Big news, folks: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday published notice of its approval of a request to designate Allegheny County as being in attainment for the 2010 one-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard for sulfur dioxide. Little background for yinz: The 2010 SO2 NAAQS is a one-hour average of 75 parts per billion. EPA’s approval is based on data from air quality monitors that demonstrate that all areas of Allegheny County attain the 2010 SO2 standard as well as its determination that the air pollution rules and regulations in effect are sufficient to ensure that it will continue to attain the standard going forward. “Allegheny County’s long-awaited attainment of the 2010 SO2 standard has been the product of years of work by the Allegheny County Health Department and many other stakeholders,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “While we still have work to do when it comes to our local air quality, getting sulfur dioxide levels to comply with the standard and keeping them there is a big victory for public health.”

The sweet scent of spring was truly in the air Monday afternoon as we explored the "hidden gem" known as Barking Slopes alongside GASP members and our partners at the Allegheny Land Trust ! And today, we want to send all who attended a heartfelt THANK YOU! It was inspiring to see so many of you come out to witness the resilience of nature at Barking Slopes. We truly enjoyed delving into the fascinating story of how land use and local industry have intertwined with the environment, shaping the landscape we see today. And wow, did spring put on a show! We were all snapping pics as vibrant wildflowers painted the slopes in breathtaking colors – a true feast for the eyes! It was a joy to share those moments of natural beauty with you all. Beyond the stunning scenery, we were also on the hunt for bio-sensitive, bio-indicative species – nature's own little air quality monitors. The timing of our hike couldn't have been more perfect, aligning with the global City Nature Challenge ! For those who embraced the iNaturalist app, your contributions are invaluable in documenting the incredible biodiversity of our region and connecting with a worldwide community of nature enthusiasts. Missed it? Stay tuned for more opportunities to explore and protect our environment with GASP!

We blogged earlier this month about an invitation the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued to sources of hazardous air pollutants to apply for Presidential exemptions from certain National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (or NESHAPs for short).   By way of background, section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act empowers the President to exempt a source from the requirements of a NESHAPs for up to two years if he determines that two conditions are met: “the technology to implement [the NESHAPs] is not available;” and “it is in the national security interest of the United States” to grant the requested exemption. One more important point about section 112(i)(4): It allows exemptions to be made for sources, not entire categories or industries. We promised follow up on these exemption requests, and events transpired to make us bring you that follow up sooner than we thought.   On Earth Day (!!!) Tuesday, the Federal Register published an Executive Order that relies on section 112(i)(4) to exempt numerous coal-fired electric generating units from the NESHAPs for Coal- and Oil-Fired EGUs under section 112(i)(4), which was published on May 7, 2024, and went into effect on July 8, 2024. Those NESHAPs are referred to as the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standard - or MATS Rule.   For coal-fired EGUs in western Pennsylvania, the most significant change made by the 2024 MATS Rule was a reduction in allowable emissions of filterable particulate matter, which serves as a surrogate for all emissions of metallic hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), excluding mercury.   The lower limit on filterable particulate matter emissions goes into effect in July 2027.  The 2024 MATS Rule left existing limits for coal-fired EGUs’ emissions of the other HAPs regulated by the Rule – hydrochloric acid and mercury – unchanged. So why the exemption?  In the order, the President determined the 2024 MATS Rule “requires compliance with standards that do not yet exist in a commercially viable form,” and thus that the rule’s compliance deadline “raises the unacceptable risk of the shutdown of many coal-fired power plants,” which purportedly would eliminate jobs, place the electrical grid at risk, and threaten “broader, harmful economic and energy security effects,” and in turn “undermine our national security.” Notwithstanding that, it may not come as a surprise that when EPA promulgated the 2024 MATS Rule, it did in fact determine that not only was the technology needed to implement the rule “available,” the “vast majority” of coal-fired EGUs already meet the Rule’s lower emission limit for filterable particulate matter. Further, at least in the comment/response section published in connection with the final 2024 MATS Rule, no one claimed that the rule would impact national security.   