GASP has been closely following the EPA's unprecedented assault on bedrock air quality regulations intended to reign in harmful emissions from some of America's largest industrial polluters and protect human and environmental health. We've written extensively about these environmental rollbacks and have provided public testimony blasting the EPA for its failure to protect the American public and the air we all breathe while largely giving polluters a free pass. On Friday, GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell provided public testimony at an EPA hearing regarding the latest rule change: The agency's repeal of emissions standards for power plants. He spoke not only on behalf of GASP, but on behalf of all of our members. Here's what he told them: Good afternoon. My name is Patrick Campbell, and I am executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution, or GASP. Since 1969, our nonprofit has worked to improve air quality in southwestern Pennsylvania. GASP strongly opposes EPA’s proposed repeal of federal emissions standards for existing coal-fired power plants and future gas-fired power plants. EPA has a clear duty under the Clean Air Act: protect public health and the environment. Repealing these safeguards would move the agency in the wrong direction. Abandoning EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases and power plant pollution would undo decades of progress. Combined with efforts to reverse the Endangerment Finding, eliminating federal limits on power plant climate pollution would violate the letter and spirit of the law. The World Health Organization makes the stakes clear. Extracting and burning fossil fuels drives climate change and air pollution. WHO reports that household and outdoor air pollution cause about 7 million premature deaths each year. It also projects that climate change will cause about 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 from heat stress, malnutrition, and malaria alone – some of those additional deaths will include U.S. citizens. Cutting emissions protects both the climate and public health and saves lives. Southwestern Pennsylvania has carried the burden of coal- and gas-fired power plant pollution for generations. GASP has challenged delays and rollbacks involving regional polluters, including the Conemaugh, Keystone, and the Tenaska Westmoreland gas facility. EPA data show the scale. In 2023, Conemaugh emitted 2.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Keystone emitted 2.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, and Tenaska emitted 2.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. Together, those three plants released nearly 8.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in one year. Our residents already face elevated rates of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and childhood asthma associated with industrial air pollution. Removing federal oversight would keep outdated, high-polluting operations running longer, worsening local air quality and adding more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. The burden is not shared equally. Low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, and people living near polluting facilities bear the greatest risks. Environmental justice means putting their health ahead of the convenience and profits of polluters. If EPA repeals these standards, vulnerable communities will keep paying for electricity with their lungs, their health, and their quality of life. GASP urges EPA to reject these rollbacks, maintain strong federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, and fulfill its duty to protect public health and the environment. Thank you.

Editor’s Note: The Allegheny County Health Department periodically updates its website to include documents related to air quality enforcement actions. As part of our watchdog work, GASP monitors this webpage and reports on the air quality violations posted there. Because the docket has not been updated since December 2025, GASP is now filing monthly public records requests to glean more timely information related to ACHD’s enforcement efforts. The below is among the most recent actions received through the Right to Know process. ACHD recently issued a $3,500 civil penalty against Heidelberg Materials following a 100% opacity emissions incident at the Lindy Paving Asphalt Plant located along Second Avenue downtown. The Aug. 14 enforcement action stems from a visual inspection conducted during a routine drive-by along the Boulevard of the Allies the morning of June 29. The impact on local air quality? One of GASP’s air quality monitors situated near the Lindy Paving Plant showed a spike in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) around the time of the incident: Plant representatives explained that the incident occurred while unloading a cement truck, noting that a line leading into the silo may have clogged, causing pressure buildup and excess emissions. However, ACHD noted that inspectors were unable to access the top of the silo directly because the ladder lacked a safety cage, requiring specialized harness equipment. According to the enforcement order, Heidelberg Materials cooperated during the investigation and immediately created a new inspection protocol and documentation sheet to monitor future truck unloading operations. You can read the entire enforcement order here.

