The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) was proud to join residents this week at a community listening session on air quality hosted by Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Erika Strassburger – an event designed to provide Pittburghers the opportunity to speak out and tell their personal stories regarding air pollution. GASP’s executive director, Rachel Filippini, made remarks at the event, which was held at Repair the World Pittsburgh Wednesday night. In case you missed it, here are Rachel’s full comments: “Good evening, my name is Rachel Filippini and I’m the executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution (or GASP).  We’ve worked for 50 years to improve air quality in southwestern Pennsylvania. While significant environmental improvements have been made in many areas, the Pittsburgh region continues to struggle with significant health threatening air pollution. Thank you to Councilwoman Strassburger for organizing this listening session and for shining a light on this important issue. What do we know? We know Pittsburgh ranks as one of the top 10 most-polluted cities in the nation in regard to year-round particle pollution. Fine particles which are linked to everything from asthma attacks to heart attacks and strokes, cancer, and premature death. We know Allegheny County ranks in the top 2 percent of counties in the United State for cancer risk from air pollution. We knowchildhood asthma rates in some Allegheny County schools are double the state average. We know air pollution makes people sick, shortens lives, and negatively impacts quality of life. New research shows air pollution also affects us socially through decreased productivity, school attendance, and lifetime earnings. As you are certainly aware there has been a flurry of recent media coverage focusing on the multiple, recent fires at United States Steel’s Clairton Coke Works and the ensuing pollution created. If one positive thing has come out of these fires, it is that it has sparked community engagement on the issue of air quality. Community members are rightfully concerned about the fires, but I believe the anger, anxiety, and frustration we are hearing is the result of residents enduring decades of air pollution while seeing enforcement of law that has – to date – proven ineffective. The fight for clean air can’t come from citizens alone. We need – we depend – on our local and state leaders to look out for us, to pass strong laws and regulations that protect public and environmental health, and to raise a fuss when those laws aren’t being enforced. So, what can Pittsburgh City Council do? Speak out. Air pollution is a regional problem that needs a regional solution. Pollution from Clairton Coke Works doesn’t just affect Clairton and the Mon Valley – it affects us all. The pollutants and their associated odors know no boundaries. Currently, the Health Department of Allegheny County Air Quality Program is reviewing Allegheny County’s coke over regulations to see where they can be strengthened to reduce hydrogen sulfide and its rotten egg odor. When this goes out to public comment, we need you to let your constituents know about this and speak out yourself. Know the stationary sources in your own community. You can find them by going to GASP’s Air Quality Permits Clearinghouse. By knowing your own sources, you can be aware of whether or not their permits are current or expired, can find out if hearings are scheduled, and be better able to provide information to your constituents. Help reduce diesel pollution in Pittsburgh. Diesel particulate matter is one of the greatest inhaled air toxic cancer risks in the region. In 2016, Pittsburgh City Council passed legislation to clean up construction projects in Pittsburgh. This important law finally went into effect earlier this year with the Duck Hollow construction project. While we are pleased that the City’s clean construction implementation is finally a reality, because it only applies to city-funded projects, it has a limited impact. The Urban Redevelopment Authority announced that they will adopt a similar clean construction policy. Now, we need other authorities, which many city council members are a part of, and institutions to pass and enforce their own policies.  Using clean construction equipment needs to become the norm and not the exception. You can also ensure your constituents know that there is a diesel idling law in Pennsylvania that restricts heavy duty on-road diesel vehicles to five minutes of idling.  The police can and should enforce this law but rarely do.  You must encourage them to. City council should take other steps to move away from diesel emissions to electrification.  There is funding out there.  Let’s go after it to clean up as many vehicles and equipment as possible. In addition to the many stationary and mobile sources of pollution fouling our air, residential wood burning is also an issue we often hear concerns about. Allegheny County has an open burning regulation but it is rarely enforced because the health department does not see it as a public nuisance unless multiple people on a street are calling and complaining about it.  