December 13, 2010

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Publishes 8-part Air Quality Series Starting Sunday, Dec. 12th, the _Pittsburgh Post-Gazette began an 8-part series_ (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=izlefwcab&et=1104036893207&s=244&e... aIn1_kW49h2JMacAt2G4k0vnYEyAGnQkF0QlDHYrw==) on air quality in our region, and GASP will be commenting on the articles on our _website_ (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=izlefwcab&et=1104036893207&s=244&e... HTmTvAER7IIRlpQcQxMJ2brYrs12svnBWypKEpQOImztAEetwT6d5PEt-Lq0w4g5YEsFpnzr8fF5 nlxlVxhb4E5U8K5falRiA==) . Air quality in southwestern Pennsylvania is a serious problem, with grave consequences for human and ecological health. Air pollution has been linked to cardiovascular disease, heart attacks, asthma, and chronic lung disease, among other ailments. Fine particulates, ground-level ozone, mercury, benzene, and other damaging compounds are often invisible but are linked to severe health problems nonetheless. Sources of these pollutants are plentiful, and are both mobile, such as trains, trucks, and construction equipment, and stationary, such as coal-fired power plants and coke-making facilities. Learn more about the harmful effects of fine particulates with a GASP brochure _here_ (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=izlefwcab&et=1104036893207&s=244&e... 0WvJZiKoa3hkuY0EPclay7ahAe61AY1ZL5Wmmgnx8NdYdBIfT-C0L3HUqh2R4VvEKaUIER68Tq5h BeOIvVMOZsqpGTqlqTiQatvw4aLA1cWOhw==) . GASP has a long history of working on air quality issues in southwestern PA. We understand the issues from technical and legal perspectives. There are no easy answers to our ongoing dirty air problem. Solutions will need to be both regional and local, and pollution reductions will need to come from both mobile and stationary sources. We must continue our policy, advocacy, and educational efforts to increase community awareness about the problems, and to hold polluters and decision makers accountable for our region's air pollution. What is GASP doing about it? * Pushing for more protective Air Toxics Guidelines in Allegheny County, through advocacy and our membership on the Board of Health's Air Toxics Guideline Proposal _Committee_ (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=izlefwcab&et=1104036893207&s=244&e... _A23T6PLTFAj1SyiqcNcRjgt4Tx-vVbyuM_WsMsyN5H-H0xrjklyl6K9BkgLOyE3nP5vs-UnlSBq aejv6RPU8gb2xRtRzvcd65RjcqPAjm7Jw) . * GASP and Clean Water Action continue to lead the _Allegheny County Partnership to Reduce Diesel Pollution_ (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=izlefwcab&et=1104036893207&s=244&e... 7ukn9NdP1h-tcMpRPzZaKbBijdXd335uL6ayXyLWTeYjWY1013d3nL9_fJkb67QqPEpU7BkPmd3M _eicEiKDO5) . The Partnership is currently advocating for clean construction legislation in Pittsburgh which would require contractors receiving public subsidies for large construction projects to work on reducing pollution from their fleets. * Acting as an environmental watchdog, community organizer, and litigator. GASP actively participates in environmental decision-making by educating and organizing the public, informing officials of the environmental consequences of their actions, _testifying at hearings_ (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=izlefwcab&et=1104036893207&s=244&e... p2_qXh5SitQNZYyZAIdh5yfXJSRYkiciGWs11LQloAk8_PWWGkEQUY0AZ5unKLh_9kRIhHKW-oOZ z_NmtVtJxu0-9kjyU6pA3B81siTuk4FEnrYEv42BZh8kC6i52gctKBEhv) , submitting comments on regulatory proposals, and _challenging permitting and regulatory decisons_ (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=izlefwcab&et=1104036893207&s=244&e... 59QdnIOhRfAz7HnYwvJ-1GbpuQzy8XTVEm_A4M2Qqj2u1SGg9h-6lm6GQeT38WmIMKfC1ZZOPBcW 38yWH9ZxF9M55Ja20bkrlwoqMqNbawiFW1m-P13Ec) that have adverse environmental and human health consequences. * Advocating for air quality regulations around natural gas drilling and urging drillers to utilize effective control technologies in their operations. Check out our _recent letter_ (http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=izlefwcab&et=1104036893207&s=244&e... nB4T22o8aOyXwRSJj7FxMYue74s3mh4QZ2rMeV0twW_91fYC2-gisgUZP36-_Zz-YA0AAxQhoGxM s6_6OGi5_bZ81OWOmM4P6EOPuueitMeSSGC382ua) in the Post-Gazette. What can you do? Visit the web-sites: (a) www.gasp-pgh.org (b) www.monvalleycleanair.org