Editor’s Note: The Allegheny County Health Department periodically updates its website to include documents related to air quality enforcement actions. As part of our watchdog work, GASP monitors this webpage and reports on the air quality violations posted there. Because the docket has not been updated since December 2025, GASP is now filing monthly public records requests to glean more timely information related to ACHD’s enforcement efforts. The below are the most recent actions received through the Right to Know process. Allegheny County Health Department Revokes Mon Valley Asbestos Abatement Contractor’s License Following Myriad Violations The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has officially revoked the asbestos abatement contractor license of Green Development and Construction following a series of violations the department said took place during a demolition project in Wilkinsburg. The Aug. 18 revocation order requires Green Development and its owner, Nadia Green, to immediately cease all asbestos abatement work across all active sites within Allegheny County. According to enforcement documents, Green Development failed to comply with the terms of an April 24 Administrative Order that placed the contractor under strict conditional oversight because of prior non-compliance issues. The latest enforcement action stems from an emergency demolition of a collapsing structure located at 1555 Marlboro Avenue in Wilkinsburg. ACHD said Green Development and Construction: failed to perform a required pre-abatement inspection failed to notify the department prior to abatement activities taking place failed to identify the source of water used to suppress hazardous asbestos dust during demolition and failed to submit required daily work summaries and air monitoring results. But that’s not all. According to ACHD, the contractor also performed unauthorized work. The enforcement order reads: On August 18, 2026, Green Development uploaded nine photos of setup and work being completed without an approved and issued asbestos demolition permit. On August 18, 2026, ACHD performed an inspection of the Subject Property and found the structure fully demolished, and the lot flattened to an even grade with straw applied to the exposed fill. Green Development has 30 days from receipt of the order to file a formal appeal. You can read the entire enforcement order here. Allegheny County Health Department Hits Wexford Developers with $23,510 in Fines Over Asbestos and Dust Violations ACHD on Aug. 18 issued two enforcement orders against developers and contractors involved in the Eddy Homes Autumn Grove development at 1070 Pleasant Hill Road in Wexford. More than $23,500 in civil penalties were assessed against property owner Pleasant Hill Development’s lead contractor, Eclipse Construction Management, LP, site developer Riemer, Incorporated, and demolition contractor Legacy Point Construction following an investigation triggered by public complaints. The companies were fined $17,850 for failing to conduct asbestos surveys or submit proper notifications prior to demolishing three structures—a house, barn, and garage—to make way for a 12-unit residential subdivision. In a separate action, ACHD fined the companies $5,660 for failing to control airborne dust and for submitting an inaccurate Corrective Action Plan. You can read the enforcement orders here and here. Allegheny County Health Department Fines Property Manager $14,950 Over Refusal to Conduct Asbestos Survey The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) hit property management company Rentwell Pittsburgh with a $14,950 civil penalty after the firm repeatedly refused to perform a required asbestos survey following renovations at a West End commercial property. The Aug. 14 enforcement order stems from a public complaint regarding collapsed ceiling plaster and uncontained dust at a mixed-use storefront located at 436 South Main Street. According to the enforcement order, ACHD began investigating the property in July 2025 after receiving reports of collapsed plaster, dust generation from cleanup efforts, and unpermitted ceiling repairs. Under federal National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and local air quality regulations, mixed-use commercial buildings must undergo a thorough asbestos survey prior to disturbing building materials. ACHD noted that Rentwell's obstructed inspectors' ability to evaluate whether tenants or the surrounding public were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers during the renovation. Because Rentwell Pittsburgh actively refused to cooperate, ACHD added a 25 percent penalty adjustment factor for non-cooperation. In addition to assessing the civil penalty, ACHD ordered the company to perform a comprehensive asbestos survey on all remaining building materials to determine potential public health risks. You can read the entire enforcement order here. Editor’s Note: GASP remains concerned about the number - and severity - of asbestos-abatement violations in Allegheny County and will continue to work to educate the public and our partners in the community about the issue and associated regulations. For those who'd like to know more about asbestos exposure and public health, check out GASP's resource page here. If you appreciate GASP’s independent watchdog reporting and clean air advocacy in please consider chipping in a few dollars to support our mission.

