City of Pittsburgh - File #: 2019-1836

• File #: 2019-1836
• Version: 1
• Type: Will of Council
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 7/1/2019
• In control: City Council
• On agenda: 7/1/2019
• Final action: 7/1/2019
• Enactment date: 7/1/2019
• Enactment #: 414
• Effective date: 7/1/2019
• Title: NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh makes explicitly clear its backing of the Allegheny County Health Department's health-based air quality regulatory actions that aim to bring U.S. Steel's Edgar Thomson Plant and Clairton Coke Works facilities into compliance for the good of public health, as well as its mandate to oversee the reduction or outright elimination of risks to air quality; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council hereby commits itself to supporting its residents in their fight for cleaner, healthier, and more breathable air.
• Sponsors: Corey O'Connor, All Members
• Indexes: PROCLAMATION - MR. O'CONNOR

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
7/1/2019	1	City Council	Adopted	Pass

body
WHEREAS, according to the American Lung Association's (ALA) most recent "State of the Air" report, Allegheny County received failing scores for the organization's assessments of daily and annual particle pollution, as well as for high ozone days. The ALA estimates that the health of more than 1.2 million Allegheny County residents is put at risk, with 20,000 and 100,000 children and adults, respectively, living with asthma joining the more than 65,000 residents living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and more than 100,000 living with cardiovascular disease as populations put at additional risk; and

WHEREAS, both U.S. Steel's Edgar Thomson Plant, located fewer than approximately three miles from the City of Pittsburgh's boundary, and Clairton Coke Works, situated fewer than to five miles away, have been recurrent sources of large-scale pollution production in Allegheny County, severely impacting the air quality for those who live and breathe in our region; and

WHEREAS, the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) is charged with the protection, promotion, and preservation of the health and well-being of all residents of Allegheny County residents, with a particular emphasis focused on the most vulnerable among us; and

WHEREAS, the 1963 Clean Air Act notes "that the growth in the amount and complexity of air pollution brought about by urbanization, industrial development, and the increasing use of motor vehicles, has resulted in mounting dangers to the public health and welfare, including injury to agricultural crops and livestock, damage to and the deterioration of property, and hazards to air and ground transportation," and that the reduction or outright elimination of sources of air pollution, as well as general air pollution control, is a prime responsibility of state and local governments; and

WHEREAS, the ACHD is charged with maintaining the standards of the Clean Air Act, as well as the 1955 Air Pollution Control Act; and

WHEREAS, in reco...