EPA threatens Pennsylvania with sanctions for failing to reduce soot pollution in Allegheny County

“‘This is not the first time the ACHD has failed to submit a State Implementation Plan on time,’ Filippini said. ‘By failing to submit on time they not only put the region at risk of being sanctioned by the federal government, they also potentially delay the implementation of much needed pollution controls that will reduce fine particulates in the region.’

“Of the three counties cited for failing to comply with Clean Air Act requirements in Pennsylvania (Allegheny, Delaware, and Lebanon Counties), Allegheny County was missing the most elements from their plan. Only one other county in the country—Imperial County, California—was missing as many elements as Allegheny County.

“The Pittsburgh metro area has the worst track record of fine particulate matter pollution of any city east of the Mississippi. In 2015, Pittsburgh experienced 220 days with elevated levels of fine particulate pollution.”

FULL STORY Published April 10, 2018 via Environmental Health News