Local municipalities can be more stringent when it comes to open burning and the City of Pittsburgh should consider this in light of the many complaints received. What other steps can Pittsburgh take? Can you do more on predicted poor air quality days or predicted poor air dispersion days to reduce pollution?  For instance, can you incentivize using public transport on those days?  Can you ensure there is better coordination between city planning, environmental services, parks and recreation, and transportation and engineering — making sure there is always an eye towards emission reduction? What other best practices to combat air pollution can Pittsburgh adopt?  Now is the time to be exploring and implementing those practices. There is a lot to love about the Pittsburgh region. We have top-rated universities, world-class health care, abundant cultural and natural amenities, and winning sports teams.  Unfortunately, air quality is not something Pittsburghers love or brag about.  Let’s attack our air pollution problem like we would any other public health threat. Thank you for your time. “ #airpollution #diesel #emissions #CleanConstruction #airquality

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) and CountyStat on Wednesday announced the launch of an air quality dashboard on the county’s website. The new interactive site takes information from ACHD’s air quality monitors and provides it in a user-friendly format that is more easily understandable. Users can choose to look at real-time data or choose historical data and can also sort data by type of pollutant and location of the air quality monitors. The new dashboard also contains frequently asked questions. It is available on ACHD’s air quality webpage. “This tool gives people in the public more information about the air quality where they live,” County Executive Rich Fitzgerald said in a press release. “Often, news stories make it look like the region’s air quality is the air quality throughout the county. This tool allows residents to have a quick snapshot of what the air quality is where they live based on the nearest monitor.” The “today” tab of the dashboard shows the most recent 24 hours of data from all air quality monitors across the county that measure three common types of air pollution: fine particulate matter – or PM2.5- ozone, and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The current Air Quality Index (AQI) from each monitor is also part of the dashboard and contains information on what current AQI may have on a person’s health. The “over time” tab provides information on historical trends for data dating back to January 2016 for most monitors. “We are very excited to have worked with CountyStat to develop a new and comprehensive tool so that the public can access the most recent air quality data and information,” Health Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker said in a statement. “Public interest in air quality is crucial to improving air quality in Allegheny County. We encourage residents to explore this dashboard and all of its features. #ACHD #airquality #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #AQI

GASP this week joined fellow environmental organizations in the tri-state region to stand together in opposition to the inclusion of the Appalachian Storage Hub (ASH) as a “new energy source” at tonight’s SPC Long-Range Transportation and Development Plan, “Smart Moves for a Changing Region.” ASH, also known as the Appalachian Ethane Storage Hub, is a proposed massive infrastructure project that would expand unconventional oil and gas drilling (including five or more cracker plants) by allowing natural fracked gas liquids to be stored in underground storage facilities, transported via as many as 15 possible pipelines. “The inclusion of the endorsement of ASH is an attempt by our state leaders to surreptitiously slip funding in to the plan for petrochemical industry development of a storage hub that would exacerbate climate change and harm public health,” said Matt Mehalik, executive director of the Breathe Project. “The ASH concept is a direct threat to our region’s ability to meet climate change goals, putting our community at risk and giving us a reputation as a destructive, world wide, climate polluter.” While many parts of the “SmartMoves for a Changing Region” are laudable – especially its “Clean Air Strategy” that strives to improve the region’s air quality, the inclusion of ASH is inconsistent with the overall tenor of the plan. “The SPC’s endorsement of a petrochemical industry buildout for the region is an affront to public health and the well-being of our communities,” added Jacqui Bonomo, CEO of PennFuture. “A public comment period of seven weeks is insufficient for the many community voices opposed to a fossil-fueled future to be heard. There is a more sustainable future available to us than frack-gas and the toxic petrochemicals industry it will fuel.” “Support for the Appalachian Storage Hub, infrastructure and associated facilities, is not a Smart Move in the long run,” said Sue Seppi, project manager at Group Against Smog and Pollution. “It is a step backward, holding us in a less sustainable place than what could have been.” The groups also submitted a sign-on