Future needs clean air, healthy communities

As a regional environmental collaborative, the Breathe Project has continually conveyed a vision that focuses on improving the air quality for residents of our region while encouraging industrial partners to comply with clean air regulations and keep their promises. U. S. Steel’s announcement that it was canceling promised investments here — investments that would have improved Mon Valley air quality — is the latest episode in the company’s more than 50year history of broken promises to our region.

Thousands of people living in the Mon Valley air shed — and those downwind in Pittsburgh — have suffered from the disproportionate impacts of pollution from the Mon Valley Works for the past 100 years. Allegheny County ranks in the top 1% of U.S. counties for cancer risk from pointsource air pollution. A recent study of 1,200 children in schools near industrial sources in Allegheny County found that 70% were exposed to PM2.5 pollution exceeding the World Health Organization recommended upper limit of annual average exposure.

The Mon Valley has ranked as the worst place in the U.S. for air quality in the U.S. on a regular basis. From March 9 to May 24, the Liberty-Clairton monitor was among the top 10 worst places to breathe in the country for 34 days, including 12 days in a row.

The people of our region can no longer accept a pattern of broken promises from an industry that is regularly inflicting unhealthy air quality on communities. We can and should do better than this. Clean air, healthy communities, climate realities and a better vision must be at the heart of the future of the Mon Valley, no matter what.

DEBRA SMIT

Director of Communications Breathe Project Mt. Lebanon