Editor's Note: GASP on Feb. 27 submitted formal comments on the new RACT requirements for the Butler Works. You can read them here. The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) this month published a notice of proposed revisions to the Title V Operating Permit for Cleveland Cliffs Steel Corporation’s Butler Works.   These proposed permit revisions would implement Reasonably Available Control Technology requirements (or RACT for short). We decided to take a look at the proposed revisions and report on them.  But First Some Background… The RACT requirement is imposed by the Clean Air Act and instructs each state to determine whether facilities that are major sources  of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within its borders are using all reasonably available control technology to limit emissions of NOx and VOCs.   A facility is a major source of NOx if it has the potential to emit 100 tons or more per year of NOx and is a major source of VOCs if it has the potential to emit 50 tons or more per year of VOCs.  If such facilities are not implementing RACT, the states must require them to do so, even if they were properly permitted when they began operating and have continued to operate within all applicable limits. Need to Know Info About RACT New RACT determinations are required every time the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revises a National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone or NOx (fun fact: NOx and VOCs are the two principal precursors to the formation of ground-level ozone pollution).   The first round of RACT determinations followed the imposition of the RACT requirement by the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act and were implemented in the late 1990s and early 2000s.   The second round of RACT determinations (RACT II), which were completed just last year, followed the revision of the NAAQS for ozone in 2008 (yes, there really was a 14-year lag!).    The recently-proposed revisions to the Butler Works’ operating permit follow the latest revision of the ozone standard, which occurred in 2015, and are referred to as RACT III determinations. Generally, the Clean Air Act requires RACT determinations only for major sources in areas that do not attain the NAAQS for ozone. The Butler Works is a “major source” of both NOx and VOCs, but Butler County attains the NAAQS for ozone.   So why is the plant subject to the RACT requirement?   Because the Clean Air Act requires that all areas of Pennsylvania be treated as nonattainment for ozone, regardless of their actual attainment status. As a result, all “major sources” of NOx and VOCs in Pennsylvania, including the Butler Works, are required to comply with RACT III emission limits. How RACT Determinations Work RACT determinations are made in either of two ways: Each individual source of NOx and VOC pollution within a facility that is a major source of NOx and/or VOCs. For some source categories, RACT is defined by regulation; a source in the category must comply with the regulation. The determinations for such sources are known as presumptive RACT determinations.  For other sources, RACT is determined on a case-by-case basis, and such determinations are referred to as alternative or - no surprise here - “case-by-case” RACT determinations.   For case-by-case determinations, the goal is to make sure the source is using control methods that are both technologically feasible and cost effective, with cost effectiveness being evaluated on a “dollars per ton of pollutant eliminated” basis.   A RACT III control measure is deemed to be cost effective at $7,500/ton of NOx emissions reduced or $12,000/ton of VOC emissions reduced. What You Need to Know About Butler Works’ RACT The Butler Works contains a mix of many sources, some of which are subject to presumptive RACT III requirements and some of which needed case-by-case RACT III determinations.   The presumptive RACT III requirements did not impose new emissions limits on any sources within the Butler Works; rather, such sources will generally be subject to annual tune-up, maintenance, and testing requirements to ensure that they are burning fuel efficiently.  There is nothing unusual about that. But Here’s the Weird Thing About It Is… In contrast, the RACT III determinations that DEP made for several sources within the Butler Works that were made on a case-by-case basis are unusual, because those determinations will allow for increases in the sources’ emissions limits for NOx:  SOURCE RACT II NOx LIMITS (Tons per Year) RACT III NOx LIMITS (Tons per Year) INCREASE FROM RACT II to RACT III (Tons per Year) Slab Heating Furnace 6 (Source 112) 36.60 41.08 4.48 Slab Heating Furnace 8 (Source 137) 62.10 62.52 0.42 Anneal Furnace 4 (Source 156) 22.96 24.50 1.54 Anneal Furnace 7 (Source 157) 17.20 20.74 3.54 Anneal Furnace 12 (Source 158) 63.65 81.87 18.22   Why GASP Has Questions & Next Steps “DEP’s Review Memo for its RACT III determinations does not explain how authorized NOx emissions for these sources could increase – if the lower emission limits were the result of controls that were ‘reasonably available’ just a few years ago, why aren’t those controls available now,”  asked GASP Senior Attorney John Baillie. “We are left to wonder.” DEP is accepting written comments on the RACT III determinations for the Butler Works through Feb. 28. Written comments may be mailed to:  Lori McNabb, Regional Air Quality Program Manager, DEP’s Northwest Region’s, 230 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335. Editor’s Note: GASP continues to follow this issue closely and will keep you posted.