letter in opposition to the inclusion of ASH as part of the plan. Petrochemical investment in the Appalachian Basin alone is projected to produce almost 1/5th of the new emissions from the United States in the next 30 years. The carbon dioxide emissions enabled by these new drilling projects will prevent our ability to achieve a net decrease in U.S. emissions by 2050. Oil and gas production in the U.S. will be more than many of the next highest countries combined. The “Smart Moves” plan already reserves $275 million of highway and bridge funding to remediate the effects of extreme weather on our transportation system. Why would we pursue a strategy that will only exacerbate extreme weather by releasing huge quantities of greenhouse gas emissions while putting our region’s reputation at risk? The groups asked that SPC not include support for an Appalachian Storage Hub as a backdoor goal of this new plan, and that none of the region’s transportation and infrastructure dollars go to supporting this destructive industry that does not create the prosperous future outlined throughout the vast majority of SPC’s “Smart Moves” plan. The people of SWPA built this region to be the energy powerhouse that it is. We stand on the shoulders of the steelworkers and coal miners and industry engineers who helped to build this region. With creativity and innovation, we advocate for a transition to more sustainable and renewable energy industries in support of the health of workers, people, and the planet. These goals are outlined elsewhere in SPC’s report, and they should be expanded upon and invested in. #emissions #SmartMovesforaChangingRegion

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) on Wednesday announced the start of its community health survey. The survey period runs through Oct. 4 and is part of the larger 2020 Community Health Assessment. A Community Health Assessment, which is conducted every five years, compiles data to best understand health issues and factors affecting the health of Allegheny County residents. In addition to the survey, CHA 2020 will include a series of focus groups and the use of a variety of existing data sources. Here’s what you need to know: This survey focuses on health equity and will be used to design a new Community Health Improvement Plan, which will outline goals and strategies to improve the health and wellbeing of all Allegheny County residents. All residents of Allegheny County older than 18 years of age are strongly encouraged to participate. By taking the survey, individuals are helping ACHD identify the key needs of Allegheny County communities. Interested? Individuals can complete the survey via this link: http://bit.ly/ACHDchs. Don’t wish to take the survey online? Paper surveys are available at the following locations: ACHD’s Administrative Offices, located at 542 Fourth Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh ACHD’s Immunization Clinic, Tuberculosis Clinic, HIV/STD Clinic, Pediatric Dental Clinics and WIC locations ACHD has also partnered with local organizations that will help distribute paper versions of the survey starting this week – and GASP is among them. Other partners include: Women for a Healthy Environment Consumer Health Coalition Mon Valley Providers Council City of Pittsburgh – Mayor’s Office United Way 211 Squirrel Hill Health Center East Liberty Family Health Care Center Gateway Health The Building Block of Natrona Allegheny County Department of Human Services The Allegheny County Library Association will be joining the effort on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. They will be providing paper surveys at all 70+ libraries across Allegheny County. To find the closest library to you, visit the Allegheny County Library Association website. Both the online and paper survey are also being translated into four languages: Spanish, Nepali, Arabic, and Simplified Chinese. The Health Department will post a message on its Facebook page and issue a message via Allegheny Alerts when surveys in additional languages are available. ACHD will also use these mediums throughout the survey period to announce additional partners that join the effort and additional locations that will have paper surveys. #ACHD #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment

Editor’s Note: The below information was taken from a press release issued Monday by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) in response to the recent State of the Air report. PITTSBURGH – Significant changes to the Allegheny County Health Department’s operations, policies and procedures that have allowed the agency to be more aggressive in enforcement of the federal Clean Air Act appears to be having an impact. The department’s certified data shows that 2018 was the cleanest year to date for PM 2.5 at the Liberty monitor. All other PM 2.5 monitors in the county are in compliance. “We are pleased that for the first time the PM 2.5 at the Liberty monitor has met the EPA standard. I congratulate and thank Dr. Hacker and her team for being vigilant when they saw violations occur in 2016,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “The department was more proactive, put more inspectors and environmental