[GASPalerts] GASPalerts: Comment on the US Steel draft permit

[Rachel Filippini]

PUBLIC HEARING ON PERMIT FOR NEW COKE OVEN BATTERY JUNE 19

The Allegheny County Health Department will hold 
a public hearing on Thursday, June 19, on a 
proposed permit for the installation of a new 
coke oven battery at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works.

The hearing, to be held at the Clairton Municipal 
Building, 551 Ravensburg Boulevard, Clairton, PA 15025 will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Testimony given at the hearing must be scheduled 
in advance, by calling 412-578-8115, no later 
than 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18.  Speakers are 
asked to submit a written copy of their comments 
when presenting testimony at the hearing.

Those who would like to comment but are unable to 
attend the hearing have until June 19 to mail or 
email comments, to 
<mailto:aqpermits at achd.net>aqpermits at achd.net or 
Allegheny County Health Department, Air Quality 
Program, 301 Thirty-ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15201.

The proposed permit and related materials will be 
available for review until June 19 on the Health 
Department’s web site, 
<http://www.achd.net/>www.achd.net, and in the 
office of its Air Quality Program, 301 Thirty-ninth Street, Lawrenceville.


Courtesy of Clean Water Action

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

A recent report by the American Lung Association 
ranked the Pittsburgh metropolitan area worst in 
the country for 24 hour soot levels and second 
worst for annual soot levels.  Within the greater 
Pittsburgh area, the worst soot levels are found 
in the Liberty-Clairton area due to pollution 
from US Steel Clairton Coke Works.

Soot, also known as fine particulate pollution, 
is a major cause of heart and respiratory 
problems.  Each year in the U.S., soot causes 
nearly 300,000 asthma attacks, 2 million lost 
workdays due to respiratory ailments and 
approximately 20,000 premature deaths, primarily from heart disease.

The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) 
recently issued a Consent Order & Agreement 
penalizing US Steel for more than 1000 air 
pollution violations at the Clairton Coke Works 
and the Edgar Thompson Plant in Braddock.  This 
agreement includes over $300,000 in fines against US Steel.

Now US Steel is applying for a permit to upgrade 
the Clairton Coke Works with new coke batteries 
that will emit less pollution.  This upgrade will 
be a serious improvement, but it will also be a 
major construction project that could take up to 
6 years to complete.  Please submit public 
comments urging the ACHD to include requirements 
to ensure that US Steel doesn't increase 
pollution during construction of the new batteries.

Sample Comments:

To Sandra Etzel:

While the new coke batteries promise to reduce 
harmful emissions from Clairton Coke Works, it is 
important that the construction permit contains strong environmental standards.

Please consider the following comments regarding 
the draft permit for US Steel Clairton Coke Works.

    * Ensure that our air meets federal Clean Air 
Act standards as soon as possible.
    * Reduce emissions enough to lower the number 
of “bad air” days in the Clairton area.
    * Make sure that the best pollution control technology is being used.
    * Don't allow any increase in emissions while 
transitioning from the old batteries to the new batteries.

Sincerely,

Include your address and ask for a reply.
Send comments to:        Sandra Etzel
                                     ACHD Air Quality Program
                                     301 39th St.­Bldg. #7
                                     Pittsburgh, Pa 15201-1891
Or email:                       aqpermits at achd.net.


Rachel Filippini
Executive Director
Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP)
5604 Solway St., #204
Pittsburgh, PA  15217
412-325-7382
gasp at gasp-pgh.org  
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