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REGISTER TODAY Last November, Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor announced an audit of the Allegheny County Health Department’s (ACHD) Clean Air Fund (CAF). The Controller will be joining us for a portion of this session. Instead of meeting the real needs of residents, especially those living closest to the point-sources of pollution, late in 2023 the CAF was …

Air Quality Town Hall #13: We Made a Difference – Time to Double-Down Read More »

Rich Fitzgerald, Patrick Catena, Patrick Dowd101 County Courthouse436 Grant StreetPittsburgh, PA 15219 Dear Sirs. A lame-duck Allegheny County administration and Board of Health suddenly have chosen to put three important and highly controversial permits for major sources of air pollution out for public comment at a time of year when residents are preoccupied with plans …

We are calling for Allegheny County Government (ACHD, Allegheny County Executive, and Allegheny County Council) to postpone the deadline for comments on these permits for the following reasons: Read More »

HOWARD M RIEGER, PHDCONVENER SW PA GRASSROOTS RESIDENT-LED AIR QUALITY TOWN HALLS For the last three years I have served as the volunteer convener of SW PA Grassroots Resident-Led Air Quality Town Halls. Our 12 Town Halls have attracted 750 participants and a contact list of over 1,200. Our mission is to amplify the voices …

PUBLIC COMMENT AT 1/10/2024 ACHD HEARING RE REVISED OPERATING PERMIT FOR U.S. STEEL CLAIRTON COKE WORKS Read More »

Overall Messaging Background/General Messaging about the Clairton Coke Works Specific, Technical Points about the Current Draft of the Title V Operating Permit (Hearing Topic) Sign Up To Speak Persons wishing to provide public testimony may attend in person to speak by filling out the public participation form. Special requests such as virtual attendance can be …

U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works Messaging for January 10, 2024, Title V Hearing Read More »

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan. 8, 2023 Contact:Joe Callahan, SWPATHSjoe@breatheproject.org, 412-638-8204 Debra Smit, Breathe Projectdsmit@breatheproject.org, 412-760-7677 Two crucial public hearings on air quality in Allegheny County are proposed to update permits of long-standing polluting operations in Clairton and Natrona, Pa. Holding these public hearings this month on Jan. 10 and Jan. 17 in light of new developments …

Environmental Groups, Residents Ask Allegheny County Health Dept. to Postpone Key Public Hearings in Clairton and Natrona, Pa. Read More »

12-19-2023 Dear Sirs. A lame-duck Allegheny County administration and Board of Health suddenly have chosen to put three important and highly controversial permits for major sources of air pollution out for public comment at a time of year when residents are preoccupied with plans for the year-end holiday season, and in the heart of winter, …

Letter to Rich Fitzgerald, Patrick Catena, Patrick Dowd Read More »

12-19-2023 Dear Corey: I am writing to you as a constituent of yours when you represented Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh’s City Council, and now as Allegheny County Controller.  As you may recall, I am the founder and convener of East End Neighbors: fight air pollution, and Southwest Pa Grassroots Resident-Led Air Quality Town Halls. As …

Letter to Corey O’Connor Read More »

Contact: Howard Rieger,hmrieger@gmail.com, 412-303-4942 Debra Smit, dsmit@breatheproject.org412-760-7677 The 11th Southwest PA’s Resident-Led Air Quality Town Hall (SWPATHS) will continue its 2-year campaign to raise awareness around our region’s unhealthy air quality. Join us to hear Allegheny County executive candidate Sara Innamorato’s bold plan to address problems within the health department and more hard-hitting criticism of …

Where do Allegheny County Executive Candidates Stand on Our Region’s Poor Air Quality? Do Our Health Care Establishments Even Care? Read More »

 Issue 1One of the prime responsibilities of the ACE is oversight and key decision-making related to the functioning of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), the selection of its Director, and the members of its Board of Health and committees. ACHD is being led by an Interim-Director without any public health or medical credentials.  Hopefully …

SARA INNAMORATO RESPONSE TO SOUTHWEST PA GRASSROOTS RESIDENT-LED AIR QUALITY TOWN HALL QUESTIONNAIRE Read More »

POST-VISIT UPDATE As you read the details below of the recent productive May 2, 2023 visit of EPA Region 3 Administrator Adam Ortiz and his team to the Mon Valley, a trip for which we advocated and planned the itinerary, it is important to note a glaring disparity between the willingness of the EPA to …

EPA Meets With Mon Valley Residents To Hear First-Hand The Effects Of The Toxic Air We Breathe Read More »