enforcement agents in place, instituted fines and took regulatory actions to improve the air quality in the Mon Valley.” Each year, ACHD certifies its data from the nine PM 2.5 monitors and sends it to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for quality assurance. The 2018 annual value for the Liberty monitor was 11.5 mg/cm. That value is lower than the EPA standard of 12 mg/cm and below the 2017 value of 13.4 mg/cm. Likewise, the 24-hour value for PM 2.5 was 28 mg/cm, lower than the EPA standards of 35 mg/cm and below the 2017 value of 36.5 mg/cm., which results in attainment of the EPA standard based on the last three years of data. “We have worked diligently to address the issues at the Liberty monitor, and the 2018 data is showing that significant progress is being made,” said Dr. Karen Hacker, Director of the Health Department. “In addition to meteorological influences, we believe these improvements at the Liberty monitor are a result of strong enforcement actions, fines and penalties, and consequent improvements made at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works.” From 2015-2017, ACHD issued 33 violations and assessed fines of more than $2.5 million. Concerned that the violations and fines did not seem to be causing any behavior changes by polluters, the agency made a number of changes and took several actions: In late 2017, ACHD entered into a historic joint Notice of Violation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency against the U.S. Steel Edgar Thompson plant for violations related to visible emissions and operation and maintenance violations. A new civil penalty policy, increasing fines to encourage deterrence, took effect Jan. 1, 2018. Inspectors were assigned on-site at coke plants in the Mon Valley to quickly identify air quality violations. The SO2 state implementation plans were updated to require significant emission reductions, and work is currently underway to finalize the PM2.5 plan to show attainment by EPA’s deadlines. The largest fines and enforcement actions in ACHD history were instituted in 2018 to the US Steel’s Clairton Coke Works – $1.6 million; the June 2018 action also would compel a “hot idle” if emissions are not reduced after six months. The legal team was expanded and ACHD left behind negotiated consents orders, instead issuing direct enforcement orders and increased civil penalties. In 2018 and 2019 to date, ACHD has issued 22 notice of violations and assessed fines of over $3.4 million. Many of those have been appealed by the polluting companies. ACHD has continued to ask industry leaders, at both the local and regional levels, to help accelerate change. Additionally, the department has asked the Legislature to provide additional tools and resources that would be helpful in improving the region’s air quality. “While these results are significant, there is still much to do to guarantee clean air for all. We must maintain vigilance and not allow U.S. Steel to back-slide,” said Hacker. “Continued improvement is paramount. We will continue to be proactive and aggressive in our efforts to improve the air in Allegheny County and call upon industry to meet all requirements and curtail violations.” The three-year annual PM 2.5 design values are used by the EPA to establish compliance. The data from 2015-2017 was used by the American Lung Association in the State of the Air Report. #noticeofviolation #USSteel #EdgarThompsonplant #emissions #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #RichFitzgerald #ACHD #ClairtonCokeWorks #airquality

Two area environmental groups—PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council—on Monday announced that they had filed suit against U.S. Steel, which they say violated the Clean Air Act at its three Pittsburgh-area plants. These include Clairton Coke Works, the largest coke oven facility in North America. Violations occurred throughout the company’s Mon Valley Works, stemming from its decision to operate the plants for more than three months without critical pollution control equipment, according to a press release. “It is unacceptable that U.S. Steel ran these plants without essential pollution controls, claiming there was no safe alternative,” said Ashleigh Deemer, the Western PA director with PennEnvironment. “No one, including U.S. Steel, should be allowed to jeopardize our health by running what amounts to a doomsday machine with no off-switch.” The lawsuit alleges that U.S. Steel’s three facilities, located south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River, showered residents with unlawful air pollution. This pollution included emissions of sulfur dioxide (a respiratory irritant) at levels many times higher than the legal maximum.  The plants likely also emitted higher levels of volatile organic compounds such as benzene, a carcinogen. “U.S. Steel has a responsibility to remedy the harm to the community and prevent this situation from happening again,” said Christopher Ahlers, a staff attorney with Clean Air Council. The Clean Air Act citizen suit was filed April 29 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, following a pre-suit notice to U.S. Steel and local, state, and federal agencies on Feb. 13, 2019. The groups are seeking a court order requiring U.S. Steel to comply with its air quality permits and make changes to prevent this situation from happening again.  