does not. While both people have asthma, the person living in the community with elevated air pollution may be more likely to be hospitalized based on both factors. CHD officials called the new tool “critical to advancing health equity” while the ATSDR said the EJI “strengthens the scientific evidence on the cumulative health impacts of the environmental burden on communities across the country.” The agencies created an online, interactive tool to help public health officials and communities identify and map communities most at risk for facing the health impacts of environmental hazards. Social factors, such as poverty, race, and ethnicity, along with pre-existing health conditions, may increase these impacts. Bottom line? The EJI can help public health officials, policymakers, and communities identify and respond to the unique environmental and social factors that affect a community’s health and well-being. Specifically, the EJI databases and maps can be used to: identify areas that may require special attention or additional resources to improve health and health equity, educate and inform the public about their community, analyze the unique, local factors driving cumulative impacts on health to inform policy and decision-making, and establish meaningful goals and measure progress towards environmental justice and health equity. GASP staff utilized the EJI tool to review the rankings for the City of Clairton, a community historically impacted by emissions from one of Allegheny County’s most egregious air polluters – U.S. Steel. What we found was startling but not surprising. On the mapping tool, the City of Clairton includes three census tracts. When looking at several tracts at once, the summary EJI scores for the several major categories appear in the left-hand column. For individual census tracts you can get additional detailed information (some shown in the images but click on the “tract” links below for the full rankings). This tract has an EJI rank of 0.97 overall. This means that 97 percent of census tracts in the nation likely experience less severe cumulative impacts from the environmental burden and that just 3 percent of tracts in the nation likely experience more severe cumulative impacts from the environmental burden. Its rank for air pollution is 0.89, which means it has an air pollution burden worse than 89 percent of the United States. You can see part of this overall calculation is its ranking for air toxics cancer risk, which is listed as 1.0 – the worst ranking within a category. Here’s a look at the second Clairton tract: The second tract had similarly alarming scores: Its overall EJI ranking is 0.99, which means it experiences severe cumulative impacts from the environmental burden that is likely worse than 99 percent of the United States. Like its neighbor to the East, the air pollution burden rank was 0.89 and its air toxic cancer risk rank was 1.0. “Let that sink in,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “What that number tells us is that when it comes to cancer risk from toxic air, Clairton residents are at the highest risk of any other area in the nation.” And here’s an overview of the third Clairton tract: The third tract had an overall EJI rank of 0.90, an air pollution rank of 0.88 and an air toxic cancer risk of 0.99. Clairton also ranked poorly when it came to the prevalence of pre-existing disease, with a ranking of 5 out of 5. In all three Clairton tracts, there was a high prevalence of: High blood pressure Asthma Cancer Diabetes Poor mental health “While the rankings are startling, they sadly aren’t surprising. Pittsburghers already know all too well how profoundly environmental injustice can negatively impact our health and wellbeing,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “The EJI confirms the lived experience of so many of our neighbors. We hope the Allegheny County Health Department will utilize this tool to inform its decision-making on what air quality monitoring, outreach, research, and enforcement efforts to prioritize to ensure health equity for all its residents – especially those in the Mon Valley, who have borne the brunt of our local pollution for far too long.” GASP staff also reviewed the EJI by county. Here’s an overview: We encourage local residents, policymakers, and advocates to check out the tool here to see how your community ranks.

Editor's Note: All the available spots for this free opportunity have been filled. Poor air quality affects us all, but it doesn’t affect us all equally. Just ask someone living in a front-line community about how often air pollution from industrial neighbors impacts their day-to-day lives and that of their families. Even those of us who don’t live near or downwind of an industrial source of air pollution have at some point likely looked at emissions being belched from a facility and asked, “Is that even permitted?” You can learn the answer to that question and more at an upcoming smoke reading course. Not familiar with smoke reading? Then let’s take a step back to explain: “Smoke readers” is a general term for people who are trained and certified to recognize and understand visible emissions from sources such as smokestacks, as well as what likely violations look like, and how to make reports. “People are sometimes surprised to learn this is the same training received by Allegheny County Visible Emissions Inspectors,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. Our project manager Sue Seppi, a longtime smoke reader, said attending the training is an excellent way for citizens to take action in their own communities by reading visible emissions at the facilities that are of concern to them. “The reality is local inspectors can’t be at every facility at all times,” she said. “Plume observation reports from volunteers who are trained and certified as smoke readers may help increase regulatory scrutiny on air polluters.” Sound like something you or someone you know would be interested in? Then we have good news for you: Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is covering the cost of the training put on by Eastern Technical Associates – but please know spots for this opportunity are extremely limited. Once your training is complete, the GASP team can pick up from there to get you started with actual observations in your community. The next two-day training is scheduled for September. The first session is a live webinar held at 9 a.m. every Monday – participants may select whichever Monday works best for them. Participants then will spend the second session in the field on either Sept. 28 or Sept. 29. The field instruction registration begins at 8 a.m. and consists of multiple hourly field observation periods called runs. Complete one hourly observation successfully and you are done and will receive certification. Certification lasts six months. Email our project manager Sue Seppi at sue@gasp-pgh.org for registration details.