The President’s order exempted six coal-fired EGUs in western Pennsylvania from the 2024 MATS Rule for a period of two year s, presumably beginning when the Rule goes into effect in July 2027:   Colver Power Plant  in Cambria County;  Ebensburg Power Plant  in Cambria County;  Scrubgrass Power Plant  in Venango County;  Seward Power Plant in Indiana County (those four electric generating units burn waste coal);  Keystone Generating Station in Armstrong County; and  Conemaugh Generating Station  in Indiana County (the operators of Keystone and Conemaugh have announced that they plan to shut the plants down by the end of 2028, at the latest, in order to avoid having to comply with rules governing coal-fired EGUs’ wastewater discharges). It seems clear that the exemptions do not satisfy section 112(i)(4)’s requirements. Let us count the ways: First , the exemption was made on an industry-wide basis, not a source-by-source basis as section 112(i)(4) plainly requires.   Second , because of the lack of source-by-source determinations, it is impossible to know how the control technology needed to comply with the 2024 MATS Rule might not be “available” to a particular source – if the “vast majority” of coal-fired EGUs are already meeting the new filterable particulate matter emission limit, why (if at all) can’t the six western Pennsylvania electric generating units?   Third (and similarly), it is also impossible to determine how the continued operation of a particular electric generating unit might be claimed to be in the interest of national security – larger coal-fired electric generating units in our region than the six exempted (including the Bruce Mansfield plant and Homer City Station) without anyone claiming that those shutdowns adversely impacted national security.   “The justifications made in the President’s Executive Order are completely conclusory. It would not come as a surprise if the exemptions were challenged in court on any one or more of these bases,” said GASP Senior Attorney John Baillie. Because the exemptions given to coal-fired EGUs seem to be the first exemptions ever made by a President under section 112(i)(4), this is unprecedented stuff. We will continue to follow developments with the administration’s use of section 112(i)(4) and report on them.

Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) on Tuesday again joined residents and fellow environmental advocates to tell Allegheny County Council that its inaction on crucial permit fee schedule changes has already done real harm - and that action must be taken ASAP. GASP has been advocating for the fee schedule changes for nearly a year. Here's what Patrick wrote to council: Dear Members of County Council, I am writing to express profound disappointment and frustration regarding the continued delay in approving long-sought air quality permit fee schedule changes. This inaction represents a blatant disregard for expert recommendations, the will of your constituents, and, frankly, federal law. Let us AGAIN be clear: These permit fee increases are not punitive measures. They are a necessary adjustment to reflect the actual costs incurred by the Allegheny County Health Department’s Air Quality Program for services rendered to permitted facilities. These are services mandated by the Clean Air Act, including air modeling, administrative oversight, and legal compliance work. By failing to approve these adjustments, you are shirking your responsibility to ensure the program's self-sufficiency, which is mandated by the Clean Air Act. And your failure to take action has had real impacts on the Air Quality Program and its ability to protect public health. Allegheny County administrator Kim Joyce told the Air Advisory Committee that the Air Quality Program is currently operating at a deficit, and that the only reason that deficit hasn’t ballooned further is because ACHD is not filling 12 vacant positions. To be clear: Right now, there are no new community projects or hiring on the horizon. Officials are merely trying to maintain the status quo. Allegheny County residents deserve local governance that prioritizes responsive and responsible action. Full stop. The continued stonewalling is irresponsible and a betrayal of public trust. It’s an extremely poor look for council - one that voters will be sure to remember. Do the right thing: Place the air quality permit fee schedule changes on the agenda for discussion before the entire council, because sending it back to the committee that already affirmatively recommended was a placeholder move at best. We - the citizens you are here to represent - deserve better. Editor's Note: Stay tuned, GASP continues to follow this issue closely and will keep yinz posted.

