The article “After deadly explosion, safety and environmental lapses at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works now rest with Nippon” (Feb 12, TribLive) highlights a prime example of how the Trump administration intentionally turns a blind eye to chemical leaks in the U.S., impacting the health of Americans.

The article mentions that the Trump administration paused benzene admission checks on the Clairton Coke Plant, which is known for having repeated safety concerns as a result of chemical leaks.

The Clairton Coke Plant is just one of the many examples of how unmonitored chemical leaks can cause damage to the environment and the health of the community. Recent testing showed that an extreme amount of PFAS in a local body of water, and increased construction of oil/gas wells in nearby rural areas, pose hazards to water supply.

House Resolution 576 seeks to require public notice of chemical leaks. Some believe that industry is a higher priority than health. However, we cannot let economic prosperity come at the cost of safety.

I encourage other Pennsylvanians to reach out to their elected official urging them to support this bill.

Eva Blair-Lutz

Point Breeze

The writer is a student at Chatham University.

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