GASP on Wednesday submitted formal written comments to the Allegheny County Board of Health in advance of its Wednesday meeting, again imploring members to demand more transparency and meaningful public communications during and after high-profile emissions events like the one at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works on July 4. Around 10:50 a.m. that day, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) sent just one short message through its public Alert system to notify residents that an unplanned outage at the facility made it necessary for U.S. Steel to flare coke oven gases from its stacks and batteries. U.S. Steel first reported the outage around 5:30 a.m. July 4, so ACHD’s messaging to us was too little, too late. Here are our full comments: Dear Allegheny County Board of Health, I am writing as the executive director for the Group Against Smog and Pollution. GASP is an environmental nonprofit representing more than 400 Pennsylvania residents. We have been working for clean, healthy air in our region since 1969. You have undoubtedly heard about the July 4 early morning power outage at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works – an incident that sent heavy smoke and flames spewing from the facility. Residents who are signed up to receive Allegheny Alerts received a public notice regarding the outage around 10:50 a.m. on Independence Day – hours after the incident was reported to ACHD. The alert was just a few paragraphs and stated the unplanned event required the flaring of coke oven gases from the Coke Works’ stacks and batteries, ACHD was monitoring air quality monitors around the plant, and those monitors, “have not indicated any adverse conditions since the event and it is believed that the power outage will either not affect or only minimally affect plant emissions.” In closing, the Alert stated: “The Health Department will remain in contact with the plant throughout the day.” To our surprise and dismay that was the only information shared with the public regarding the July 4 incident. There was no follow-up. While GASP appreciates the department vowed to remain in contact with U.S. Steel throughout the day, our public health officials – again – failed to provide timely, updated information to the residents whose public health they are charged with protecting. The Allegheny Alert stated that the effect on air quality was expected to be minimal, but it altogether ignored its impact on the community. Residents told us about feeling like they were choking that day, and the SmellPgh app shows numerous reports on July 4 that reference a strong sulfur odor and resulting physical symptoms like headache, difficulty breathing, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. During the peak of Pittsburgh’s air pollution problem, the city was once described as looking like “hell with the lid off.” In stunning Breathe Cam footage, that’s exactly what the Coke Works looked like on July 4. GASP last week called on ACHD to provide the public with a detailed update on the incident and its impact on air quality that considers wind direction, which could explain why the Clairton and Liberty monitors did not show spikes: It wasn’t blowing toward the monitors that day. Despite statements from leadership at the health department this past year touting their commitment to improved communications with residents – especially those who live in environmental justice areas like Clairton and other Mon Valley communities – not much has changed. ACHD continued its routine practice: They waited until hours after the incident to release any information to the public, ignored how it impacted residents, and failed to follow up with further information. Furthermore, there was no attempt at compassion or empathy for the people whose Fourth of July holiday was upended, and quality of life impacted. Earlier this week, GASP again called on the department to release more details, specifically requesting that ACHD release to the public a breakdown report that U.S. Steel was required to submit within seven days of the incident. Again, we received no acknowledgment or information from the department. On Tuesday, we contacted ACHD legal staff to make an informal Right-to-Know request for the document and received no reply. This morning, we submitted a formal request for the documents. GASP is a watchdog organization that works to keep residents educated and hold both polluters and regulators accountable. We know that making such information requests is sometimes necessary to ensure that residents have access to reliable information. However, in such a high-profile incident, ACHD should take seriously its commitment to transparency and make all information regarding the July 4 Clairton Coke Works incident publicly available. We are asking you – our public health leaders – to demand meaningful transparency from ACHD so future incidents that risk public health might be avoided. Sincerely, Patrick Campbell Executive Director Group Against Smog and Pollution

Flames and heavy smoke spewing from U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works on Monday prompted the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) to issue the following statement through the County’s Allegheny Alert system: Today, July 4, at 5:30 a.m., the United States Steel Clairton Coke Works plant experienced a power outage that affected plant operations. Power was recently restored and the facility is working to return to normal operations. The outage has required the flaring of coke oven gasses from the stacks and batteries. The Allegheny Health Department’s Air Quality Program has been monitoring its air quality monitors around the plant since the outage occurred. Area monitors have not indicated any adverse conditions since the event and it is believed that the power outage will either not affect or only minimally affect plant emissions. The Health Department will remain in contact with the plant throughout the day. Stunning footage of the scene from 5:30 a.m. through 10 a.m. was provided courtesy of the Breathe Cam and our friend Mark Dixon: As of just before 2:00 p.m., Breathe Cam footage shows additional flaring is still occurring: “I’m glad to know ACHD is monitoring the situation but I’m not sure about its assertion concerning plant emissions,” GASP staff attorney Ned Mulcahy said. “The Breathe Cam images – particularly one from around 9:15 a.m. – appear to show more than a ‘minimal’ effect on emissions. I hope to see more complete details of the situation made public as quickly as possible.” GASP will continue to review monitor data and live video footage. This story will be updated when further information is available.