Take Action

We need your support! Advocating for clean air is a community effort.

Priority Actions

Report Air Quality

If you are smelling foul odors or seeing heavy smoke, you may be witnessing a violation of county or state regulations. It's best to make a report directly to the regulatory agency, so we offer guidance on how best to report those violations depending on where you are.

Become a Member

The more members we have, the more influential we are when we litigate, meet with decision makers, and speak to local elected officials. Your membership can make decision-makers pay attention. Check out GASP's membership options!

Attend public hearings and events

Anyone can participate in public hearings and meetings, and it's one of the most impactful ways to show your concern. Depending on the type of meeting, residents can also make public comments or submit written comments.

More Ways to Help

Contact Elected Officials

Elected officials need to hear from their constituents about how prioritizing clean air matters to us and is vital to our quality of life.

Not sure what to say? Here are some ideas:

How does air quality affect you personally? Do you have asthma? Does stinky air affect how you feel about your home or how you spend time outside? Have you had to invest in expensive home air filtration? Has air quality exacerbated health issues?
Our region experiences some of the worst air quality in the nation, which comes with increased risk of respiratory illnesses and cancer.
Is there a specific pollution source or pollutant that concerns you? How is it regulated? If you're not sure, we might be able to help - email info@gasp-pgh.org.

Local Municipal Governments

Share our Local Government Resources with your mayor and council members to provide a wide range of proactive options. Do you know if your municipality has or is developing a Climate Action Plan?

County Council & County Executive

In Allegheny County, county government is a powerful player in local air quality since the county Health Department (ACHD) is the local regulating agency. The Board of Health, a nine-member body appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by County Council, oversees ACHD.

State Legislature

Air quality policy is often legislated at the state level. Find your state legislators here.

House of Representatives

Federal policy can have wide-reaching impact on air quality, including the directives of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Find your congress members here.

Sign Petitions or Provide Public Comments

Petitions can help bring attention to issues people care about, especially in combination with other efforts. We also highlight opportunities to submit public comments.

Personal Impact

Conserve energy at home & work
Drive less when you can - carpool, walk/bike, use public transportation
Be a smart consumer - buy used and/or local
Reduce food waste and consider the impact of your food choices
Follow the rules for safe open burning
Buy green energy

Learn more from these organizations:

Open Burning:

Write a Letter to the Editor

Environmental advocates had been making good use of Letters to the Editor (LTE) for decades. These short op-ed pieces are typically written in response to a news article, current event, or community concern. Find our LTE tips here.

Donate

Your donation helps GASP provide education and community engagement. It gives us the resources we need to tackle environmental justice issues, conduct research, and advocate for protective public health measures.

Donate Now

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sign up for weekly updates about local air quality.