Group Against Smog and Pollution, Inc. (GASP) Founded in 1969, GASP is a non-profit citizens’ group in Southwestern PA working for a healthy, sustainable environment.

Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) Watchdog Policy making Education Litigation Special events

GASPer Air Monitor Program An opportunity for you to learn about what you are breathing Monitor both indoor and outdoor air quality using portable, easy to use equipment

Union Station—Pittsburgh, 1906

Strip District—Pittsburgh, 1906

Pittsburgh—The Smoky City

Air Quality Action Day Clear Day in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh today The Pittsburgh area is consistently ranked in the worst top 5 cities by the American Lung Association Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 8-part series “Mapping Mortality” Our region is in “non-attainment” for federal health standards for ozone and fine particulates

Why is Pittsburgh’s Air Polluted? Wind generally moves from west to east; pollution from the Ohio Valley Local coal-fired power plants Clairton coke works—largest in nation Geography—Lots of valleys Diesel Pollution

Location of Power Plants in PA

Haze = ground-level ozone

Formation of ground-level ozone

What is particulate matter? Particulate matter (PM) includes both solids and liquid droplets of various sizes suspended in air. Primary PM – emitted directly, such as wind- blown soil or salt from sea spray. Secondary PM – formed when gases react in the air. Example: sulfate particles formed from sulfur dioxide emitted by combustion.

Size of particulate matter Particles between 10 µm and 2.5 µm are described as coarse particles. Under 2.5 µm, particles are referred to as fine particles, or PM2.5. The subset of particles that are less than 0.1 µm are called ultrafine particles, or UFP or PM0.1.

Diesel Particulate Matter

Dangers of Diesel PM2.5 Clean Air Task Force currently ranks the lifetime diesel soot cancer risk as 408 times greater than the EPA’s acceptable level of 1 case per million people. Out of all 3,109 counties in the U.S., Allegheny County is ranked 83 rd for diesel risk, in the 97 th percentile. In Allegheny County, the lifetime diesel soot cancer risk exceeds the risk of all other air toxics tracked by EPA combined.

Projected impacts in 2010 for adults in Allegheny County 162 premature deaths 230 non-fatal heart attacks 2,306 asthma attacks 74 cases of chronic bronchitis 13,558 work loss days

Higher than average risk People who work with or near diesel engines People who live or work near: –Highways or busy roadways –Bus or truck depots –Construction sites –Railroad yards or terminals –Large bridges, tunnels, or ports –Freight warehouses

Today in the U.S. there are over 13 million diesel vehicles in operation—building our cities, transporting our goods, and taking us to and from work or school. More than 75% of all Americans live near intersections, bus stops, highways, bus and truck depots, or construction sites with heavy equipment—all of which are concentrated sources of diesel exhaust. The lifespan of the average diesel vehicle is about 30 years.

Solving the diesel problem: 2 major strategies Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) with Closed Crankcase Ventilation Systems (CCVs) Idling reduction

Diesel Particulate Filter Closed Crankcase Ventilation System

Diesel Oxidation Catalyst

Allegheny County Partnership to Reduce Diesel Pollution A project of GASP and Clean Water Action Major projects: –Pittsburgh Healthy School Bus Fund –Allegheny County School Bus Retrofit Program –City of Pittsburgh Waste Hauler Retrofit Project

The Pittsburgh Healthy School Bus Fund $500,000 from Heinz Endowments and $100,000 from PA DEP 50 buses have been retrofitted with DPFs and CCVs About 25 being finished now Pittsburgh Public School District’s contract states w/i 5 years, 85% of buses must have DPFs and 100% must have CCVs Retrofitted buses can be kept two more years

Clean Air Task Force School Bus Study Conventional bus running on regular diesel fuel Conventional bus running on ultra low sulfur diesel and retrofit with a diesel particulate filter

The Allegheny County School Bus Retrofit Program $500,000 from ACHD Clean Air Fund Deer Lakes School District has retrofitted 10 buses MIL Transit has retrofitted about 40 buses

