First Community Benefit Trust projects approved

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

The U.S. Steel Community Benefit Trust board held its first public meeting Wednesday and approved four project applications — two each for Lincoln and Port Vue.

The trust was established as part of a June 2019 settlement between U.S. Steel and Allegheny County Health Department, which required U.S. Steel to pay $2.7 million in fines for air pollution violations at the Mon Valley Works’ Clairton Coke Works in late 2018 and early 2019. 

Of that figure, $2.5 million was to be given to the community trust, which benefits the communities of Clairton, Glassport, Liberty, Lincoln and Port Vue. The remainder was to be paid to the county’s Clean Air Fund.

ACHD issued a second and third round of fines against U.S. Steel in January and May as a result of air pollution control and permit violations that occurred at the Clairton plant during the second, third and fourth quarters of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.

The community trust board comprises Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi (treasurer), Glassport Councilwoman Elaina Skiba (vice president), Liberty Borough Councilwoman Janice Matyasovsky, Lincoln Borough Secretary Tammy Firda (president) and Port Vue Councilwoman Deborah Thomas. 

Denise Johnson-Clemmons of Clairton was named secretary at Wednesday’s meeting, which was held at the Clairton Municipal Building and streamed on Facebook Live so the public could participate.

Firda said the community trust balances for each of the municipalities as of Wednesday are:

• Clairton — $882,597.39.

• Glassport —$658,194.27.

• Liberty — $499,628.69.

• Lincoln— $724,502.92. 

• Port Vue —$539,592.37. 

The board said the amount of money earmarked for each community is based on estimated population and geographic size in square miles. 

Firda said communities must use the money toward projects that are approved by the trust board and are expected “to improve, protect or reduce the risk to public health or environment.”

She said the money can be used for community infrastructure and/or recreation projects or put toward projects that would be an “overall benefit to the well-being of residents.”

Firda said project applications “must demonstrate a reasonable probability that the project will be successful.”

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