Editor’s Note: The following press release was issued Tuesday afternoon by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). GASP thanks the department for addressing the H2S and SO2 exceedances publicly - we appreciate the transparency! The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) received three sulfur dioxide (SO2) exceedance alerts from the North Braddock monitoring station in the early morning hours Tuesday. As part of our ongoing monitoring program, these alerts help inform the ACHD Air Quality team of potential issues in the area so they can further investigate what may be happening. The alerts went off at 1 am, 2 am and 4 am. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon monoxide (CO) were also elevated from their typical levels during this time period. The one-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard for SO2 is 0.075 parts per million (ppm). Preliminary numbers show that at from 12 am to 1am SO2 was at 0.083 ppm, from 1am to 2 am SO2 was at 0.116 ppm, and from 3 am to 4 am SO2 was at 0.077 ppm.    H2S levels exceeded the 24-hour state standard of 0.005 ppm and the highest concentration happened from 1 am to 2am at 0.073 ppm. However, the one-hour state standard of 0.100 ppm was not exceeded over that same time period. While CO did not exceed the federal standard of 35,000 parts per billion (ppb), the highest hourly concentration of CO from 11 pm on February 24 to 6 am on February 25 was 10,978 ppb. The North Braddock monitoring station normally records CO at about 200-400 ppb. As of 9 am, CO, SO2, and H2S have been measured in low concentrations at the North Braddock monitoring station. ACHD has been in contact with pollution sources in the area to determine whether any local operations could have caused the exceedances. ACHD is currently  investigating the issue and will provide additional information as it becomes available. Residents can view hourly monitored data  on the ACHD daily summary  (North Braddock is available on p. 76) to see CO, SO2, and H2S concentrations. Hourly readings of H2S  levels are also available using the air quality dashboard. More about SO2: According to the EPA , the largest source of SO2 in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels by power plants and other industrial facilities. Smaller sources of SO2 emissions include industrial processes such as extracting metal from ore; natural sources such as volcanoes; and locomotives, ships and other vehicles and heavy equipment that burn fuel with a high sulfur content. SO2 can affect both health and the environment. What are the health effects of SO2? Short-term exposures to SO2 can harm the human respiratory system and make breathing difficult. People with asthma, particularly children, are sensitive to these effects of SO2. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. These are signs to take it easier. SO2 emissions that lead to high concentrations of SO2 in the air generally also lead to the formation of other sulfur oxides (SOx). SOx can react with other compounds in the atmosphere to form small particles. These particles contribute to particulate matter (PM) pollution. Small particles may penetrate deeply into the lungs and in sufficient quantity can contribute to health problems. Learn more about particulate matter What are the environmental effects of SO2 and other sulfur oxides? At high concentrations, gaseous SOx can harm trees and plants by damaging foliage and decreasing growth.   SO2 and other sulfur oxides can contribute to acid rain which can harm sensitive ecosystems.  Learn more about acid rain What is hydrogen sulfide? Hydrogen sulfide is a flammable, colorless gas that smells like rotten eggs. People usually can smell hydrogen sulfide at low concentrations in air ranging from 0.0005 to 0.3 parts per million (ppm). How can hydrogen sulfide affect my health? Studies in humans suggest that the respiratory tract and nervous system are the most sensitive targets of hydrogen sulfide toxicity. Respiratory distress or arrest has been observed in people exposed to very high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. Exposure to low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat or headaches, poor memory, tiredness, and balance problems. It may also cause difficulty in breathing for some asthmatics. Respiratory distress or arrest has been observed in people exposed to very high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. Brief exposures to high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide can cause loss of consciousness. In most cases, the person appears to regain consciousness without any other effects. However, in some individuals, there may be permanent or long-term effects such as headaches, poor attention span, poor memory, and poor motor function. What is carbon monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, practically odorless, and tasteless gas or liquid. It results from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion. Health Effects Associated with Carbon Monoxide At low concentrations: Fatigue in healthy people. Chest pain in people with heart disease. At higher concentrations: Impaired vision and coordination. Headaches. Dizziness. Confusion. Nausea. Can cause flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving home. Fatal at very high concentrations.  Acute effects are due to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood, which inhibits oxygen intake.  At moderate concentrations, angina, impaired vision, and reduced brain function may result.  At higher concentrations, CO exposure can be fatal. Residents should test Carbon Monoxide detectors to ensure they are working properly and immediately leave if the alarm goes off. After moving to a safer location, call 9-1-1 and report the issue.

