The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) is teaming up with Patagonia Pittsburgh to let people know: It’s well past time we do something about the often pervasive rotten egg odor caused by hydrogen sulfide emissions by meeting the H2S standard—one that is exceeded dozens of times each year in Allegheny County. To help raise awareness of an associated petition, our friends at Patagonia Pittsburgh transformed one of its display windows on Walnut Street in Shadyside into a mural with the message, “Tired of dirty air? Help GASP Clean it. Sign the petition.” The colorful mural was designed by Riley Mate and painted by Pittsburgh artist Jeremy Murray. People who stop by can check out their work, sign our petition, and learn more about GASP’s mission. “Thanks so much to Patagonia for helping us get the word out about an issue that impacts so many people in our city: Poor air quality,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “H2S emissions do more than cause a sickening odor. They make people sick and otherwise affect people’s quality of life. At a time when Pittsburgh has been named one of the most livable cities in the United States, people shouldn’t have to keep their windows closed on a nice evening or forego jogging or working in their garden because of the industrial stench.” She explained that the air quality monitor nearest to U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works has detected levels of hydrogen sulfide above the state’s daily average standard of .005 parts per million (ppm) an average of 52 times per year for the past seven years. In 2015— the worst of those years—there were 87 violations. To put that into perspective: According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Release Inventory, Clairton Coke Works self-reported emitting roughly 120 tons of hydrogen sulfide in 2018, the most recent year for which data is available, while the self-reported emissions for all other sources in Pennsylvania combined totaled about 36.5 tons. GASP already delivered one petition to the Allegheny County Health Department, asking them to take action on this important health and policy issue. You can read more about it—and sign our petition asking Allegheny County Council to do what it can to encourage the health department to take action—here. #pittsburghairpollution #H2S #PatagoniaPittsburgh #hydrogensulfide #USSteel #GASP #RachelFilippini #ClairtonCokeWorks #airquality

The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) has been on the front lines of the fight for clean air in the Pittsburgh region for 50 years. Over the past five decades we’ve stood with residents, nonprofits, and policymakers who’ve advocated for their right to better air quality. Now, we’re asking you to stand with us on #GivingTuesday Dec. 3. For those who might be unfamiliar, #GivingTuesday is a game-changer for small nonprofit organizations like GASP: Called a “global generosity movement,” it’s a day for, well, giving. And since its inception, #GivingTuesday has inspired folks to give BIG. How big? Just last year, people in 150 different countries donated more than $400 million to nonprofits working hard to make their communities better places to live, work, and raise a family. This #GivingTuesday, we hope you’ll find it in your hearts (and pocketbooks) to donate to GASP. Every dollar raised will go to fund our three-pronged approach to improving local air quality: through progressive policy advocacy, education, and legal watchdog efforts. We’ve made improving local air quality our mission over the past 50 years, but we wouldn’t have been able to do any of it without the support of concerned citizens like you. We thank you for your past support and implore you to help us continue to push for improved air quality for all as we embark on the next 50 years through a #GivingTuesday donation. Learn more about GASP’s past work and accomplishments, our educational programming, and legal watchdog efforts on our website. And as always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@gasp-pgh.org. #GivingTuesday #airquality #GASP

About a dozen people attended an event hosted by GASP last week featuring Carnegie Mellon University Professor Nicholas Z. Muller, author of a recently published study titled, “Recent Increases in Air Pollution: Evident and Implications for Mortality.” The event, which took place at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh East Liberty branch, featured a lecture and question-and-answer period. The study was co-authored by fellow CMU economist Karen Clay and explored how, after declining by 24.2 percent from 2009 to 2016, the annual average fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the United States in counties with monitors increased by 5.5 percent between 2016 and 2018. Increases occurred in multiple census regions and in counties that were in and out of attainment with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). During his chat, Muller discussed the channels through which the increase may have occurred, including increases in economic activity, increases in wildfires, and decreases in Clean Air Act enforcement actions. He said the health implications of this increase in PM2.5 between 2016 and 2018 are significant: The increase was associated with 9,700 additional premature deaths in 2018. At conventional valuations, these deaths represent damages of $89 billion. #PM25 #NationalAmbientAirQualityStandards #PM25 #KarenClay #RecentIncreasesinAirPollutionEvidentandImplicationsforMortality #CleanAirAct #NicholasZMiller #airquality