Recent incidents at U.S Steel’s Clairton Coke Works and Edgar Thomson facilities sparked rage and concern among frontline residents and prompted a pair of public statements from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). The statements provided preliminary details about the incidents - which occurred on Feb. 5 at the Clairton Coke Works and Feb. 23 at the Edgar Thomson facility - and noted that ACHD was investigating. Since then, ACHD has released no further details and no associated enforcement documents have been posted to the department’s online docket. As part of our watchdog work, GASP made public records requests to ACHD seeking all documents associated with the incidents, including emails and voicemails.  Those requests were approved in part and denied in part. That means that there were some documents that were not released because they were exempt from the Right to Know law. Why? Because the requested documents were part of an active non-criminal investigation, contained proprietary business information, or were protected by attorney-client privilege (all kosher reasons). The documents we did receive help provide more information about ACHD’s investigative process and the actions taken by both U.S. Steel and the department following the incidents. “We think it’s important to share these types of documents not only as a way to ensure that industrial facilities and our local air quality regulators are doing their jobs, but also to help residents understand what things like breakdown reports look like and what kind of information they include,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “Most of all we want to help folks understand what should happen after an incident at the Mon Valley Works and what did happen after the most recent incidents.” So, before we get into those documents and what DID happen, we first have to take a look at what SHOULD have happened and why. Title V Permits & What They Require After a Breakdown Industrial facilities like U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works and Edgar Thomson plant are subject to a Title V Operating permit . These permits are hundreds of pages long and address every aspect of the facilities’ operations. This includes details related to what the facility operator must do in the event of an equipment breakdown.  At both Clairton Coke Works and Edgar Thomson, U.S. Steel is required to take certain actions “in the event that any air pollution control equipment, process equipment, or other source of air contaminants breaks down in such manner as to have a substantial likelihood of causing the emission of air contaminants in violation of this permit, or of causing the emission into the open air of potentially toxic or hazardous materials.” Those actions include: Notifying ACHD “immediately” but no later than 60 minutes after the breakdown. Providing written notice to ACHD within seven days after the incident. And those notices - no matter oral or written - need to contain a spate of information including: Identification of the equipment that broke down, including location and permit number The nature and probable cause of the breakdown The expected length of time the equipment is expected to be inoperable and emissions will continue Identification of what specific materials (and their quantities) that are being emitted and a statement concerning their toxic qualities “including its qualities as an irritant, and its potential for causing illness, disability, or mortality” Measures taken or being taken to minimize the length of the breakdown And that additional info requested by ACHD “be submitted as expeditiously as practicable…unless otherwise directed by the department.” The permits also require U.S. Steel to notify ACHD when the condition causing the breakdown is placed back in operation “by no later than 9 a.m. on the next County business day.” We know that’s a LOT of info. So, let’s all take a deep breath and get ready to dive into those incidents and associated documents obtained through the state Right to Know process. About the Feb. 5, 2025 Breakdown at Clairton Coke Works In the early hours of Feb. 5 an explosion occurred at the Clairton Coke Works injuring two workers. Here’s ACHD’s statement :  According to US Steel information provided to the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) today, there was an issue with its B Battery at the Clairton plant overnight. They discovered there was a hydraulic failure in a switch of the battery, which led to a buildup of combustible material in the under-fire system, which then ignited.  