PENNSYLVANIA (March 26, 2024) Today, federal Judge Hardy signed the proposed consent agreement between Clean Air Council, PennEnvironment, and U.S. Steel. This is the final step in finalizing this historic consent decree and citizen suit penalty against U.S. Steel for their ongoing air pollution violations due to power outages at the Clairton Coke Works. The agreement mandates that U.S. Steel will pay a $5 million penalty — by far the largest in a Clean Air Act citizen enforcement suit in Pennsylvania history, and one of the three largest ever nationally. Most of the penalty money ($4.5 million) will fund public health projects directly benefiting Mon Valley communities suffering from poor air quality near the three U.S. Steel plants.
Clean Air Council Executive Director Alex Bomstein issued the following statement:
“Today marks a historic step forward in protecting Mon Valley residents from harmful pollution. It is a huge win that Judge Hardy has approved this settlement without changes and that it now has the power of the court behind it. This landmark agreement will go a long way in funding much-needed public health projects and holding U.S. Steel accountable for their operations.”
Clean Air Council’s successful community organizing campaign Neighbors for Clean Air trains residents with little background in advocacy to become environmental watchdogs in their community and region. The Neighbors for Clean Air campaign began in southwestern Pennsylvania to promote increased public engagement and help residents be directly involved in the decisions that impact health and quality of life in their communities. These new community based groups successfully advocated for local governments to be more responsive to their environmental and quality of life concerns.
Today, Clean Air Council community organizers have trained 70 leaders to start groups composed of up to ten of their neighbors. These groups of resident watchdogs help to reduce air pollution from the largest polluter of air toxics and greenhouse gases in the region – the Clairton Coke Works. The Council also trained the Allison Park Neighbors group and helped them successfully push their local officials to improve oil and gas siting restrictions in Franklin Park, PA.
The Neighbors for Clean Air campaign is critical for building robust and sustained grassroots power to participate in state and local permitting decisions. The Council continues to help residents across Southwestern Pennsylvania to improve local and regional air quality, slow the effects of climate change, and assist with other environmental issues through training and education.
If you are interested in learning more about the Council’s Neighbors for Clean Air program email Jay at jwalker@cleanair.org
