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

Editor’s Note: This blog was updated at 9:37 a.m. to include a link to the Allegheny County Board of Health meeting. ACHD posted the video to its Facebook page Wednesday evening. We joined fellow environmental advocates and residents Wednesday to send a message to county leaders: They must do more to protect the health and wellbeing of local residents dealing with all-too-frequent bouts of unhealthy air quality and illegal emissions from local air polluters like the U.S. Steel. GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell was among dozens who attended a rally for clean air organized by our friends over at Penn Environment. The event took place outside the City-County building downtown just moments before the Allegheny County Board of Health was set to meet. Many of the same people who attended and spoke out at the rally also addressed the board, imploring members to help residents and environmental watchdog groups get through to the Allegheny County Health Department that its current strategy to engage with the public lacks both transparency and timely communication on air quality matters that impact public health. Patrick was among those who presented public comment. Here’s what he told them once they finally got to the public comments section of the meeting: Good afternoon. I’m Patrick Campbell, the executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution. GASP is an environmental watchdog group working to improve our region’s air quality since 1969. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I’m before this Board to once again share our concern about extremely high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide at the Liberty monitor on April 23rd , 24th, and 25th that led to exceedances of PA’s 24-hour average standard. For the better part of two days, H2S levels were between two and FOUR TIMES higher than the allowable level at the Liberty monitor. Unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter coupled with an overwhelming rotten egg odor spurred residents to use social media and the SmellPGH app to voice concerns, fears, and physical symptoms like itchy eyes, throat irritation, headache and asthma attacks. GASP did what we could to alert the public about the exceedances in fine particulate matter and spikes in H2S – the highest one-hour values since 2015 – and educate them about what H2S is, how it impacts people and where it comes from here in Allegheny County. We felt we had to. While the Allegheny County Health Department issued a Mon Valley Warning addressing the unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter, it did nothing to educate and prepare residents about how to protect themselves or their families from harmful air quality during those three days. On the days of April 23rd , 24th, and 25th residents, and “residents” is far too much of a diminutive term. People, human beings – human beings had to choose between opening their windows to cool their homes or keep them closed to protect their health, to choose between letting their children play outside or not to limit their exposure, to choose between exercising outside or exercising indoors or skipping it altogether. Or, or worst of all, these human beings living in the county were completely unaware of the abysmal air quality and how that harms their health because they didn’t know. GASP has been before this Board of Health before asking you to exercise your authority to EXPECT more transparent, effective communication from the county’s Health Department. Because it is just that, a health department, charged with robust regulation, enforcement, and communication on behalf of the public so they are equipped with the best knowledge available to protect themselves during days with poor air quality. The residents, the human beings of Allegheny County deserve to know how to protect themselves and the people they love from bad air that will hurt their health. Thank you for your time and consideration. Note: GASP wants to be sure everyone knows that despite the press release distributed to the public indicating that a livestream option would be available for those who could not attend in person,  residents, air quality advocates, and at least one member of the Pittsburgh media publicly asked ACHD through official communications channels for information on whether a stated tech issue was being fixed, or if a recording would be available. ACHD responded only after the meeting had concluded, apologizing in a Facebook post for what it called “technical difficulties.” “It’s unbelievably unfortunate that members of the public unable to attend in person were denied the opportunity to attend a board meeting that only occurs four times a year,” Campbell said after the meeting. “We understand that ‘technical issues’ happen, but health leaders need to understand how this looks from a resident’s perspective: They are told the health department wants to foster trust among community members and make it easier for them to access ACHD resources and meetings, but then something like this happens. We’re glad ACHD said they’re sorry, but the best apology is changed behavior.” The recording was ultimately uploaded to ACHD’s Facebook page Wednesday evening. You can view that recording here. #H2S #airpollution #hydrogensulfide #USSteel #LibertyMonitor #rallyforcleanair #PatrickDowd #AlleghenyCounty #PatrickCampbell #alleghenycountyairquality #emissions #fineparticulatematter #airqualityinAlleghenyCounty #ClairtonCokeWorks

The Allegheny County Health Department has reviewed and approved six amended air emissions mitigation plans for those sources which were initially rejected, according to a press release issued Friday afternoon. The plans from pollution sources are required under the Mon Valley Air Pollution Episode Rule and outline what steps the source will take to reduce its emissions during any episode. Here’s what the release said: “This is another important step to protect the health and wellbeing of all people in the Mon Valley,” Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen said. “This innovative enforcement tool will require sources of pollution to take measurable steps to reduce emissions on days when such actions are most needed. I again applaud our Air Quality Program for their ongoing work in shepherding this project and bringing real results for residents who have long suffered from poor air quality.”Letters of approval and all submitted plans can be found here.The Mon Valley Episode Rule, an addition to Article XXI – Air Pollution Control Regulations, was signed into law in September 2021 by Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald to develop and implement a system to respond to weather-related inversions in the Mon Valley, which can result in episodes of high levels of particulate matter pollution (PM2.5). Under the rule, Air Quality staff monitors pollution forecasts for conditions that could lead to an episode. When conditions are likely to exceed acceptable levels for the Mon Valley, sources are required to follow approved mitigation plans to reduce their emissions. Under the direction of the Health Department Director, an Air Pollution Watch is issued when weather conditions are forecast to cause a high concentration of particulates in the Mon Valley, and an Air Pollution Warning is issued when the exceedance occurs and is expected to continue for 24 hours. The rule applies to sources within or near the following municipalities: Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Clairton, Dravosburg, Duquesne, East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, Elizabeth Borough, Elizabeth Township, Forest Hills, Forward, Glassport, Jefferson Hills, Liberty, Lincoln, McKeesport, Munhall, North Braddock, North Versailles, Port Vue, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek, Versailles, Wall, West Elizabeth, West Mifflin, White Oak, Wilkins, Wilmerding and Whitaker. Mon Valley Episode Rule notifications and alerts will be sent out using Allegheny Alerts. To sign up, you’ll need to set up a free subscription by visiting the Allegheny Alerts page. Users can choose to have notifications sent via email, text, and/or phone call and may also download and receive notifications on the Everbridge app. GASP put together this Residents’ Guide to Allegheny County’s Mon Valley Episode Rule & the Facilities Subject to It. Check it out here. #airpollution #MonValleyEpisodeRule #USSteel #emissions #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #mitigationplans #airquality