The Allegheny County Health Department today issued a press release announcing that there was a breakdown at U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson facility in North Braddock over the weekend. Here’s what ACHD sent out: Over the weekend there was an issue at the Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock, according to a breakdown report submitted to ACHD by US Steel. The report also mentions that the incident on February 23rd occurred at 7 am and resulted in damage to the building. US Steel has tarped the hole until a permanent repair can be made and slowed down production. For more information regarding issues within the Edgar Thomson facility reach out to U.S. Steel. The required pollution monitors were not damaged by this issue. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) will continue to investigate the breakdown. GASP has reached out to ACHD to see if the breakdown at Edgar Thomson over the weekend could also be related to sky-high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide at the North Braddock monitor today - levels that exceeded Pennsylvania’s 24-hour-average standard. ACHD responded immediately, stating: The cause of the H2S values are under investigation and we cannot provide any further comments at this time. We thank ACHD for the transparency. Stay tuned, we are following this issue closely and will keep you posted as more details emerge.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA), about 28 percent of our national gas emissions come from transportation sources  - more than half of that is attributable to cars and other light-duty vehicles .   We recently blogged about how the new administration in Washington is attempting to scrap an EPA regulation that effectively mandates that roughly two-thirds of all vehicles sold in the United States be electric by model year 2032.    And that’s unfortunate because the amount of air pollution reduction such a regulation seems likely to bring about would be remarkable.             But that’s not all: This month we’ve also witnessed another course change by EPA regarding vehicle emission standards.  On Feb. 14, EPA announced that it is sending the Biden Administration’s issuance of a waiver for California’s light-duty vehicle emission standards to Congress for review under the Congressional Review Act.    This set of California emission standards is referred to as the Advanced Clean Cars II rules and they do two noteworthy things:   They would ban the sale of new cars powered with internal combustion engines in California by 2035. They would impose limits on the tailpipe emissions of new cars sold in California from model year 2026 through model year 2035.   The Clean Air Act generally prohibits the states from imposing their own rules regarding limitations on emissions from new motor vehicles – the Act contemplates that such limitations generally may be imposed only by EPA.    We say generally, however, because the Act includes a carve-out for California’s vehicle emission standards – EPA can waive the Act’s prohibition of state vehicle emission standards for those issued by California (although none of the other states).    Further, the Act allows other states to adopt California’s standards after EPA issued a waiver for them.     Indeed, back in 2006, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) promulgated a regulation called the Clean Vehicles Program that requires new cars sold in Pennsylvania to adhere to vehicle emission limits set by California (but not  California’s fleet efficiency standards, though).    “That means that California’s rules determine how much pollution can come out of a new car’s tailpipe in Pennsylvania, but do not determine what percentage - if any -  of new cars in Pennsylvania must be electric,” GASP senior attorney John Baillie explained.   California submitted a request for a waiver of Clean Air Act preemption for the Advanced Clean Cars II rules to EPA in 2023.  EPA approved that waiver request on December 17, 2024, and published notice of its approval in the Federal Register on January 6, 2025.    However, as we noted above, on Feb. 14, EPA sent the approved waiver to Congress for review under the Congressional Review Act.   What does this mean?   The Congressional Review Act, which has been on the books since the 1990s, requires federal agencies to submit new major federal regulations to Congress for its review, and gives Congress the power to disapprove any such regulation for up to 60 days after the regulation becomes effective.    Congressional disapproval is by a simple majority of both the House of Representatives and the Senate .  Important to note: Once a regulation has been disapproved under the Congressional Review Act, it may not be reissued in substantially the same form.   EPA’s approval of California’s waiver request was published on Jan. 6 and became effective on that date. Accordingly, Congress has until March 7 to disapprove the waiver under the Congressional Review Act.  If it does so, EPA may not grant a request for a substantially similar waiver in the future.   “Where this is going is anybody’s guess.” Baillie said. “Maybe Congress will fail to act by March 7, but if it does act the rules governing tailpipe emissions for cars in the upcoming model years in California and other large states could be out the window, replaced with

Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) recently announced funding for projects dedicated to improving air quality and public health in the Mon Valley.  These projects are recipients of the first round of awards from the Mon Valley Public Health and Welfare Grant Program , which was established as part of the settlement from the 2018 fire at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works. The projects selected for awards address environmental concerns, enhance public and community health, and were informed by community input gathered through extensive engagement and public hearings.  ACED has allocated funds to projects that align with the needs and priorities identified by residents, businesses, and stakeholders during a community engagement process that included public hearings, digital engagement, and surveys facilitated in 2024.  The department said in a release: “This process provided a platform for voices from the Mon Valley communities directly impacted by the 2018 fire at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, ensuring that funding decisions were rooted in the aspirations and concerns of the community.” “We applaud the county for its continued community outreach - and transparency - around how these funds are being spent,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “And we’d be remiss if we didn’t encourage our friends and contemporaries working in the Mon Valley to check out the second round of funding opportunity and pitch their air quality improvement projects.” A Little Bit More About the Projects Funded in the First Round: Valley Clean Air Now - Air Purifier and Education Project:  Funding to purchase and distribute air purifiers and hold educational sessions on airborne pollutants and mitigation strategies. South Allegheny Fire Emergency Services and Rescue - AED Device Acquisition:  Funding to purchase eight automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) for local rescue teams. Steel Rivers Council of Governments - Community Wellness Supplies:  Funding to purchase and distribute wellness supplies, with a focus on promoting safe and respiratory-friendly cleaning practices. Glassport Community Development Corporation - Community Garden Space:  Funding to create a community garden space, including site preparation and equipment purchase, promoting healthier, shared outdoor environments. Helping Out Our People - Services for Families Affected by Gun Violence:  Funding to expand counseling and support services, as well as educational programs, for individuals affected by gun violence. Rainbow Kitchen Community Services - Public Health and Welfare:  Funding to support caseworkers working with impacted communities and to purchase critical health supplies. “ACED’s investment in these programs is a direct response to the voices of the Mon Valley community. By actively listening to constituents as we developed the application system, sought applications, reviewed submissions, and awarded funds, we are able to support projects that not only improve the environment but also protect the health and well-being of Mon Valley residents,” said Allegheny County Economic Development Director Lauren Connelly. Public Engagement Continues: Upcoming Hearings and Second Funding Round To continue fostering open communication and ensuring the community’ s priorities that guides future application and selection processes, ACED will hold additional public engagement sessions.  These sessions will provide feedback on the projects funded in the first round, offer space for further community discussions on emerging needs, and outline details of the application process for the second funding round and any future application cycles. While the virtual hearing took place last night, it’s not too late to attend an in-person event happening at 1 p.m. Thursday in McKeesport.   You can register here The department is also seeking community feedback through the U.S. Steel Settlement Community Survey. Applications for the Second Round of Funding Open March 24 ACED is committed to ensuring a transparent and equitable application process. The second round of funding will officially open on March 24, allowing community organizations, nonprofits, and other stakeholders to apply for funds aimed at improving public health and air quality in the Mon Valley. Details of the application criteria and process will be informed by the public engagement sessions. Little Bit More   About the Mon Valley Public Health and Welfare Funds: The Mon Valley Public Health and Welfare Funds were established as part of a As part of the settlement, U.S. Steel agreed to make payments totaling $4.5 million, with $2.25 million allocated to ACED over five years. These funds aim to support projects that have a direct, tangible impact on public health and indoor/outdoor air quality in communities near U.S. Steel facilities. For more information on the application process, funded projects, and upcoming sessions, please visit Mon Valley Public Health and Welfare Funds - Allegheny County, PA .

Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) this week released its 2023 Air Quality Annual Report, which shows the county has met the EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 2023. It’s the third straight year that NAAQS were met. “This is what we all - ACHD, air quality groups, residents, and elected leaders - have been working together to make a reality: That Allegheny County’s air quality continues to improve,” GASP Executive Director Patrick Campbell said. “Do we still have air quality issues that impact our public health and perennial polluters mucking up our skies? Absolutely. Is our work done?  No. And we have to be cognizant that that work will be so much more difficult for ACHD to tackle without the proper funding. To be clear: The languishing permit fee schedule will only make progress a longer slog. We hope county council is paying attention because their constituents certainly are.”  He added: “Levels of pollution in some parts of the county do not attain the new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM2.5, and that also needs to be addressed.” Here’s what officials said in a press release: The Allegheny County Health Department's 2023 Air Quality Annual Report  shows the county's measures have met the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for 2023.  The data from nine monitoring locations throughout Allegheny County is submitted to and accepted by the EPA. The data shows that for a third year in a row all federal standards have been met, including Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) which is particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less. Particulate matter is a type of air pollution consisting of tiny particles like smoke or car exhaust. "Our monitoring network is one of the more robust in the Country. The citing and operations of the network are approved by the US EPA and as such, we are very confident in the data from our regulatory monitoring network." said Geoff Rabinowitz, Allegheny County Health Department Bureau of Environmental Health Deputy Director. In 2023 the Eastern Canadian wildfires caused spikes in the Air Quality Index (AQI) across much of the eastern United States. In late June particulate matter from the wildfires caused the highest 24-hour PM2.5 AQI measurements in the county since PM2.5 became a federal standard. Even with the Canadian wildfire event the county was still in attainment for the PM2.5 annual standard. "The Canadian Wildfire event was concerning, it's been over 20 years since we have experienced major wildfire pollution like it," says Jason Maranche, Planning and Data Assessment Manager for Allegheny County's Air Quality program. "We are glad the data shows the county has maintained all federal standards again despite outlier events." Although standards were met, the health department still has important work to do. Areas like Liberty, North Braddock, and Parkway East, generally recorded worse air quality than other parts of the county. For example, in 2023 the 24-hours standard for PM2.5 was exceeded in the Liberty area six times. In addition to federally regulated pollutants, Liberty had 103 exceedance days and North Braddock had 38 days for the 24-hour Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) state standard. "While the county as a whole continues to meet federal standards overall, Sulfur Dioxide (S02) exceedances, Ozone exceedances, and frequent hydrogen sulfide exceedances suggest ongoing air quality challenges. Every exceedance of federal, state, and County standards could potentially impact public health, especially vulnerable populations," said Dr. Iulia Vann, Public Health Director for the Allegheny County Health Department. "We must continue to address the damage from air pollution in order to protect, promote, and preserve the health and well-being of Allegheny County residents." The annual report shares data and descriptions for all federal criteria pollutants and includes data on Pennsylvania state standards, hazardous air pollutants, health effects, AQI, and information on the air monitoring network.  Visit the Air Quality Reports and Studies  webpage for quarterly reports, annual reports, and additional studies on unique air quality issues.  The Allegheny County Health Department will use the 2023 Air Quality Annual Report as an opportunity to inform local communities on key takeaways like air quality impacts and the activities of the air quality program .  The department is hoping to put out dates for those public outreach events in the next few weeks. Editor's Note: We will keep you posted on those public outreach events. Stay tuned!

