Group Against Smog And Pollution Inc

THE GROUP AGAINST SMOG AND POLLUTION (GASP) WORKS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY TO PROTECT HUMAN, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ECONOMIC HEALTH IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVIRONMENTAL WATCHDOG AND LEGAL WORK (INCLUDED AS BOTH PROGRAMS 1 AND 2): GASP'S ADVOCACY AND LEGAL WORK EMPHASIZES ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN DECISION-MAKING BY EDUCATING AND ORGANIZING THE PUBLIC, INFORMING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THEIR DECISIONS THAT COULD HAVE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH CONSEQUENCES. IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS COMMENTS SUBMITTED BY GASP, HERE ARE SOME SPECIFIC WATCHDOG ACTIVITIES WE CONDUCTED: 1) WE ADVOCATED FOR THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT (ACHD) TO STRENGTHEN ITS COKE OVEN REGULATIONS TO MAKE THEM AS PROTECTIVE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AS POSSIBLE. GASP PROVIDED PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND WRITTEN TECHNICAL COMMENTS DEMANDING STRONGER PROTECTIONS AND FACILITATED 74 RESIDENT COMMENTS. 2) AFTER A PROLONGED AIR INVERSION IN DECEMBER 2019 LEFT RESIDENTS BREATHING LEVELS OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER THAT EXCEEDED FEDERAL AIR QUALITY STANDARDS, GASP ADVOCATED FOR ACHD TO STRENGTHEN ITS EPISODIC WEATHER REGULATIONS. THE NEW MON VALLEY AIR POLLUTION EPISODE REGULATION WAS PASSED BY ALLEGHENY COUNTY COUNCIL AS AN EFFORT TO LOWER FINE PARTICULATE MATTER DURING INVERSIONS. GASP PRESSURE ON THE COUNTY TO PASS THIS REGULATION INCLUDED FACILITATING OVER 400 RESIDENT COMMENTS OF SUPPORT.

3) OUR AIR PERMITS CLEARINGHOUSE HAS BECOME AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR ORGANIZATIONS WORKING ON AIR QUALITY IN THE REGION. WE CONTINUALLY UPDATE THE CLEARINGHOUSE AND RECENTLY OVERHAULED THE ASSOCIATED MAPS. ADDITIONALLY, WE DEVELOPED AN INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO ABOUT HOW TO USE THE CLEARINGHOUSE. TO MAKE TRACKING AND RECORD KEEPING EASIER FOR RESIDENTS AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, WE EMBED THE LINK TO THE PERMIT FOR EACH FACILITY TO ENSURE OUR PARTNERS CAN FIND THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: EDUCATION ABOUT THE WAYS THAT AIR POLLUTION CAN ADVERSELY EFFECT HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE IS KEY TO ENGAGING THE PUBLIC ON AIR POLLUTION MITIGATION EFFORTS. EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS BECAME MORE CHALLENGING WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. SOME EXAMPLES OF GASP'S EDUCATIONAL WORK FOLLOW: 1) VIRTUAL "MAKING THE CONNECTION" EVENTS PROVIDED INFORMATION TO INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS ON THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN AIR QUALITY AND HUMAN HEALTH. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDED INDOOR HOME HAZARDS, DISPOSAL OF FOOD WASTE, AND MENTAL HEALTH. 2) GASP DEVELOPED AIR QUALITY KITS TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND ADULTS ABOUT AIR QUALITY'S EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH AND HOW AIR QUALITY IS MEASURED. THESE KITS HAVE BEEN LOANED TO INDIVIDUAL CLASSROOMS, LIBRARIES, SCOUT TROOPS, AND OTHERS TO EDUCATE A TOTAL OF 1,176 STUDENTS AND 476 ADULTS. 3) GASP PARTNERED WITH ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL NON-PROFIT IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA TO BRING THE FRESH VOICES PROGRAM TO STUDENTS IN 9TH THROUGH 11TH GRADES. HERE, STUDENTS LEARNED HOW TO ORGANIZE AND DELIVER CAMPAIGNS, INTERACT WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND UNDERSTAND BASIC AIR QUALITY PRINCIPLES. THIS PROGRAM WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF AIR QUALITY ADVOCATES IN OUR REGIONS.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES.