We are the board of directors of air quality advocate Valley Clean Air Now (VCAN). We all live in Allegheny County, most within three miles of the Clairton Coke Works (CCW) along the Monongahela River. We believe:
• U.S. Steel is a corporation loyal to its stockholders, not residents of neighboring communities.
• U.S. Steel wants to sell only its “dirty” steelmaking facilities.
• The Environmental Integrity Project claims CCW released excessive amounts of benzene into our communities between 2021 and 2023. The Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) has fined CCW over $10 million in air quality violations since 2020.
Any CCW operator must comply with its air emission standards. It must negotiate/sign a community benefits agreement (CBA) with local leaders, residents, environmental experts, VCAN and ACHD. This CBA would include:
• Real-time fenceline monitoring for benzene and volatile organic compounds.
• A requirement that 50% of future ACHD fines levied against CCW be sent to a new community trust fund.
• A requirement for proactive measures to ensure diverse leadership and representation at all levels within CCW, particularly for African American communities in the Mon Valley.
• A requirement to comply with a Pennsylvania Department of Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry health assessment.
Qiyam Ansari
Glassport