The change in Presidential Administrations brought with it a flurry of executive orders, one of which touches on subjects that we’ve blogged about before: vehicle emission standards and the transition to electric vehicles, which are important for air quality because vehicle emissions are one of the largest sources of air pollution.   More specifically, President Trump’s   Executive Order 14148  revokes President Biden’s  2021 Executive Order 14037 , which directed the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Secretary of Transportation to “consider beginning work on” rulemakings to establish vehicle emission standards and vehicle fleet mileage requirements, respectively.   Those standards and requirements were to be drafted with the goal that fifty percent of all new passenger cars and light duty trucks “sold in 2030 be zero-emission vehicles.” EPA finished work on its rulemaking by the April 2024 deadline.  As we   blogged , EPA published new   emission standards  for model years 2027-32, under which roughly two-thirds of all model year 2032 cars and light-duty vehicles sold will effectively be required to be electric vehicles - we say “effectively” because given existing technology that is the only way for automakers to meet the standards. Thus, although the rule was not written as a mandate, it will function as one.  The Department of Transportation followed suit in June of 2024,   finalizing a rule  that would require “an industry-wide fleet average of approximately 50.4 miles per gallon” for passenger cars and light-duty trucks by model year 2031. So, what does Trump’s executive order mean for the transition to electric vehicles? By itself, not very much. The regulations that implement the electric vehicles standards remain on the books and have the force of law.  “In that sense, many of the reports regarding Trump’s Executive Order were overblown,” GASP senior attorney John Baillie said.  However, it bears noting that a former administration’s rulemakings are always subject to reconsideration by a new administration –   as we have seen before  (and   more than once! ) -- and the rulemakings for the electric vehicle standards are no exception.   Such a reconsideration could be based on a new or different finding of any of the facts that undergird the standards. For example, if the earlier rulemaking did not take into account costs attendant to its implementation or overstated the benefits it would likely produce.  Indeed, the Department of Transportation   has already announced  its plans to rewrite the existing fuel efficiency standards.   “That announcement came as no surprise,” Baillie said. “Whether or not the government is able to stop or even slow the transition to electric vehicles is another question entirely, one to be decided by the market.” We will continue to follow development on this front, and report on them as they occur.

Editor’s Note: This blog was updated at 6:47 p.m. Nov. 19 to clarify the health impacts related to hydrogen sulfide. 2024 Update: Learn all about hydrogen sulfide and the latest efforts to rid the Mon Valley of our least favorite smell in our new resource guide. For many in the Mon Valley, the first week of November was punctuated by the persisting odor of rotten eggs – an odor pungent enough to force local residents to shutter their windows and doors despite unseasonably warm and sunny weather. The culprit, of course, was hydrogen sulfide (H2S for short) – a colorless, flammable, gas that’s long been an issue for communities adjacent to and downwind of industrial sources like U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works and Edgar Thomson facility. Other than the decidedly unpleasant odor, the higher hydrogen sulfide levels we see on occasion can induce tearing of the eyes and symptoms related to over-stimulation of the sense of smell, including headache, and nausea. In fact, hydrogen sulfide is so unpleasant and common near certain industries that Pennsylvania has required H2S in the ambient air to be less than 0.005 parts per million (ppm), averaged over 24 hours. This standard is enforced locally by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) Air Quality Program. Yet, that standard was exceeded for seven straight days in early November. So far this year, the H2S standard has been exceeded 23 times at the Liberty air quality monitoring site according to preliminary ACHD data. Those signed up to receive messages through Allegheny County’s Alert system may recall that ACHD issued a statement about that prolonged period of poor air quality. In it, health officials placed the lion’s share of the blame for the days-long subpar air quality on stagnant weather conditions and asked residents to do their part to mitigate air pollution.  