That caused an audible “boom” that some residents may have heard, as well as 20 seconds of emissions to leak. The battery was not damaged but was put on idle pending further investigations by US Steel.  US Steel also reported to ACHD that two individuals, as a result of the incident, needed first aid treatment for getting material in their eyes and went to the hospital but do not have serious injuries.  While there was an uptick in readings at the Clairton monitor around 4:45 am this morning lasting approximately 75 minutes, the pollution rates rose from 3.5 to 8 µg/m which is well under the EPA 24-hour rate of 35 µg/m. ACHD will continue to monitor results closely. While an initial breakdown report  U.S. Steel submitted to ACHD indicated that the incident in question occurred around 5 a.m., the documentation was received by the department at 10:29 a.m., which appears to have violated the terms of the facility’s Title V permit, missing the reporting deadline by more than four hours. The written report U.S. Steel was required to submit to ACHD within seven business days appears to have been provided on time: It should be noted that, according to the document, the B Battery at Clairton Coke Works was damaged and out of commission through Feb. 17 - 12 days after the original incident. Our documents request also yielded a series of internal emails among ACHD staff regarding PM2.5 concentrations at official monitors and analysis of official data. Those documents can be viewed here , here , and here . It should also be noted that eight documents related to the incident were not released because they could be part of a non-criminal investigation. As of the date of publication, no notices of violations have been posted to the ACHD enforcement docket related to the incident. About the Feb. 23, 2025 Incident at the Edgar Thomson Facility ACHD on Tuesday, Feb. 25 issued a statement about a breakdown at U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson facility - one that occurred two days earlier. Here’s one of two statements  the department sent that day: A review of the initial breakdown reports U.S. Steel sent to ACHD appears to show  the company first alerted ACHD via phone call within an hour of the reported incident: This correspondence was followed up with this written report on Monday, Feb. 24: Remember when we said ACHD issued two statements Feb. 25? While the first dealt with the breakdown, the second addressed sulfur dioxide exceedances  that occurred at the North Braddock monitor (the official monitoring station closest to the Edgar Thomson facility). Note: While ACHD’s press release did not directly connect the exceedances to the Feb. 23 breakdown, it did included associated documents in GASP’s records request, which would suggest that they are, indeed, related.  In the exceedance release, ACHD stated it was investigating, and documents provided in GASP’s record request suggests that U.S. Steel was not responsive to requests for additional emissions-related information.  Air Quality Program staff initially reached out to U.S. Steel by phone on and then followed up with this email on the morning of Feb. 25, asking for details to be sent by 10 a.m.: ACHD then sent a second, more strongly worded email  the next day with a hard deadline. It should be noted that Allyson Holt, ACHD’s air quality manager of compliance and enforcement, was CC'd on this correspondence: No responses from U.S. Steel were included in GASP’s public records request, which would suggest that ACHD did not receive a response, or that the response - or responses - were not disclosed because the issue is under non-criminal investigation or is otherwise exempt as explained in ACHD’s final response to GASP’s records request. What Happens Next? GASP continues to follow these enforcement issues closely. Notices of violations related to these and other air quality compliance documents are posted to the ACHD enforcement docket. “Unfortunately, that docket has not been updated since Sept. 11, 2024,” GASP Communications Manager Amanda Gillooly explained. “But we have reached out to ACHD’s spokesman, who confirmed that the Air Quality Program was working to get that resource updated. As soon as I see it online, we will provide yinz with an update.” Stay tuned!

