US Steel Challenging Air Quality Regulation in Allegheny County
Strategic Research Institute
Published on :
23 Sep, 2021, 6:08 am
To many who have been fighting for better air quality in the Pittsburgh region, it is just another chapter in US Steel’s long history of fighting against air pollution regulations. Pittsburgh City Paper reported that amid US Steel’s apparent desire to turn over a new leaf, it is requesting relief from air pollution regulations instituted by Allegheny County. In a legal brief filed on September 9, US Steel is arguing that regulations related to the settlement are not applicable to Clairton Coke Works’ coke oven batteries. US Steel’s argument is that there is no reasonable dispute the proposed hydrogen sulfide emission standards for the coke works’ ovens are more stringent than the current standards, and, therefore, shouldn’t be applied.
And to the air quality advocates at the Group Against Smog and Pollution, it’s another disappointment in the face of recent statements US Steel has made about wanting to become a more environmentally friendly company. Group Against Smog and Pollution Director Rachel Filippini said “They like to come across as a good corporate citizen and they want to clean up in the act, but when it comes down to it, they are fighting that effort.”
On 24 December 2018, part of Clairton Coke Works caught fire and knocked out the pollution controls at the US Steel facility, causing the surrounding Mon Valley’s air quality to plummet to dangerous levels. Studies have shown the pollution from the fire led to exacerbated asthma rates among residents, including increasing the number of hospital emergency department visits by asthma sufferers in the Clairton area to nearly double following the fire. Six months later, a second fire hit the coke works, and air pollution control devices were again suspended. The fires and resulting air pollution were so bad, it forced the hand of the Allegheny County Health Department who, prior to these incidents, wasn’t always apt to enforce air quality regulations.
Allegheny County Health Department, which has the authority to doll out fines and regulations concerning public health in Allegheny County, took action against US Steel with an enforcement order and fines; eventually, the two parties reached a settlement in 2019 that included USD 200 million in plant improvements, annual environmental audits for five years, annual reports of the company’s environmental improvements, and an established Community Benefit Trust for affected Mon Valley communities. In April, when US Steel announced cancelling expansion plans for facilities in the Mon Valley, US Steel CEO Mr David Burritt said part of the reason was the company’s desire to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Hydrogen sulfide is not a greenhouse gas, though coke ovens do produce those as well, and it usually produces a noxious smell that can reach most parts of Allegheny County. Hydrogen sulfide is also referred to as H2S, as well as sewer gas, swamp gas, stink damp, and sour damp. According to the Centers for Disease Control, acute exposure of H2S can result in nausea, headaches, disturbed equilibrium, and skin and eye irritation. Repeated or prolonged exposure has been reported to cause low blood pressure, headache, nausea, eye-membrane inflammation, and chronic cough.