Air quality alerts will start Monday

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Starting Monday, the Allegheny County Health Department will provide public alerts for the Mon Valley when forecasts indicate a potential for poor air quality.

The notices are part of regulations currently moving through the Local Health Administration Law process, but the step by ACHD provides notice for residents in the Mon Valley of the potential for poor air quality, according to a release from the health department.

“While we are moving closer to having regulations in place that will require industries to take responsible action during poor air quality days, there have been too many incidents in the past few months to wait any longer,” ACHD Director Dr. Debra Bogen said. “With the urging and support of the county executive, the department will follow the spirit of the regulations, providing public notice of the potential for poor air quality, or the exceedance of the PM2.5 threshold at the Liberty monitor. We are hopeful that the sources in the Mon Valley will join us in this proactive step, acting responsibly to benefit the community in which they are located.”

The regulations being developed by ACHD would monitor weather forecasts provided by the state Department of Environmental Protection. When atmospheric conditions in those forecasts are projected to exceed a threshold level for the Valley, companies emitting pollutants would be required to implement plans to reduce their emissions.

The Mon Valley Air Pollution Episode Regulations also provides for the issuance of a watch or warning based on an air quality forecast, ACHD said, adding that the regulations were reviewed by the Rules Subcommittee of the Air Advisory Committee, with the Air Advisory Committee scheduled to consider the regulations at its April meeting.

The Board of Health could consider the regulation change and send it out for public comment at its May meeting with final review and approval later this year, according to ACHD.

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