The Clean Air Act generated some rare headlines at the very end of March, after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)   announced  the availability of “presidential exemptions” from certain air quality standards. If you missed it, here are some examples: CBS New s:  “ Want to avoid costly environmental regulations?  Just email the EPA .” The New York Times :  “ E.P.A. Offers a Way to Avoid Clean Air Rules:  Send an Email The Guardian  (all the way from London!):  “ Fossil fuel companies get direct email line to Trump for exemption requests .” The Associated Press:   “ EPA offers industrial polluters a way to avoid rules on mercury, arsenic and other toxic chemicals .”; and The Los Angeles Times:   “‘ Inbox from hell’:  Environmental groups outraged after EPA says polluters can email for exemptions .” Coverage of the announcement characterized EPA’s move in dire tones, calling it “a gold-plated, ‘get-out-of-permitting free’ card,” and “an invitation to pollute.” Could the EPA, which writes air quality standards and enforces both them and the Clean Air Act, really allow this?  What is going on?  We decided to take a look.  Here’s what we found… Earlier in March, EPA did in fact say that sources subject to any one of nine National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (called NESHAPs) promulgated in 2024 by the previous administration could, until March 25, request exemptions from the standards while the current administration reconsiders them.  Specifically, the nine NESHAPs apply to sources in these industries: Coal- and oil-fired electric generating units; Synthetic organic chemical manufacturing; Sterilization facilities that use ethylene oxide; Rubber tire manufacturing; Primary copper smelting; Lime manufacturing Taconite ore processing; Integrated iron and steel manufacturing; and (last but not least - especially locally) Coke ovens EPA is offering the exemptions under the authority granted by section 112(i)(4) of the Clean Air Act. Are exemptions like this legal? The EPA has skirted the requirements of the Act many times before, so it’s a question worth considering.  Let’s take a look at Section 112(i)(4) itself: The President may exempt any stationary source from compliance with any standard or limitation under this section for a period of not more than 2 years if the President determines that the technology to implement such standard is not available and that it is in the national security interests of the United States to do so.  An exemption under this paragraph may be extended for 1 or more additional periods, each period not to exceed 2 years.  The President shall report to Congress with respect to each exemption (or extension thereof) made under this paragraph. There are three key limitations in the language of the statute that the news coverage glossed over. .. First , exemptions are available only from a particular standard promulgated under section 112 of the Clean Air Act, which deals specifically with NESHAPs – the president is not empowered to grant general exemptions from Clean Air Act requirements or even exemptions from other categories of emission standards or limitations. Second , exemptions are available only for individual stationary sources, not entire industries.  Third , the president can grant an exemption from a NESHAP only if he determines that “the technology to implement [the] standard is unavailable” AND  that the exemption “is in the national security interests of the United States.” Little bit of background: Section 112(i)(4) was added to the Clean Air Act in 1990. Further, in the rulemaking for one of the nine NESHAPs from which EPA is offering exemptions, then-President Biden’s EPA acknowledged that sources could seek exemptions from the standard under section 112(i)(4).  “The fact that the Act gives the President the power to issue exemptions like those EPA offered in March should never have come as a surprise,” GASP senior staff attorney John Baillie said. The Environmental Defense Fund obtained a list of all of the sources nationwide that have requested presidential exemptions from the nine NESHAPs through a Freedom of Information Act request and shared it with us.  There are 532 such sources, including nine in western Pennsylvania: Cosmed Group  in Erie and American Contract Systems  in Zelienople are requesting exemptions from the NESHAPs for sterilization facilities that use ethylene oxide; The Seward Power Plant  in Indiana County, the Colver Power Project  in Cambria County, Ebensburg Power  in Cambria County, and the Scrubgrass Power Plant  in Venango County are requesting exemptions from the “MATS Rule” for coal- and oil-fired electric generating units; U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works is requesting an exemption from the NESHAPs for integrated iron and steel manufacturing; and U.S. Steel’s Clairton Works and Cleveland Cliffs’ Monessen Coke Plant  are requesting exemptions from the NESHAPs for Coke Ovens. Stay tuned, folks. This blog is merely part one. We’ll dig into the requests made by these nine sources more deeply in future blogs and share what our investigations find.