They are also calling for an order requiring U.S. Steel to remediate the harm it has caused to local communities, as well as civil penalties to punish the company for past air quality violations and deter future violations. The Clairton Coke Works ranked third in PennEnvironment’s Toxic Ten study of the worst industrial polluters in the region, published in 2015. The facility has a long history of violating the Clean Air Act, having been penalized more than $2 millionin just the past year for a different set of air pollution violations. The other two facilities (the Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock and Irvin Works in West Mifflin) are steelmaking facilities that use materials produced at the Clairton plant. They were burning the coke oven gas without essential pollution controls. “When I realized our small town regularly had the worst air in the country, I felt it was my duty to speak up for our right to clean air,” said Melanie Meade, of Clairton. “U.S. Steel needs to show that it will protect the community and ensure that Clairton has a bright, healthy future” Last week, Allegheny County’s chronic air pollution problems were highlighted by the American Lung Association’s State of the Air Report, which identified a worsening problem for fine particulates and ozone in the county, compared with last year’s report. A recent report by the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center found that Pittsburgh suffered from poor air quality one in three days. This suit comes on the heels of a similar lawsuit brought by PennEnvironment and the National Environmental Law Center that resulted in a $1.5 million penalty against another regional coke manufacturer, in what is believed to be the largest Clean Air Act citizen settlement in Pennsylvania history. U.S. Steel is headquartered in Chicago.  In 2018, its adjusted net earnings were $957 million. The Civil Cover Sheet can be viewed here. The complaint can be viewed here. #USSteel #CleanAirCouncil #emissions #CleanAirAct #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #IrvinWorks #airpollutions #EdgarThomsonPlant #ACHD #ClairtonCokeWorks #PennEnvironment #Clairton #airquality

The American Lung Association released its 2019 “State of the Air” report and Pittsburgh did not fare well: Not only did it rank the Pittsburgh area’s air quality as the 7th worst in the country, but it also indicated that when it comes to air pollution things are getting worse, not better. According to the report, air quality in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV metro area worsened, not only for ozone (smog) but also for the daily and long-term measures of fine particulate matter for the second year in a row. To put this into perspective: Outside of California, where wildfires rage, Allegheny County is the only county in the United States that recorded failing grades for all three. For those who aren’t aware, the 20th annual air quality “report card” tracks Americans’ exposure to unhealthful levels of ozone and particle pollution, both of which can be deadly. The report found Pittsburgh posted worse levels of ozone pollution than its best-ever result in the 2018 report. “Residents of Pittsburgh and the metro area should be aware that we’re breathing unhealthy air, driven by local emissions, upwind sources, and extreme heat as a result of climate change, placing our health and lives at risk,” said Kevin Stewart, the American Lung Association’s director of Environmental Health for Advocacy and Public Policy. He continued: “In addition to challenges here in Pittsburgh and the 12-county metro area, the 20th anniversary ‘State of the Air’ report highlights that more than four in 10 Americans are living with unhealthy air, and we’re heading in the wrong direction when it comes to protecting public health.” This year’s report covers the most recent quality-assured air quality data available collected by states, cities, counties, tribes and federal agencies in 2015-2017. Notably, those three years were the hottest recorded in global history. Each year, the “State of the Air” provides a report card on the two most widespread outdoor air pollution, ozone pollution – also known as smog – and particle pollution, often called soot. The report analyzes particle pollution in two ways: through average annual particle pollution levels and short-term spikes in particle pollution. Both ozone and particle pollution are dangerous to public health and can increase the risk of premature death and other serious health effects such as lung cancer, asthma attacks, cardiovascular damage, and developmental and reproductive harm. Here are some other takeaways from the report: Pittsburgh metro area experienced more unhealthy days of high ozone in this year’s report, earning the area an F grade and worsening its ranking to 28th worst in the country. “Ozone especially harms children, older adults and those with asthma and other lung diseases,” said Stewart. “When older adults or children with asthma breathe ozone-polluted air, too often they end