By Amanda Gillooly, GASP communications manager I’ve got a confession to make: The hard sciences aren’t really in my wheelhouse. Chemistry. Physics. Basically, anything that deals with taking measurements or understanding spacial relations. Not my thing, man. I’m but a humble writer. So, when my boss here at GASP asked if I’d like to attend a training event that would teach me how to properly label smokestack emissions from the Clairton Coke Works, my immediate thought was, “I’m probably not the best candidate.” Then she told me the end goal: That these volunteers would actually be helping to train artificial intelligence to detect industrial smoke pollution automatically. In my head, there was a record screech. “I’m totally gonna bring down the curve,” I thought. But I was willing to give it the old college try. So that night, I joined a few other volunteers and our friends from Carnegie Mellon University’s CREATE Lab, which developed the tool and would be conducting the training. The developer told us where to log in, and made some introductory remarks. He reiterated that we would be seeing video clips that depicted emissions from various industrial sources. He explained that the big issue is discerning whether the plumes are steam or smoke. He added that it would take about 300 hours to amass enough correctly labeled smoke videos to train AI to automatically identify it. It took all of five minutes for me to blurt out, “What if I just don’t get it and label steam as smoke. Won’t I actually be doing a disservice to this whole endeavor?” That’s when the friendly (and really, really smart) folks at the CREATE Lab told me about safeguards set up for this very reason. They assured me that people who incorrectly label enough videos would be asked to go through prompts providing additional instruction. “Don’t worry,” Ana said. “I have complete confidence that you will be able to do this.” That made exactly one of us. But heartened with the knowledge that I wasn’t gonna mess the whole thing up, I began labeling videos. And immediately screwed up enough that the system politely suggested that I take the tutorial again. “Naturally,” I thought as I scrolled through the additional instructions, only to incorrectly label a bunch more videos. This is the point that I would normally want to flip a proverbial table. But let me tell you: The young man who developed the program, Yen-Chia Hsu, truly created a stellar tutorial—one that congratulates you when you get something right, and explains in a friendly, helpful way what you got wrong. After trying and failing and trying again, I was successfully able to label smoke for the next hour or so. My point is: If I can do it, you can do it. And you can do it from your phone, or tablet, or laptop. At your own convenience. And in your own home. “Even if people did it for 10 minutes a day, it would be a huge help,” Yen-Chia said. By this point, I hope you’re telling yourself, “Sounds like a pretty easy way to make a difference. I’m into it – so sign me up.” If so, here’s the link – go check it out and start smoke reading today. #ClairtonCokeWorks #CREATELab #YenChiaHsu

Over the past few months, GASP has collected hundreds of signatures for our petition urging the Allegheny County Health Department to take action to achieve the hydrogen sulfide standard. For those who might be unfamiliar: Hydrogen sulfide—or H2S—is a colorless, flammable gas with a distinct rotten-egg odor. Coke-making is a primary source of hydrogen sulfide in the county, where U.S. Steel is the largest emitter. More than a year ago, ACHD committed to revising the county’s coke-oven regulations as a way to reduce H2S, but to date those revisions have not gone out for public comment. GASP will soon be presenting our petition to ACHD (more on that soon!), and renewing our call for both achieving the H2S standard (which is violated about 50 times a year on average) AND strengthening coke-oven regulations. In the meantime, we need your help spreading the word: We’ll be closing our petition soon, so if you haven’t signed it, please do! If you already affixed your signature, please consider sharing it with like-minded friends via email or social media. Sign it here. #HydrogenSulfideStandard #H2S #hydrogensulfide #petition #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment

The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) on Thursday joined Penn Environment downtown for a press conference unveiling the environmental nonprofit’s new report, which documents how decades of poor enforcement of air quality rules by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) “enabled industrial facilities to pollute the region’s air.” PennEnvironment Field Organizer Zachary Barber said the report titled, “Cutting Through the Smoke,” found that ACHD has enabled pollution through slow permitting and weak enforcement. The report comes in the wake of the departure of ACHD Director Karen Hacker, and makes recommendations for how the incoming director can improve enforcement techniques and “in turn better protect residents from dangerous air pollution.” “When ACHD finds a health problem at a restaurant, it shuts the restaurant down. Yet for decades, ACHD allowed polluters to go right on harming our health,” Barber said. “There are simple, time-tested enforcement practices used across the country that, if implemented in Allegheny County, could go a long way towards reining in dangerous pollution.” Here are some of the report’s key findings: ACHD allowed major polluters to operate without required pollution permits. Of the 32 industrial facilities in Allegheny County required to hold federally required operating permits, one out of three have either been running with an outdated and expired pollution permit or have never been issued the required pollution permit in the first place. Clean Air Act permits are the first steps in protecting the public from pollution, providing critical tools for enforcement and transparency. ACHD favored weak enforcement actions and polluter-friendly legal settlements, which failed to halt illegal air pollution. Many violations continued even after repeated enforcement efforts from ACHD. ACHD took more than 80 formal and informal enforcement actions against U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works over the last 30 years (an average of 2.7 per year), but the facility continues to illegally pollute on a regular basis. Harsco Metals continues to illegally blanket the surrounding community in dust a decade after the Health Department’s first attempt to clean it up. Some signs of improvement. ACHD has made recent steps toward a tougher approach to enforcement, increasing penalties for illegal pollution and moving away from voluntary settlements. The department’s $2.7 million penalty against U.S. Steel and its willingness to consider shutdown of coke making at Clairton Works after a recent fire that knocked out pollution control equipment are among several recent steps to increase accountability for polluters. As a result of its report, Penn Environment implored ACHD to implement a series of best practices for the enforcement of clean air laws, including: Issue timely, health-based Clean Air Act permits and clear its backlog. Pursue aggressive enforcement action to ensure industrial facilities don’t “pay to pollute.” Expand air quality monitoring, deploying more monitors around major sources to better track emissions. Partner with public, advocacy groups, technical experts and other government agencies to bring extra resources to bear in the fight for clean air. GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini echoed many of PennEnvironment’s concerns, and called for change. “In the past, ACHD officials have been too quick to settle with repeat industrial polluters, and the fines issued don’t appear to deter future—and in some instances, ongoing—violations,” Filippini said. “If we ever hope to move off the ‘worst air quality lists’ that our county is so used to being featured on, then we must ensure industry gets the message that polluting is both financially and politically untenable here. We hope the incoming director of the Allegheny County Health Department takes an aggressive approach to enforcement; one that tells potential polluters, ‘Not on my watch.’” PennEnvironment’s “Cutting Through the Smoke” can be viewed in its entirety on the nonprofit’s website. #airpollution #GASP #RachelFilippini #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #ClairtonCokeWorks #PennEnvironment #airquality

Mark your calendars because U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-18th District, is hosting a Climate Change Town Hall this month, giving local folks the opportunity to weigh in on this important issue. The event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 14 at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall and will feature two panels of experts to discuss solutions to address climate change. “I will provide an update on action to address climate change at the federal level, and there will be an opportunity for members of the audience to ask questions. I look forward to an interesting and informative event, and I hope to see you there,” Doyle said in a Facebook message announcing the town hall. A list of speakers has not yet been finalized—we will keep you posted as more details become available. In the meantime, Doyle asked those with questions to direct them to his office at 202-225-2135. #ClimateChange

The Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday posted three Notice of Violation letters it issued to Erie Coke Corp. The letters are dated July 25, and address violations of air quality regulations that occurred on July 8, July 9, and July 12. According to the letters: Visible fugitive air contaminants of greater than 20 percent opacity were observed escaping from the coke-side shed. DEP noted that the violation was made during an inspection July 8. Then on July 9, DEP inspectors observed fugitive particulate matter emissions visible outside Erie Coke’s property. On July 12, visible fugitive air contaminants greater than 20 percent opacity were observed escaping from the coke-side shed. The notice of violation letters come in the wake of hearings before both the state Environmental Hearing Board and the Court of Common pleas. The EHB case addresses the company’s appeal of DEP’s July 1 notice that it would be denying ECC’s Title V operating permit following what the department deemed ongoing air emissions compliance issues. In the Common Pleas case, the DEP is seeking closure of the plant. More information on those legal battles can be found here. Editor’s Note: Several news outlets have now filed stories about these newest Notice of Violation letters. Here are the associated links: DEP Issues New Violation Notices to Erie Coke, GoErie.com DEP Posts 3 More Violations Against Erie Coke, Erie News Now #TitleVoperatingpermit #noticeofviolation #ErieCokeCorp #TitleV #DEP #airquality