Absent from that message, however, was any mention of those elevated hydrogen sulfide concentrations or the exceedances of the state standard they spurred. Also missing was a plea to companies like U.S. Steel to do all it can to reduce its emissions during periods of weather expected to exacerbate air quality, creating a public health hazard.  GASP made that call last week, imploring U.S. Steel to voluntarily dial back its production on days when Allegheny County grapples with inversions or other weather conditions expected to trap air pollutants closer to the ground. This week, we’re renewing that call.  “The polluters are the problem here,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “ACHD is making a good faith effort to combat these exceedances on several fronts. Not only has the air quality program committed to purchasing several new, mobile H2S monitors to be deployed throughout the county, they are also in the process of updating its coke oven regulations and have promised action on its woefully outdated episodic weather regulations.” But she said it’s important to note that while regulations that would force industrial air polluters to reduce operations within 24 hours’ notice from the health department of a weather event expected to cause a public health hazard are sorely needed, they won’t be in place any time soon. “We have to be realistic and understand the process: It can take as long as 18 months to bring a regulation from the first draft to enforceable rule,” Filippini said. “That’s why it’s so imperative that major H2S emitters like U.S. Steel step up and protect the surrounding community now.” GASP senior staff attorney John Baillie agreed. “Asking residents to curtail certain activities when air dispersion is poor might make an impact on levels of particle pollution, but there’s absolutely nothing we as individuals can do to affect levels of hydrogen sulfide,” he said. “But as the largest emitter of hydrogen sulfide in the county, U.S. Steel certainly could.” GASP has said it before and will say it again: If U.S. Steel can reduce operations to accommodate market conditions, it can reduce operations to accommodate weather conditions. The company is simply choosing not to do so. “Here in Pittsburgh, we grew up watching Mr. Rogers, so the notion of being a good neighbor is one that’s ingrained in so many,” Filippini said. “As a ‘Burgh-based company, one would think they’d have a vested interest in the health and welfare of residents in neighboring communities as well as its own employees.” Despite one open letter and several subsequent calls to action, U.S. Steel has made no public comment addressing if, how, and when it would heed calls for it to be a more responsible corporate citizen and reduce operations during bouts of poor air dispersion. And it’s well past time that it did. Allegheny County is no stranger to inversions. They happen here often. Local folks may recall that just last year, our holiday season was marred by eight days of unbearable air thanks to a major inversion.  While often severe, some have even been deadly. While GASP was not around during the infamous 1948 Donora smog incident that killed 20 people and sickened thousands more, we were involved in the policy debates following an air pollution episode during November of 1975 , to which an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study attributed 14 excess fatalities. And yes, we pushed for updated episodic weather regulations back then, too. At the time, our members called on regulators to address what was (and is) a glaring omission: A curtailment plan for U.S. Steel. In a 1976 press release GASP wrote: “U.S. Steel’s recalcitrance and (regulators’) inadequacy must not be permitted to persist to the next emergency in Allegheny County. All sources must submit signed curtailment plans and sources which do not comply must be prosecuted.” So the question remains: How many more air pollution-related emergencies will Mon Valley residents need to endure? It appears the answer can only come from one of two places – U.S. Steel or ACHD. For its part, ACHD appears to be trying to take strides to solve the problem while U.S. Steel has done nothing but fight the county at every turn when it comes to mitigating H2S emissions – most recently objecting to coke oven regulation updates the department believes will reduce fugitive and other emissions. That’s why we are asking today for your help and your voice: We need to send a clear message to U.S. Steel that it must take action to voluntarily reduce operations when severe weather is expected to negatively impact air quality and public health.  