up in the doctor’s office, the hospital or the emergency room. Ozone can even shorten life itself.” This report documents how warmer temperatures brought by climate change make ozone more likely to form and harder to clean up. This year’s report showed that ozone levels increased in most cities nationwide, in large part due to the record-breaking global heat experienced in the three years tracked in the report. The 2019 report also found that both daily and year-round particle pollution levels were significantly higher than in the 2018 report. Nationwide, the best progress in this year’s report came in reducing year-round levels of particle pollution, but Pittsburgh’s results ran counter to that trend, just as they did last year. Those average levels got worse, continuing to fail the air quality standard, and worsening the metro area’s ranking to 7th worst in the nation. “Particle pollution is made of soot or tiny particles that come from coal-fired power plants, industrial sources, diesel emissions, wildfires and wood-burning devices. These particles are so small that they can lodge deep in the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, and can even be lethal,” said Stewart. “Year-round particle pollution levels have dropped thanks to the cleanup of coal-fired power plants and the retirement of old, dirty diesel engines. With few exceptions in the eastern United States, Pittsburgh being one, they continue to improve.” “State of the Air” 2019 also tracked short-term spikes in particle pollution, as these can be extremely dangerous and even lethal. The report found that the metro area again had more days when short-term particle pollution reached unhealthy levels. In fact, the report found this was Pittsburgh’s worst performance since the 2014 report (covering 2010-2012) and ranked the metro area at 10th worst in the nation. Unlike Pittsburgh, many of these spikes in the western United States were directly linked to weather patterns resulting in drought or to wildfire events, which are increasing in frequency and intensity in those areas of the country due to climate change. While the most recent “State of the Air” report is discouraging, Rachel Filippini, executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) said there is some good news: There are steps that can be taken locally to help improve area air quality. “There are several upcoming opportunities for Allegheny County to move towards better air quality,” said Rachel Filippini, executive director of Group Against Smog and Pollution. “This includes Allegheny County putting forward a strong PM2.5 implementation plan, revising the coke oven regulations and adopting the city’s clean construction law.” “Over the period this ALA report covers, the Pittsburgh metropolitan region had an average of 69 percent of its days as ‘not good.’ For Allegheny County, 54 percent of our year was ‘not good.’ What does it mean when between half to two-thirds of all days are not good air days in our region and county? It means that we all pay a price with our health, our families and our reduced prosperity,” said Matt Mehalik, executive director of the Breathe Project. “We need to pull together to fix this stain on our community. We have a right to breathe healthy air.” Editor’s Note: Do YOU want to do more to urge city and county leaders to take action to improve air quality? Sign up for our newsletter (just click on the link and scroll down – the form is on the right-hand side) to keep up to date on the latest action items, and consider becoming a GASP member to take a more active watchdog role! And for those following the issue, here’s all the associated media coverage: WTAE-TV – “Pittsburgh Gets F for Air Quality from American Lung Association” April 24, 2019 (See updated story later today for interview with Breathe Project) WPXI-TV – “Pittsburgh Metro Area Receives Failing Grades” By Liz Kilmer, April 24, 2019 KDKA-TV – “Air Quality Report” April 24, 2019 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – “Pittsburgh region’s air quality gets an ‘F’ grade” By Don Hopey, April 24, 2019 Environmental Health News – “Pittsburgh Air Quality Continues to Decline” By Kristina Marusic, April 24, 2019 The Allegheny Front – “Failing Grades for Pittsburgh’s Air” By Kathleen Davis, April 20, 2019 WESA 90.5 FM – “Pittsburgh Air Quality Getting Worse” By Kathleen Davis, April 24, 2019 Pittsburgh Business Times – “Pittsburgh Region Gets an “F” for Air Quality” By Luke Torrence, April 24, 2019 Patch Pittsburgh – “Pittsburgh Air Quality Among Worst in Nation” By Eric Heyl, April 24, 2019 #PM25 #airpollution #KevinStewart #smog #RachelFilippini #TheAmericanLungInstitute #StateoftheAirreport #particulatematter #ozonepollution #airquality

Mark your calendars, because you’re invited to attend an event being hosted by Clean Air Council and a newly formed group, Citizens for Clean Air, that will give members of the Clairton community an opportunity to speak out about the recent air quality issues related to the U.S. Steel fire and subsequent facility repair. The event, Clean Air Now for the Mon Valley, is slated for 6 p.m. May 9 at the Church of Jesus Christ in Clairton. Elected officials have also been invited to the event to listen to residents’ concerns. “Help us amplify the voices of the residents of Clairton and the Mon Valley,” organizers wrote on the e-invite. Concerned about air pollution? Want to learn more about air quality? Then join us!  You can register online here. #airpollution #USSteel #CleanAirCouncil #MonValley #CitizensforCleanAir #Clairton #airquality