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week announced a proposed rule that would require comprehensive reporting on asbestos as the agency continues its work to address exposure to the known carcinogen and strengthen the science used to protect people from this dangerous chemical. The proposed rule under section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) would require asbestos manufacturers and processors to report certain use and exposure information, including information pertaining to asbestos-containing articles (including as an impurity). Here’s how it would work: EPA would use data collected through this proposed rule to help inform future actions involving asbestos, including the ongoing risk evaluation for “legacy uses” of asbestos and potential future risk management activities resulting from that risk evaluation. For example, data collected on asbestos as an impurity could better inform the risk evaluation of the use of asbestos in talc. Additionally, EPA’s completed risk evaluation of ongoing asbestos uses included uses where asbestos may be part of an article, or a component of an end- use product, like brake blocks and gaskets. This proposed reporting rule would help identify if there are articles that contain different types of asbestos. The proposed rule would require manufacturers and producers of certain types of asbestos and asbestos-containing articles (including as an impurity) in the last four years to report certain exposure-related information, including quantities of asbestos manufactured or processed, types of use, and employee data. Importantly, the proposed rule also covers asbestos-containing articles (including as an impurity) and asbestos that is present as a component of a mixture. As proposed, manufacturers and processors would have up to nine months following the effective date of the final rule to collect and submit all required information to EPA. Upon publication in the Federal Register, EPA will accept comments on the proposed rule for 60 days via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0357 at www.regulations.gov. The newly unveiled rule is one component of what the EPA called “a comprehensive suite of actions” to address the risks to public health from asbestos. Last month, EPA proposed a rule that would prohibit ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, the only known form of asbestos currently imported into the United States. It is the first-ever risk management rule issued under the new process for evaluating and addressing the safety of existing chemicals under the 2016 amendments to TSCA. Under the previous Administration, EPA narrowed the scope of TSCA risk evaluation for asbestos by only reviewing certain uses of one fiber type of this chemical, chrysotile asbestos. The agency’s failure to consider additional asbestos fibers and its decision to exclude legacy uses and associated disposals of the substance resulted in litigation. In 2019, a court ruled that the agency unlawfully excluded “legacy uses” and “associated disposal” from TSCA’s definition of “conditions of use,” resulting in the need to expand the agency’s review of asbestos. EPA chose to finalize part one of its risk evaluation of asbestos and then turn to part two. The draft scope for part two of the risk evaluation includes legacy uses and associated disposals, other types of asbestos fibers in addition to chrysotile, and the use of asbestos in talc and talc-containing products. Additionally, EPA released the draft scope for the second part of the asbestos risk evaluation in December 2021 and will publish the final risk evaluation by Dec. 1, 2024. GASP remains concerned about asbestos, and exposure risk locally. “The Allegheny County Health Department’s robust enforcement actions related to asbestos abatement violations are shining a light on what we believe is a burgeoning air quality issue locally,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “We’ll be following this closely.” #Asbestos #asbestosabatement #EnvironmentalProtectionAgency #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #EPA #airquality

The Allegheny County Board of Health on Wednesday unanimously voted to approve a $30,000 Clean Air Fund request to finance the development of a research study to measure the impact of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and other airborne pollutants on the health of Allegheny County residents. Partners in the study include Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, and the University of Pittsburgh. The funding application noted the need for and importance of this project: There is ongoing national debate about the current [air quality] standards as emerging evidence suggests that even at these [acceptable] levels, PM2.5 impacts short and long-term health. The impact of exposure to criteria pollutants below the [National Ambient Air Quality Standards] and exposure to H2S (currently a nuisance standard in PA) are not well studied. These [pollutants] will be the focus of the study but the team will consider if other pollutants should be included in the study. GASP strongly supports this expenditure from the Clean Air Fund and looks forward to seeing the results when they are shared with the community. When ACHD sought input on the proposal from the Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee on April 11, members narrowly voted to recommend that the Board of Health approve the project. Worth noting is that U.S. Steel Director of Reliability Centered Maintenance Mark Jeffrey voted no and Chip Babst, founding shareholder and chairman of law firm Babst Calland – frequent provider of defense counsel for U.S. Steel legal entanglements – abstained. A quick word about the Clean Air Fund: It’s a specific pot of money that holds all fines and penalties received by the Air Quality Program. By regulation, this money must be spent on activities “related to the improvement of air quality within Allegheny County” and that “will increase or improve knowledge concerning air pollution, its causes, its effects, and the control thereof.” While regulations also spell out potential uses of the fund, the department has the freedom to choose the projects and set related procedures. GASP has taken issue with both historically (see more on that here). GASP is following the issue closely and will provide updates as more information becomes available. Editor’s Note: Here’s what else happened at the meeting. Learn more about the health impacts associated with PM2.5, H2S, and SO2. #H2S #SO2 #airpollution #hydrogensulfide #alleghenycountyairquality #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #CleanAirFund #airqualityinAlleghenyCounty #ACHD #airquality