GASP on Tuesday joined residents and fellow air quality advocates to provide input on the draft Title V operating permit for U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works facility, telling the Allegheny County Health Department not to squander the opportunity to help improve public health (and quality of life) in the Mon Valley. Residents from several municipalities in and around the Clairton facility – which has been operating under a Title V permit that expired back in 2016 – presented powerful testimony, telling ACHD about having to place pillows around doors and windows to keep pungent air from seeping in, about asthma attacks that have become more frequent, about the fear they have just walking out the front door in the morning. They placed the blame squarely on U.S. Steel, telling officials how emissions from its Clairton Coke Works were impacting their health and upending their lives. And they asked ACHD to make the permit as protective of public health as possible. While GASP’s attorneys are crafting written comments, our Executive Director Patrick Campbell was in attendance of the hearing (which took place at the Clairton Municipal Building) to present testimony. Big thanks to our friend Mark Dixon for the photo of Patrick delivering his comments. Here’s what he told ACHD: Photo courtesy of Inversion Documentary Good evening. My name is Patrick Campbell. I am the executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution, an air quality watchdog group founded in 1969. Thank you for the opportunity to present testimony today. GASP attorneys will address the lack of a compliance schedule and other technical deficiencies with U.S. Steel’s Title V permit in written comments, but I’d like to focus on an issue that’s long affected the health and well-being of residents: The all-too-regular exceedances of Pennsylvania’s 24-hour average hydrogen sulfide (H2S) standard. The H2S standard – according to PA regulations – is “the maximum concentrations of air contaminants which will be permitted to exist in the ambient air.” Yet, according to ACHD Annual Air Quality Reports for 2011- 2020, H2S levels at the Liberty monitor exceeded this standard on 455 days over those 10 years. Preliminary data show an additional 54 such exceedances in 2021. While ACHD has meticulously documented air quality that unequivocally violates state standards, it has yet to adequately address it. GASP thinks the place to start is painfully obvious: U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works. The PA DEP Air Emissions data show the Clairton Coke facility was the largest emitter of H2S in the entire state for each of those 10 years, averaging over 120 tons of H2S emissions annually. U.S. Steel often contends it is not the source of the problem, but it is clear its Clairton Coke Works facility is an enormous part of the problem. And as a contributor to the regular and ongoing exceedances of the H2S air quality standard, the Title V permit for U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke facility must include stronger limitations on H2S emissions. Residents are counting on the public health officials tasked with protecting them to do just that, they – we – are counting on ACHD to help stem the often-sky-high H2S concentrations that force us to close windows on nice days, keep our kids from playing outside, and wake us up at night. Don’t squander this opportunity to make improvements to the health and quality of life for people who live near – and downwind of the Clairton Coke Works. If you missed the meeting and want to hear the full comments, the video can be viewed on the ACHD Facebook page where it was live-streamed Tuesday: We also wanted to give a shout-out to our friends at Clean Air Council, who live-tweeted the hearing and Inversion Documentary for filming the hearing and posting some awesome updates from the hearing: VCAN member Art T is the first speaket. He says ACHD needs to “clean it up or shut it down!” “If they don’t clean up their act, get the hell out of there.” #ClairtonTitleV — Clean Air Council (@CleanAirCouncil) February 22, 2022 Edith Abeyta from North Braddock Residents for Our Future has something to say just by sitting at the Clairton Cokeworks Title V permit hearing. #HappeningNow #smellpgh #AirQuality @GASPPgh @BreatheProject pic.twitter.com/F2JtuT8opu — InversionDocumentary (@inversion_doc) February 22, 2022 Big thanks also to Valley Clean Air Now (VCAN) and Breathe Project, who helped get the word out about the hearing through press releases you can read here and here. Here’s the media coverage of the hearing so far (check back, we’ll add news article links as we see ‘em): Air Quality Advocates Urge County to Add Restrictions to U.S. Steel Permit, City Paper Advocates Say Stricter Air Permit Could Help Ensure Air Quality, WESA Editor’s Note: It’s important to note that written comments on the permit draft can still be submitted to ACHD through the end of the day on March 15. You can find out more information on that process here. Check back, GASP will have sample comment language and an online form that routes your comments straight to ACHD (easy peasy). #emissionsfromClairtonCokeWorks #TitleVoperatingpermit #MonValleyairquality #USSteel #ValleyCleanAirNow #AlleghenyCounty #MonValley #emissions #publiccomments #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #ClairtonCokeWorks #airquality