While Pittsburgh has come a long way when it comes to air quality improvements, it still has a  long way to go. Recent research indicates that Pittsburgh has some of the worst air quality in the country. This puts Pittsburgh-area residents at risk for everything from cancer to heart attack, stroke, and various respiratory and  other illnesses . Now more than ever, we need to demand clean air—and hold polluters accountable for their actions, as well as regulators for their inaction on enforcement efforts. At GASP, we have long believed that education is a fundamental part of advocacy. In order to effect change, we need to ensure that we are educating ourselves and our loved ones about the types of air pollution common to our area that pose a threat to our health and environment. Of paramount concern? Criteria Air Pollutants, which are widespread pollutants that pose significant harm to people and the environment. Criteria Air Pollutants are regulated by the  Environmental Protection Agency  (EPA), which sets national standards for them. They include: Carbon Monoxide This type of air pollution is widely known—you likely have a carbon monoxide detector in your home. Carbon monoxide is created through the burning of fuel, traffic emissions, and power plants, and its effects can be deadly. That’s because carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood that can be transported to organs like the heart, lungs, and brain. Carbon monoxide is odorless, colorless and tasteless. Signs of exposure include weakness, headache, extreme fatigue, confusion, and even lack of consciousness. Ground-Level Ozone Ground-level ozone is a a type of air pollution emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources of chemicals that react in the presence of sunlight to form ozone. Exposure to ground-level ozone has been associated with chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, airway inflammation, reduced lung function, as well as the aggravation of respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. Ground-level ozone has a distinct smell: Some describe it as somewhat metallic, while to others it is a sweet-pungent odor reminiscent of an electrical spark. To others, it has a chemical odor similar to chlorine. Lead Lead is emitted into the air via metals processing, waste incinerating, and the burning of leaded aviation fuel, among other things. Exposure to lead dust in the air can be detrimental to your health, causing negative impacts to your nervous, immune, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems, in addition to reduced kidney function. Lead is odorless. Nitrogen Dioxide Emissions from traffic and power plants cause nitrogen dioxide to be emitted into the air. Nitrogen dioxide can also be caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide can cause airways to become irritated, and can also aggravate asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Nitrogen dioxide has a sharp, sweet smell. Particulate Matter Particulate matter, or PM, is the term used for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. This type of air pollution is caused by myriad sources and smells like acrid smoke. Exposure to particulate matter pollution, which can smell like acrid smoke, is associated with a host of health impacts including: Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and asthma Decreased lung function Premature birth Low birth rate Sulfur Dioxide Of all the air pollutants discussed, sulfur dioxide might be the most distinct in odor. You know the odor emitted when you strike a match? That’s sulfur dioxide. This type of air pollution—which is caused by fossil fuel production, as well as power plant and other industry emissions—is known to irritate airways and aggravate respiratory diseases such as asthma. Protecting Yourself Scary, right? Fortunately, now that you understand what types of air pollution are common in Allegheny County, you can take steps to protect yourself and your family: Check the  Air Quality Index , which provides a forecast of the day’s air quality. Sign up for  Allegheny Alerts , and select what type of notifications you would like to receive. These notifications can be sent via email or text. There is even an option for Allegheny County to call and leave you the information via voicemail. Pre-plan outdoor activities with air quality in mind. On days where air quality is poor, consider staying away from congested roadways and/or staying in during rush hour, when emissions are greatest. Editor’s Note : Now that you understand more about common air pollutants and how to spot them, it’s time to arm yourself with knowledge on how to report them to the powers that be. Find out how to make an air quality complaint here. #lead #CarbonMonoxide #nitrogendioxide #airpollution #sulfurdioxide #AlleghenyCounty #AirQualityIndex #particulatematter #airquality

GASP on Tuesday blasted Allegheny County Council for its inaction on a health department proposal that would increase certain permit fees on industrial polluters as required by federal law. Our Executive Director Patrick Campbell was among the MANY who addressed council and demanded action on the issue. Council neither addressed the proposed air quality fee schedule changes nor acknowledged commenters. We continue to follow this issue closely. Stay tuned - we'll have more details on the process and how we can continue to push council to get this thing approved. Until then, here's what Patrick told council: Good afternoon. I’m Patrick Campbell, executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), a nonprofit working to improve our region’s air quality since 1969.   