The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) strongly condemns the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) repeal of critical federal emissions standards for existing coal-fired and future gas-fired electric generating units (EGUs). This is just the latest example of the Trump regime’s Polluters-First Agenda, which has eliminated limits on climate pollution from existing coal plants and future gas-fired power plants - no matter who gets hurt as a result. For those who need a little refresher, check out our explainer blog here. The regime is also attempting to double down on the egregious, anti-science repeal of the Endangerment Finding by proposing to eliminate all federal regulation of power plant climate pollution. “As a result, millions of Americans will continue to grapple with emissions from these polluters and pay even more for energy and electricity, with the most vulnerable communities suffering most,’ GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “The EPA’s duty to the American people is to protect the environment, not rewrite air quality rules to benefit polluters.” Our region has felt the heavy toll of coal and gas power plant pollution for generations. That’s why GASP has continuously tracked and fought against systemic delays and rollbacks surrounding major regional polluters—from coal plants like Conemaugh, Keystone, and the recently shuttered Homer City, to large natural gas-fired facilities like Tenaska Westmoreland. “Abdicating the EPA's duty to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and power plant pollution undoes decades of incremental progress achieved through the Clean Air Act,” Campbell said. “Repealing federal climate standards and stripping federal oversight gives facilities permission to prolong dirty operations, worsening local air quality and accelerating global climate chaos.” Southwestern Pennsylvania residents already suffer from elevated rates of respiratory illness, heart disease, and pediatric asthma due to air pollution. The mission of the EPA under the Clean Air Act is clear: to protect human health and the environment. Surrendering federal authority over power plant emissions directly violates that core mandate. GASP will continue to advocate alongside local residents, scrutinize state implementation plans (SIPs) and Title V operating permits, and demand that federal and state regulators hold power plants accountable to public health, not corporate bottom lines. Editor's Note: Here is the full EPA announcement for those who would like to take a deeper dive.

Editor’s Note: The Allegheny County Health Department periodically updates its website to include documents related to air quality enforcement actions. As part of our watchdog work, GASP monitors this webpage and reports on the air quality violations posted there. Because the docket has not been updated since December 2025, GASP is now filing monthly public records requests to glean more timely information related to ACHD’s enforcement efforts. The below are the most recent actions received through the Right to Know process. American Airlines Slapped with Fine After Missing Deadline ACHD on June 30 issued an enforcement order against American Airlines Pittsburgh Maintenance Base for failing to pay its $4,250 annual operating permit maintenance fee by deadline. The enforcement order indicates that ACHD in February sent American Airlines two notices about the unpaid annual fee and a 50 percent civil penalty - $2,250 - for failure to submit that payment by the deadline. “As of the date of this order, ACHD has not received payment for the late payment civil penalty,” the document reads. The document indicates that the company had 30 days to pay the outstanding balance. No further information on the case was immediately available. You can read the enforcement order here. Neville Island Facility Fined for Exceeding Emissions Limits ACHD on June 30 issued a civil penalty of $13,195 to Lindy Paving on Neville Island for exceeding limits for nitrogen oxides emissions during a stack test that occurred on Oct. 16, 2025. Lindy Paving failed that stack test but continued to operate through November 30, 2025, when a permit amendment authorizing higher emission rates became effective. You can read the enforcement order here. Company Owned by North Braddock Mayor Fined for Air Quality Violations ACHD on July 29 issued an $11,050 civil penalty against Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and its contractor, C&C Master Cleaning and Restoration owned by North Braddock Mayor Cletus Lee, for asbestos-abatement violations related to the 2025 demolition of a structure located at 5808 Baum Boulevard in Pittsburgh. You can read the enforcement order here. Braddock Business Fined for Operating Without Air Quality Permits ACHD on June 30 issued a $9.900 civil penalty against Braddock-based Wheaton & Sons for operating a stationary source of air pollution without valid installation and operating permits since being informed of the requirement on May 1, 2026. Wheaton & Sons is “an establishment primarily engaged in fabricated structural metal manufacturing operations [including] machining processes, including two plasma cutters, one laser cutter, multiple press brakes, bandsaws, curving rolls, and punching centers.” “On May 1, 2026, ACHD issued a Determination Letter notifying Wheaton & Sons Inc. that ACHD had determined that the operations located at 108 Talbot Ave, Braddock, PA 15104 required an Installation and Operating Permit Application. The Determination Letter stated that Wheaton & Sons Inc.’s estimated potential emissions of Criteria pollutants are significant and above the threshold required for permitting.” You can read the enforcement order here.