Mon Valley Residents Urge ACHD to improve Air Quality Standards

ACHD stated there had been 831 separate instances between January 2020 and March 15. The U.S.The ACHD Air Quality Program proposes to amend the applicable provisions to be at least as stringent as the Pennsylvania and federal regulations. U.S.We agree but would like to take it a step further.

Valley Clean Air Now believes that ACHD should include the following actions in the new Coke Oven Regulations.

ACHD should establish in the regulationsU.S.hat U.S. Steel will no longer operate Batteries 1, 2, and 3 past March 31, 2023. U.S.These batteries were constructed in the 1950s and consistently violated ACHD ruleU.S. While U.S. Steel has stated these batteries will be closed, residents deserve an enforceable date.

Residents need increased transparency around the monitoring of Clairton Coke Works and the data from the plant. ACHD needs real-time data on plant emissions that do notU.S.ely on U.S. Steel management or staff. The public should have access to all real-time U.S.data.

U.S. Steel should not produce coke from ovens/batteries that do not have functioning/reliable pollution control equipment.

Ovens should be required to be hotly idled until fixed. If pollution control equipment is compromised or in inoperable condition, the plant should be directed to have temporary halts in production. Last and most importantly, Violations and fees should be non-negotiable.

U.S. Steel earned $882 million, or $3.02 per share, in the three months ended March 31. CEO David B. Burritt stated that it was another quarter of records .S. Steel with the continued demonstration of the power of our Best for All strategy,” The company announced in January that it would build a $3 billion mini-mill in Osceola, Ark.The state-of-the-art facility will feature technology meant to reduce Steel’s greenhouse gas footprint and make it more efficient. This investment comes after reneging a 1 Billion dollar investment in the Mon Valley to clean up their act here.

Members of Valley Clean Air Now held a rally, which you can see below:

You can find the full Allegheny County Health Department Coke Oven Regulation hearing below:

Check out these photos from the event:

We also manage to spread the word and get the media’s attention. Check this article in front of The Mon Valley Independent, Post Gazette,90.5 WESA, and StateImpact Pennsylvania.