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Group Against Smog and Pollution improves air quality to ensure human, environmental, and economic health for our region.
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Unhealthy Air Quality in Liberty-Clairton Underscores Need for Stricter Regs, Proactive Communications from ACHD



The Allegheny County Health Department Air Quality dashboard on Monday showed AQI levels in the red.

Allegheny County residents earlier this week endured some of the worst air quality in the nation according to data maintained at AirNow.gov, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website that tracks the Air Quality Index (AQI) throughout the United States.

But as is entirely too often the case, the burden of that air pollution was felt most acutely by residents in and near the Mon Valley more than anywhere else in the county.

In fact, only data from the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) monitor located in Liberty Borough caused AQI values to push into the red “unhealthy” range on both Sunday and Monday. AQI values in the red indicate that everyone in the area could begin to experience health effects—and that members of sensitive groups (i.e.: folks with respiratory or cardiovascular issues) could experience more serious health effects.

In addition, another pollutant all too familiar to Mon Valley residents – hydrogen sulfide (H2S) – ended the day Sunday at twice the Pennsylvania state air quality standard of 0.005 ppm. H2S levels were so bad Monday morning that the 24-hour average is guaranteed to exceed the standard again today.

For those who are unfamiliar, coke-making is the primary source of H2S in Allegheny County and U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works is not only the largest emitter in the county, but the entire state.

“The most recent bouts of bad air quality underscore the need for stricter coke oven regulations,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini said. “We again call on the Allegheny County Health Department to make revising them a top priority. The longer this process is drawn out, the longer people in the Liberty-Clairton area will suffer.”

But that was't our only concern—get the full story on our website.
GASP, South Fayette Township Team Up to Tell Residents: Please Don’t Idle!



Consider this: For every 10 minutes you idle your car or truck, you’re contributing about a pound of carbon dioxide – a primary contributor to global warming – into the air we all breathe.

That’s why GASP has not only long advocated for anti-idling laws, but we’ve also helped local businesses and communities better communicate that people should turn off their engines by providing “No Idling” signage.

Most recently, we were happy to partner with South Fayette Township in the name of better air quality.

GASP provided signs the township installed in five public parks (Morgan Park, Fairview Park, Boys Home Park, Preservation Park, and Sturgeon Park). Signage was also posted around the Public Works garage on Millers Run Road.

The township then went a step further, securing and posting additional signs that were posted in front of the police station, which includes parking spaces for police cars and visitors using the municipality’s Internet Purchase Exchange Location.

“Clean air is essential for everyone, especially children with young lungs—an important point for South Fayette Township, whose largest population type is families with children,” said Andrea Iglar, South Fayette Township director of communications and community development. “Installing signs that remind drivers at our parks and township facilities to reduce car idling is a simple way we can help our citizens, including youth, breathe better.”

She added that the signage isn’t the only effort the township has made to be environmentally conscious: Among other things, South Fayette also works to implement and encourage sustainable practices through the Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification Program.

GASP was also happy to contribute to a magazine article on idling recently published in the South Fayette Connect Magazine.

“Turning off your engine is a very, very simple thing you can do to reduce air pollution,” GASP Executive Director Rachel Filippini told the publication.

South Fayette Township works to implement and encourage sustainable practices through the Sustainable Pennsylvania Community Certification Program.

Editor’s Note: Think your organization, business or community could use no-idling signage? Then you’re in luck: GASP has a limited supply of them available. Please email amanda@gasp-pgh.org if you’re interested in one! 
Shenango Reimagined Advisory Council, Residents Meet to Discuss Reuse of Former Shenango Coke Site
 


A group composed of residents and local officials on Wednesday released its final visioning report for the sustainable redevelopment of the former Shenango Coke plant property located on Neville Island.

The report, which includes a set of guiding principles is intended for use by future developers of the of the 50-acre site on the Ohio River, was created by the Shenango Reimagined Advisory Council. 

These efforts were facilitated by non-profit Delta Institute.

“The Guiding Principles provide a framework for redevelopment of the site that recognizes its positive economic development potential for a reuse that will not  create negative economic or environmental consequences for Neville or surrounding communities,” said Roy Kraynyk, of the Allegheny Land Trust.

The re-visioning process identified seven guiding principles important to the community for the redevelopment of the former Shenango site. 

You can read all about those on our blog.
In the News: 4 Must-Reads from This Past Week
 


Get caught up with some of the air quality stories you might have missed this past week:

1. Face Masks: New Science Says They Might Not Work Against Air Pollution, published by The National Interest
2. Settlement of Clairton Coke Works Suit Results in Mon Valley Windfall, published by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
3. EDITORIAL: Air pollution still a problem in Pennsylvania, published by Observer-Reporter
4. NC Public Art “Lights Up” Invisible Air Pollution, published by Public News Service
Together, we can make a difference in our region's environment. We won't trade or sell your email address with other organizations or inundate you with messages. Visit our website at gasp-pgh.org or call us at (412) 924-0604 for more information or to become a member today. We can't do this without you!
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