GASP Press Conference to address the smell in the air (link to event)

The event was covered by Trib LIVE and Environmental Health News

GASP, Residents to Hold Press Conference Telling ACHD: Revise Coke Oven Regs & Get a Handle on Hydrogen Sulfide Violations The Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) will hold a press conference next week to tell the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD): Enough is enough with ongoing violations of the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) standard—it’s time to strengthen our local coke oven regulations.

Here’s what you need to know

WHO? GASP, local residents, and other speakers TBA (To Be Announced)

WHAT? A press conference calling on the Allegheny County Health Department to do what it promised more than a year ago: Revise coke oven regulations that would help reduce hydrogen sulfide, which is often associated by a tell-tale rotten egg stench.

WHEN? 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 6, 2019
WHERE? Portico at the Pittsburgh City-County Building

WHY? More stringent coke-oven regulations are important because coke-making is a primary source of H2S in Allegheny County. In fact, U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works is the largest emitter of H2S in the entire state. According to statistics self-reported from U.S. Steel and published on the Department of Environmental Protection eFacts website, Clairton Coke Works emitted 109 tons H2S in 2017, which are the latest statistics available. To put that into perspective: All other self-reported emissions combined for all sources in the entire state of Pennsylvania were only 59 tons.

While most smelly, airborne chemicals have no regulatory concentrations, hydrogen sulfide does. In Allegheny County there is a limit for hydrogen sulfide, which is monitored by ACHD. On average, that standard has been violated about 50 times a year for the past several years—and twice last week, according to preliminary data.

GASP is the Group Against Smog and Pollution (link) <– here’s a link to there site where you can sign their petition to reduce the smell in our city. Time to sign the petition has ended.