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) this week announced it entered into a Consent Order and Agreement with The Sherwin-Williams Manufacturing Company to resolve air quality violations at its Rochester Plant in Beaver County. According to a press release issued Tuesday, Sherwin-Williams will pay a total $124,700 civil penalty within 30 days of receiving the fully executed consent order. The air quality violations first came to light thanks to investigative reporting by KDKA’s Meghan Schiller after neighbors sounded the alarm over what they described as persistent chemical smell. The consent order addresses violations related to: Failure to install and operate air cleaning devices in a timely manner Air contaminant source construction/installation without proper plan approval Missed required startup notifications Failure to perform required monitoring and recordkeeping under permit and plan approval conditions Issues tied to required control equipment startup timelines and stack testing In addition to the $124,700 civil penalty, the agreement establishes stipulated penalties for future violations. For example, Sherwin-Williams will be fined $1,000 per day per violation for failing to meet any of the agreement deadlines, including those associated with the installation and operation of a Thermal Oxidizer and South Tank Truck Area Carbon Adsorber. The agreement remains in effect until DEP determines Sherwin-Williams has completed all required corrective actions and paid all required penalties. Editor’s Note: For those who’d like to take a deeper dive, you can access the full agreement here.

The U.S Chemical Safety Board on Monday issued its final report on the Aug. 11, 2025 explosion at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works that killed two people, injured 11 others, and caused an estimated $52.5 million in property damage. The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating, determining, and reporting to the public in writing the facts, conditions, and circumstances and the cause or probable cause of any accidental chemical release resulting in a fatality, serious injury, or substantial property damages. Its biggest takeaway? The explosion could have been prevented. The final report is 86 pages long and contains detailed analysis related to the incident, photographs depicting the aftermath of the explosion, and diagrams explaining what happened - we highly recommend folks take a look. While you can read the entire report online, here are the key investigative findings: Procedures and Hazard Analysis: On the day of the explosion, the valve washing operation was performed in a way that directly caused the catastrophic failure of the Battery 13 coke oven gas isolation valve. U.S. Steel occasionally utilized water washing to address valves that could not otherwise fully close, but the company never developed a formal procedure for water washing valves despite relying on it to prepare isolation valves for maintenance outages. Additionally, neither U.S. Steel nor its contractor, MPW Industrial Services, Inc, (MPW), identified or addressed the hazards created by applying pressurized water to the valve at a pressure greater than the valve’s design rating. Facility Siting: The buildings in the Battery 13/14 transfer area were located less than 20 feet directly above the coke oven gas piping system. The buildings were routinely occupied by U.S. Steel personnel but were neither designed nor constructed to withstand an explosion. In the years leading up to the explosion, U.S. Steel had multiple opportunities to evaluate and address the inherent hazards resulting from the co-location of occupied buildings and the hazardous coke oven gas piping. “However, U.S. Steel affirmatively chose not to do so, based on the company’s belief that it was not required to do so,” the report states. Process Safety Management Systems: U.S. Steel did not have sufficient process safety management systems that could have prevented or reduced the severity of this incident. Stay tuned, GASP continues to follow this issue closely and will keep you posted as more information becomes available. Editor’s Note: Here is some key coverage of the report: U.S. Steel’s 'ineffective’ safety procedures led to explosion that killed two, federal chemical safety board concludes - The Allegheny Front U.S. Steel could have prevented 2025 Clairton Coke Works explosion, Chemical Safety Board says | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Preventable safety management failures caused Clairton Coke Works explosions, says chemical safety board