Nearly 100 community members joined Hold Erie Coke Accountable (HECA) and the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) to learn more about ongoing air quality violations at Erie Coke Works. The event, held at East Middle School in Erie, featured several speakers, including GASP’s Executive Director Rachel Filippini and staff attorney Ned Mulcahy. GASP shared information about air quality issues generally—and those affecting Erie Coke Works specifically—as well as some background about the nature and history of environmental violations there. Joining them were two professors: Mike Campbell Ph.D, a science and biology professor at Mercyhurst, who researches water quality issues and Michelle Homan, Ph.D, a Gannon professor/Environmental Science and Engineering researcher, who tackles air quality concerns. Both are core members of HECA. The event garnered tremendous media coverage. Here are some links of interest: “Environmental Groups Gather to Voice Erie Coke Concerns,” from GoErie.com “Citizens Group Holds Public Meeting About Erie Coke,” from ErieNewsNow.com “Hold Erie Coke Accountable Host Community Meeting Regarding Erie Coke,” from YourErie.com To kick off the evening, HECA shared a video that provided viewers with detailed information about Erie Coke Works, as well as violations at its sister plant in New York—violations that ultimately led to the facility being shuttered. That video is a must-watch, and can be viewed on the HECA Facebook page. #ErieCoke #HoldErieCokeAccountable #ErieCokeCorp #HECA #MichelleHoman #RachelFilippini #emissions #MikeCampbell #airquality

An East Pittsburgh woman on April 9 filed a class action lawsuit against U.S. Steel, claiming the company was grossly negligent/reckless in the way it handled a Dec. 24 fire at its Clairton plant and its aftermath. The suit specifically alleges that U.S. Steel: Failed to develop and/or maintain adequate policies and procedures as necessary to prevent the Dec. 24, 2018 Clairton Plant fire; Failed to develop and implement an adequate mechanical integrity program necessary to prevent any such fires; Failed to develop, design, construct, inspect, maintain, operate, control, and/or engineer proper gas processing center compressors, piping, and/or pressure letdown devices as necessary to counter the risk of explosion or fire in its gas processing Failed to develop and employ a backup release management plan to control the release of noxious gas and other harmful emissions in the event of a fire; Failed to notify Plaintiff and the Class of the Dec. 24, 2018 Clairton Plant Fire and the hazardous emission levels until Jan. 9, 2019; Failed to sufficiently reduce production and thereby emissions at the Clairton Plant following the Dec. 24, 2018 fire and until the emission reduction system was repaired and functioning Otherwise failed to develop, design, construct, inspect, maintain, operate, control and/or engineer its Clairton Plant to prevent catastrophic fires and uncontrolled releases of noxious gas and other harmful emissions. In the suit, attorneys for Linda Hernandez, 38, write that the fire “triggered repeated high health alerts from the Allegheny County Health Department, causing widespread nuisance discomfort (offensive odor, burning eyes, nose, and throat, difficulty breathing, sleep loss, headaches, anxiety) and impeding area residents’ use and enjoyment of their homes.” Hernandez seeks “lost use and enjoyment damages to vindicate private property rights – not enforcement of environmental statutes, regulations, or regulatory permits; She seeks monetary damages, not injuctive relief.” Punitive damages are also being sought. Her attorneys write several times throughout the 18-page Notice to Defend document: U.S. Steel should have known better. “The prolonged discomfort experienced throughout the class area and the repeated public warnings that alarmed the class-area residents and caused them to shutter inside their homes were all foreseeable,” the court document reads. “Defendant knew or should have known this would occur.” Hernandez, who experienced breathing problems and other physical ailments after the fire and through April 4, is seeking to represent residents who live in 22 affected communities. “Properties have been invaded for more than three months by offensive odors and noxious emissions,” the court document reads. Hernandez says in the lawsuit that those odors and fumes stopped her from walking her dogs outside, prompted her to keep her granddaughter indoors, and otherwise affected her ability to enjoy her property. U.S. Steel has 20 days from April 9 to respond to the suit. Editor’s Note: GASP has published several blogs about the Clairton fire, as well as subsequent air quality complaints and enforcement actions. #USSteel #Clairtonplantfire #emissions #LindaHernandez #ClairtonCokeWorks #Clairton #airquality