I am here today - again - to demand action on Allegheny County Health Department’s proposed fee schedule changes. ACHD’s straightforward plan to properly fund our Air Quality Program through fee adjustments on operators hasn't even been discussed by this full council. It’s been on your plate since June 2024. Meanwhile, your constituents have come out in droves - meeting after meeting - imploring you to take action – and you have failed them. Again, this isn't some abstract debate about economics. This is about basic functionality. Right now, dedicated professionals – ACHD inspectors, engineers, attorneys, and more – are performing crucial tasks like modeling local air quality, assessing health risks, and processing permits for major industrial facilities. To be clear, this is what a Title V permit looks like. It’s printed on both sides, and this is for just one facility, there are 23 in Allegheny County. These permits are extremely complex. They are hundreds of pages long and take months to complete. The Clean Air Act is clear: Allegheny County must have the resources and personnel to effectively manage these essential services, and that means charging fees that cover the cost to administer its Title V program. This isn't about punishment; this isn’t punitive. It’s administrative. It’s about companies paying for the myriad services ACHD staff provides to ensure their permits are complete and they can continue to do business in Allegheny County - business that employs thousands of your constituents. It’s simple budgeting, folks. The Air Pollution Advisory Committee understood this. The Board of Health understood this. Environmental advocates, community leaders, and most importantly, the very people you represent understood this. The proposal moved swiftly through the established channels – until it reached this council. Now, it’s languishing in committee. Despite all the pleas, it’s not been put on the agenda for a discussion and possible vote. And what are the real-world consequences of this inaction? You have deprived our most vulnerable communities of nearly half a million dollars from the Clean Air Fund. Money that should be going directly to community-led projects to improve public health will instead be diverted to cover the very administrative costs this fee increase was meant to address. Think about that. The air dispersion models, the risk assessments, the permit reviews performed on behalf of industry – that's what your inaction is forcing ACHD to pay for out of community funds. Let there be no misunderstanding: Your delay has inflicted tangible harm. Source: "Allegheny County Council TV" YouTube

Spring is in the air, and what better way to celebrate the season than by exploring the natural beauty of Barking Slopes with GASP and Allegheny Land Trust?  Join us for a special evening hike of this “hidden gem” April 28 as we delve into the fascinating intersection of land use, local industry, and air quality. Barking Slopes, a New Kensington outdoor area, offers a unique opportunity to witness nature's resilience. As we explore this beautiful area, we'll discuss how past and present land use, including nearby industrial activity, has shaped the environment we see today. Bring your cameras, because spring will be in full swing, and it’s gonna be a BEAUT! We'll be on the lookout for vibrant wildflowers painting the slopes with color. But our exploration goes beyond just admiring the scenery. We'll be actively searching for sensitive, bio-indicative species – nature's own air quality monitors.  But wait, there’s more! The timing of our hike coincides with the City Nature Challenge, a global event that encourages people to find and document wildlife in their cities.  If you're interested in contributing to this exciting initiative, we encourage you to download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone before the hike. It's a fantastic tool for identifying species, recording your observations, and connecting with a community of nature enthusiasts.  Don't miss this chance to connect with nature, learn about the environmental history of Barking Slopes, and discover how you can become a vital part of monitoring our local ecosystems - all while supporting GASP and Allegheny Land Trust. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased right here.  Act fast - this event is expected to sell out.

Here at GASP, we're dedicated to empowering communities with the tools and information they need to understand and address air pollution. That's why we're excited to announce a new community air monitoring project in Lincoln Borough. We're looking for residents to become PurpleAir air quality monitor hosts . These small, easy-to-install sensors provide real-time data on particulate matter (PM2.5), a major air pollutant that can have serious health impacts.  By hosting a PurpleAir monitor, you'll be directly contributing to a clearer picture of air quality in your neighborhood as part of a larger community monitoring project funded by the EPA. Why Lincoln Borough? Understanding local air quality variations is crucial. This project will help us identify potential hotspots and gather valuable data to advocate for cleaner air for everyone. The data collected will be used to inform community members, researchers, and policymakers. Why Become a Host? Empower your community:  You'll be a vital part of a project that directly impacts the health and well-being of your neighbors. Gain real-time insights:  Access live air quality data for your area. Contribute to impactful research:  Your data will help us understand and address air pollution in Lincoln Borough. It's easy!  GASP will provide the PurpleAir monitor and support you through the simple installation process. Anonymity:  All sensor locations will remain anonymous to the public. Interested in Becoming a PurpleAir Host? If you live in Lincoln Borough and want to make a difference, we want to hear from you! Please contact GASP at julie@gasp-pgh.org . We'll provide you with more details about the project and answer any questions you may have.