We encourage you to contact U.S. Steel to ask them to do just that. You can contact the company a couple of different ways: You can call U.S. Steel spokeswoman Meghan Cox at 412-433-6777 or email her at mmcox@uss.com . Email Clairton Coke Works plant manager Michael Rhoades at mrhoads@uss.com . You can tag the company in a tweet – its Twitter handle is @U_S_Steel. More of an Instagram user? The company’s handle on that platform is @ussteelcorp. We also encourage you to join GASP, Allegheny County Clean Air Now, Breathe Project, Clean Air Council, Clean Water Action, PennFuture, and residents at a virtual rally slated from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. this Friday, Nov. 20 to speak out about this most recent bout of horrific air quality and demand accountability. You can get more information and RSVP here. Editor’s Note: Stay tuned – we’re following this issue closely and will update the website with more information as it becomes available. Join us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter for immediate updates. #H2S #airpollution #hydrogensulfide #USSteel #AlleghenyCountyHealthDepartment #ACHD #ClairtonCokeWorks #airquality #MonValleyWorks

Save the date, friends: Allegheny County Council’s proposal to fully fund our air quality program through increasing certain fees on industrial polluters could be back up for discussion next month and we want to send a strong message to members serving on the Health and Human Services Committee. Basically, that message is: Stop politicizing our public health. We need to ensure we have a fully funded air quality program now more than ever: The flurry of executive orders taking aim at both environmental and public health initiatives, research, and funding, should be the impetus we need to come together to protect our corner of the universe.  We need to let committee members know they need to listen to the residents - the voters - who’ve trusted them to do the right thing. To let them know that residents - voters - will need to hear an explanation from those who have voted no (or threatened to) without ever having to look them in the eyes and tell them why. We need to ask them why they are opposed - specifically - to a proposal that has been vetted by the Allegheny County Air Advisory Committee and the Allegheny County Board of Health and then subject to a public comment where it received nearly unanimous support.  We (collectively) have called their offices, emailed them, and sent them messages on social media. We showed up to committee meetings and to council meetings to show our robust support. We need to ask them what more we need to do for them to listen to the people. So, save the date: The committee meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Allegheny County Courthouse. GASP will be there and we hope you will join us. The agenda is out but very sparse on details. It can be viewed right here: Stay tuned - more to come from GASP on the meeting. Until then, here’s a refresher  on why this funding proposal is so important and who - and how - to contact and what to say.

So, anything big happen lately? OK. We admit. Lame joke. Sorry, sorry: Sometimes if you can’t laugh, you’ll cry. This week has been a whirlwind (and it’s only Thursday). And the changes on the federal level are coming at a blistering pace. The new administration has already revoked so many of President Biden’s executive orders related to environmental justice and climate change and yanked the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement.  Folks are concerned about rollbacks of crucial regulations dealing with coke oven emissions and other air quality-related policy. An energy emergency has been declared. The attack on renewable energy is reaching a crescendo, drilling has been expanded and it’s only day four.   It can be easy to feel discouraged (or gutted even). But as Fred Rogers once said, "In times of trouble, look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Because here in Pittsburgh, we are rich with helpers. In every sector. We hope you join us not only in looking for those helpers, but in being them, too. As the saying goes, think globally, act locally. Here at GASP, that's exactly what we'll continue to do. Since 1969, we've been using all of our collective skill, passion, and power to: Improve our region's air quality Protect our collective public health Be a watchdog to polluting industries and the agencies that oversee them And you can count on us to be right there with you. The GASP team will be there to review permits, proposed regulations, and challenge them when necessary. We'll break down the complicated environmental issues you face and help you understand how to take meaningful action. And most importantly, we'll champion the rights of the most vulnerable among us. It's a new era, and we're going to weather it together, friends. As a first step in navigating this new era, we've made the decision to leave one of our social media platforms. While many of you have followed us and found important air quality updates on X, leaving this platform has been a long time coming, and recent events solidified our decision. You can still find GASP on these platforms: Facebook Instagram: @gasp-pgh Bluesky: @gasp-pgh LinkedIn You can also find us on our website or email us anytime at info@gasp-pgh.org .  In solidarity, The Gang at GASP