Gov. Josh Shapiro last week announced the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will develop new regulations to reduce methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas operations across the state, including requirements to detect and repair leaks and phase out routine venting and flaring — two major sources of methane pollution. According to a press release, DEP will develop rules requiring equipment and practices that reduce leaks from well sites, pipelines, and other oil and gas infrastructure, while reducing emissions from venting and flaring activities. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and the principal component of natural gas. The new regulations are expected to reduce leaks and emissions from wells, pipelines, and other infrastructure, and require regular monitoring to identify and plug any new leaks. Some more potentially good news: Through the RISE PA program, the Commonwealth is investing $396 million “in projects that will create thousands of good-paying construction and manufacturing jobs while reducing carbon emissions and air pollution from industrial facilities.” The release also indicated that more than $210 million in federal funding has been secured to plug 400 orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells — more than were plugged in the previous 10 years combined — and secured more than $29 million in state funding to continue this critical work and reduce methane emissions that contribute to climate change. DEP announced the rulemaking in its updated Regulatory Agenda, which outlines the regulatory actions DEP expects to undertake over the coming year. The proposal will move through Pennsylvania's public regulatory review process, including opportunities for stakeholder and public comment before any final regulations are adopted. The full Regulatory Calendar can be found on the DEP website. Advanced drafts of the regulation will be presented to the Citizen’s Advisory Council, Air Quality Technical Advisory Committee, the Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee, the Oil and Gas Technical Advisory Board, and the PA Grade Crude Advisory Council. GASP lauds the announcement and looks forward to reviewing the regulatory language when it is published for public comment. Stay tuned, we continue to follow this issue closely and will keep you posted as the process unfolds.

The latest round of Canadian wildfire smoke descended on southwestern Pennsylvania Thursday and lingered into the weekend, ushering in Air Quality Index values that soared into the Code Maroon range, prompting a spate of warnings from state and local officials. How Social Media Played a Role Meanwhile, social media platforms were blowing up with posts showing sepia-toned skies that obscured Pittsburgh’s iconic skyline. EarthCam and CMU CREATE Lab's BreatheCam footage showed these views: Journalists like our friend Natalie Bencivenga took to Instagram to help keep people informed on what they were seeing, smelling, and breathing: One local physician used her feed to educate followers about just how bad our local air quality was, and what physical symptoms they could be experiencing as a result of the spiking AQI. Her name is Dr. Natalie Gentile, and her Instagram video went viral: Residents Share Fears, Physical Symptoms on SmellPGH Meanwhile, SmellPGH users provided a glimpse into what residents were experiencing: This latest episode of (very) bad air quality also coincided with one of Pittsburgh’s most popular outdoor festivals: Picklesburgh. Social media lit up with people asking, “Is it even safe to attend?” The question showed up in community Facebook groups, on Reddit, and was fodder for at least one conservative talk radio show (not linking because we don’t want to give a troll more traffic). It was also discussed on the popular social media site oneBURGH, where they called out KDKA for what it deemed as irresponsible reporting on a burgeoning public health issue: But how bad was the air we were all breathing? Consider this information shared Friday by ACHD: News reports also indicate that UPMC emergency rooms saw an uptick of people seeking medical treatment for heat and air quality-related ailments. Air Quality Extenuating Circumstances We would be remiss if we didn’t mention two high-profile events that took Thursday as our area was already grappling with unprecedented air pollution: First, there was the long-awaited explosion of the Commercial Street Bridge in Pittsburgh that the media aptly said left behind “nothing but a cloud of smoke and a pile of rubble” - timing that baffled residents and activists. Then, there was a fire Thursday night at an industrial facility on Neville Island - Gottlieb Aluminum Recycling Inc. - that alarmed local residents and further fouled local skies. GASP Communications Manager Amanda Gillooly, who lives near Gottlieb, captured video of massive dark plumes of smoke emanating from the facility - one she said she and neighbors have made reports about for years. While we know there was a huge emergency response to the fire - with 19 departments responding - the cause of the blaze and the