The public comment period is now open for an Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) proposal to increase funding for its air quality program in part through increasing fees imposed upon industrial air polluters.
Little background/context for ya: GASP was the first to sound the alarm over the Air Quality Program's newest funding woes, and teamed up with Breathe Project, Clean Air Council, Environmental Integrity Project, and PennEnvironment to get residents to join us in telling the Allegheny County Board of Health last week to approve the plan for public input - a collective advocacy success.
Why do we care - and why should you? We’ve said it before, and we will say it again: Allegheny County needs a fully funded Air Quality Program. Air quality issues remain one of our area’s leading public health issues, and we need to arm our regulators with the necessary resources. Full stop.
GASP staff is currently reviewing the plan with the proverbial fine-tooth comb and will be submitting comments - and we hope you do, too! Because ACHD needs all the brain power it can get to ensure its Air Quality Program is fully funded.
Stay tuned, we will have an explainer blog soon with suggested talking points. What we are asking you to do now is save the date - a public hearing on the proposed plan is slated for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 19 at the West Mifflin Borough Building. Folks can sign up to speak on the matter here.