The goal: Happy, healthy kids

City of Pittsburgh Waste Hauler Pilot Retrofit Program EPA grant in 2006 to retrofit 13 waste haulers The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (The “Stimulus”) granted funds to retrofit 33 more waste haulers Total of 46 out of 66—all that were feasible for retrofits

Further anti-diesel emissions programs Clean Construction Vehicles—being debated by City Council now. Says publicly funded projects over $1 mil need to use BACT (Best Available Control Technology) Liberty-Clairton (5 municipalities) retrofits of municipal vehicles ACHD and Partnership was awarded $3.49 million in Recovery Act Funds to…

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) funding Install DPFs on 35 dump trucks for Diamond Head Trucking and MultiServ, working for U.S. Steel at the Mon Valley Works Repower 9 buses up to 2007 standards and purchase 2 hybrid buses for Port Authority Upgrade of 23 diesel construction vehicles for Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania CSX’s new switcher locomotive at the McKeesport/Demmler yard

Total estimated emissions reductions from DERA projects Particulate matter: 2.62 tons Carbon Monoxide: tons Hydrocarbons: 5.48 tons Oxides of Nitrogen: tons Carbon Dioxide: 172 tons

Idling reduction Idling wastes fuel, produces emissions, and is hard on engines Act 124 of 2008—The Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act limits vehicles of 10,001 lbs. or more engaged in commerce to 5 minutes of idling per hour. Allegheny County passed a similar idling law in April which applies to non-road vehicles such as construction, mining, or airport ground support.

Alternatives to idling Auxiliary power systems Electrified bays at depots

Wood Smoke More toxic than secondhand cigarette smoke Particulate matter, carbon monoxide, VOCs, aldehydes, nitrogen oxides, PAHs, benzene, formaldehyde, benzo[a]pyrene… Pollutants formed due to incomplete burning or burning of improper material

If You Do Burn Store wood outside, off the ground, and keep covered Burn only dry wood, aged over a summer for at least 6 months, w/ moisture content under 20% Start fire with dry kindling Burn hot Remove ash

What Not to Burn Wet, rotten, moldy, or diseased wood Driftwood, plywood, or particle board Painted, coated, or treated wood Garbage, cardboard, or plastics

New OWB Regulations New OWBs must be EPA-certified Phase 2 50’ minimum from property line 10’ stack minimum Burn only clean wood/pellets or other approved fuels

What Does the Future Hold? Pennsylvania has enough long term renewable energy potential to satisfy its entire electrical power needs An analysis of creating more renewable energy potential projects 129,000 more green jobs

Solar Jobs For every 1MW of solar energy projects, 50 jobs are produced Pennsylvania has the 2 nd most solar-related jobs in the country There are an estimated 6,700 Pennsylvanians employed by the solar industry

Wind Power Jobs Windmills have been created in nine counties of PA since ,000 to 6,000 jobs have been created since 1999 An American Wind Energy Association poll shows 85 percent of voters think it is important for PA to continue expansion of wind farms.

Pennsylvania’s Biking Bicycling to work has tripled in last two decades 1990: Pittsburgh one of worst 3 cycling cities 2010: Bronze medal as “Bike-Friendly Community”

Jobs in Bicycle Infrastructure Creating bicycle infrastructure creates more jobs than road maintenance programs jobs for every $1M spent on bicycle and pedestrian projects 7.9 for road maintenance projects

Exercise Tips Sign up for Air Quality alerts— Work out before or after the rush hours If commuting, avoid main streets—stay on less polluted side streets Change exercise locations—head to a park Nasal breathing

Other Ways to Get Involved AU Events—Side Street Strolls, Fall 5K, Professional Athletes Have GASP present to your coach, team, group, etc., and have group join the campaign Website/Featured Athlete Receive our ed Alerts Demand clean air!

Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) Wightman School Community Building 5604 Solway St., #204 Pittsburgh, PA Phone: Jamin Bogi Education and Outreach Coordinator