extent of the damage was not immediately known. Stay tuned, GASP is working to get more details. What Went Right One bright spot? Allegheny County Health Department’s robust response and public communications - from news releases distributed through the Allegheny Alerts system to actionable and informative social media posts, GASP appreciates ACHD’s diligent work. “The last time wildfire smoke rolled into our region and caused significant air quality issues, ACHD did not have an emergency alert system in place - a problem we repeatedly implored the department to correct,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “This time around, residents were able to receive important public health information directly from the department instead of having to rely on news coverage or seeing something on social media.” He continued: “We thank ACHD for stepping up its crisis communications and truly helping to inform folks during some of the worst air quality many of us have seen in our lifetimes.” GASP encourages everyone to sign up to receive alerts through the new county system - here’s what you need to know. We also encourage folks to bookmark AirNow.gov and/or download the app. Also follow GASP on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky for educational material and alerts. Editor's Note: Who can you trust when the world is on fire? You can trust GASP to bring you timely, actionable information when you need it most. When wildfire smoke sent local AQI soaring, Southwestern Pennsylvanians were left wondering how to keep their families safe. That's where GASP came in: From breaking down complex particulate pollution updates into clear, real-time guidance to giving residents practical resources to protect their health, GASP served as Pittsburgh’s reliable frontline defense. But keeping our region educated, vigilant, and vocal takes year-round resources. When the air gets heavy, our work gets critical. Help us keep Southwestern Pennsylvania informed, empowered, and breathing easier. Make a donation to GASP today.

The Allegheny County Health Department on Thursday afternoon issued the following press release: The Allegheny County Health Department wants to inform the public that the PM2.5 air quality conditions for Thursday, July 16 are currently in the Code Maroon (Hazardous Air Quality) range for areas of the county and conditions have gotten progressively worse throughout the afternoon. Wildfire smoke continues to impact Pennsylvania from Ontario, Canada and Minnesota, significantly deteriorating the air quality across Commonwealth. The wildfire smoke will remain in the area this afternoon but is expected to eventually move out of the area on Saturday. At this time, the health department recommends no outdoor activities this evening and potentially tomorrow. The local monitoring in Allegheny County shows the current levels as of 4pm are in the Code Maroon (Hazardous) range on EPA’s AirNow map. The U.S. Air Quality Index is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s tool for communicating about outdoor air quality and health. Code Maroon (Hazardous) indicates that: Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected. The U.S. EPA, DEP, and Allegheny County Health Department recommend the following guidance: Code Maroon (Hazardous): Everyone: Avoid all physical activity outdoors. Sensitive groups: Remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Follow tips for keeping particle levels low indoors. If you don't have an air conditioner, staying inside with the windows closed may be dangerous in extremely hot weather. If you are hot, go someplace with air conditioning or check with your local municipality to find out if cooling centers are available in your community. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) has issued a PM 2.5 Air Quality Alert of Code Purple for Friday, July 17. Code Purple (Very Unhealthy): Sensitive groups: Avoid all physical activity outdoors. Reschedule to a time when air quality is better or move activities indoors. Sensitive groups include people with respiratory issues or lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis as well as older adults, children and teenagers, and people who are active outdoors. General Public: Avoid long or intense activities. Consider rescheduling or moving activities indoors. PM 2.5 is a type of particle pollution comes from many different sources. Fine particles (2.5 micrometers in diameter and smaller) come from power plants, industrial processes, vehicle tailpipes, woodstoves, and wildfires. Particle pollution causes a number of serious health problems, including coughing, wheezing, reduced lung function, asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes. It also is linked to early death in people with heart or lung disease. All residents are advised to check AirNow for your current air quality and take simple steps to reduce your exposure. Get the latest local updates on air quality by enrolling in Allegheny Alerts for free. Additional Air Quality Index Resources: Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution Guía de la calidad del aire sobre la contaminación por partículas