Erie coke The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Monday announced in a press release that it will conduct air quality sampling near the Erie Coke plant and throughout the Erie community to collect data to assess health risks to the general population. Specifically, DEP will be monitoring for compounds related to coke production, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. Thirteen monitors will be placed along the perimeter of the facility and at four locations in the community. DEP developed the sampling plan in response to concerns raised by the members of a community stakeholder group formed by the DEP, as well as several recent actions requiring Erie Coke to address numerous, ongoing violations of the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act, many of which Erie Coke has appealed and not complied with. “Erie Coke has a long history of violations that DEP continues to address. Based on the number of air quality violations, Erie Coke’s lack of intention or ability to address those violations, and the understandable concerns of the community regarding air quality, DEP is moving forward with this sampling plan,” said DEP Northwest Regional Office Director James Miller. “This facility will still have a presence in this community during the current legal proceedings and we must continue to take steps to address any environmental concerns stemming from Erie Coke.” On July 1, DEP announced that it denied Erie Coke’s application to renew its Title V operating permit and has filed a complaint for injunctive relief in Erie County Court seeking to shut down the coke production facility following years of numerous repetitive environmental violations. The case is currently before the Environmental Hearing Board. Editor’s Note: Here are some associated media links for your consideration: Citizens Meet With DEP and Erie Coke, Erie News Now DEP Has Started Air Quality Sampling at the Erie Coke Plant, YourErie.com State to Test Air Quality Near Erie Coke Plant, GoErie.com DEP to Conduct Air Quality Sampling Around Erie Coke, YourErie.com Pennsylvania DEP to Conduct Air Quality Sampling Near Erie Coke Plant, Erie News Now DEP to Conduct Air Quality Sampling Around Erie Coke (Coal) Plant, PA Environment Digest Blog #ErieCoke #benzene #airmonitoring #DEP #airquality

U.S. Steel this week filed its answers and affirmative defenses to a federal citizens lawsuit filed against it in April in U.S. District Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania by the nonprofit groups Penn Environment and Clean Air Council for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. In June, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) successfully moved to intervene in the case. In legal documents filed Tuesday, attorneys for U.S. Steel asked the court to enter the judgment in the company’s favor, along with court costs and other “further relief as this court deems appropriate. In its answers, U.S. Steel is clear in its denial of the allegations set forth in the suit, and further stated that it denied, “that individuals who live or rent property near its Clairton, Edgar Thomson, and Irvin Plants were adversely affected by alleged illegal pollutant emissions from the plants.” Attorneys for the multi-billion international steel-making company raised a number of issues, alleging among other things that: Penn Environment and Clean Air Council failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. That the two environmental agencies “lack capacity to sue of the requisite standing” to pursue the claims made in the lawsuit. That the two environmental groups’ 60-day notice of their intent to sue was “inadequate” and did not comply with federal requirements. That the complaint should be barred because it is “based on emergency conditions or conditions outside of U.S. Steel’s reasonable control.” That the complaint should be barred because it is “based on the terms of prior orders that are applicable to U.S. Steel and it’s Mon Valley Works facilities” and because they are also based on “the terms of the applicable permits, SIP, and local, state and federal regulations. That ACHD has no statutory or regulatory basis for its claims under federal statute or its own rules and regulations. Need a refresher on what claims Penn Environment, Clean Air Council, and ACHD raised in the suit? GASP wrote about the suit and its allegations, and also about Allegheny County’s successful motion to intervene. Editor’s Note: You can read U.S. Steel’s answers to the lawsuit here and here. Coverage from the Pittsburgh Business Times can be accessed here. Coverage from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Don Hopey can be viewed here. #USSteel #CleanAirCouncil #emissions #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #PennEnvironment #ACHD #ClairtonCokeWorks