On October 2, the Pittsburgh Union Progress reported the Jefferson Regional Foundation has scheduled three October listening sessions as it prepares to launch the Mon Valley Clear Air Fund that will be available to nonprofit organizations affected by a U.S. Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works plant December 2018 fire.

Grant Funding

A court settlement resulted in U.S. Steel paying $5 million.

The Allegheny County Health Department asked the foundation to distribute $2.25 million via grantmaking. Funds will be released in equal amounts from U.S. Steel to the foundation, which was not part of the litigation, over five years.

Affected communities within the foundation’s service area are Clairton, Dravosburg, Duquesne, Elizabeth Borough, Elizabeth Township, Forward, Glassport, Jefferson Hills, Liberty, Lincoln, McKeesport, Pleasant Hills, Port Vue, Versailles, West Elizabeth and West Mifflin. The additional six communities eligible are Braddock, East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, North Braddock, North Versailles and Wall.

Grant applications will be available in January, according to the website. Foundation staff are available to schedule appointments with interested organizations beginning this fall.

Organizations can contact Kelleigh Boland, director of grantmaking and strategy, at Kelleigh.boland@jeffersonrf.org for more information.

Listening Sessions

The sessions are scheduled for Wednesdays--

-- October 9 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Noah’s Ark Community Center, 200 Sixth St., McKeesport.

-- October 16 from Noon to 1:00 p.m. online via Zoom, with registration required.

-- October 23 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Woodland Hills School District administrative offices, 531 Jones Ave., Braddock.

Click Here to register for the listening sessions.

Visit the  Mon Valley Clear Air Fund webpage for more information.

(Photo: U.S. Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Works plant.)

Resource Links:

-- Federal Judge Approves Proposed Consent Agreement Between PennEnvironment, Clean Air Council, and U.S. Steel For Air Pollution Violations At Clairton Coke [Coal] Works, 2 Other Facilities  [PaEN]

-- Clean Air Council: US Steel Complying With Lawsuit Settlement To Reduce Harmful Air Pollution At Clairton Coke [Coal] Works   [PaEN]

-- Black Appalachian Coalition Urges Allegheny County Health Dept. To Hold US Steel Accountable, Protect Community Health, From Clairton Coke Works   [PaEN]

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-- No Decision Posted Yet From DEP On Whether Flare Gas Chemical Makeup, Volume At Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County Is Confidential Business Information  [PaEN]

-- DEP Advisory Group To Hear How DEP Proposes To Implement New Federal Methane Reduction Rule For Conventional Oil & Gas, Shale Gas Wells, Infrastructure Oct. 10  [PaEN]

-- DEP Sets Nov. 4 Hearing On Renewal Of Air Quality Permit For Panther Creek Coal Waste-Fired Power Plant In Carbon County  [PaEN]

-- Choose Clean Water Coalition Now Accepting Applications For Young Environmental Professionals Of Color Mentorship Program  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Mon Valley Clean Air Fund Sets 3 Outreach Sessions In Communities Affected By US Steel Clairton Coke [Coal] Plant Fire Starting Oct. 9

-- WHYY - Susan Phillips: Fracking In Pennsylvania Hasn’t Gone As Well As Some May Think

-- The Allegheny Front - Susan Phillips: Fracking In Pennsylvania Hasn’t Gone As Well As Some May Think

-- LancasterOnline Letter: Remembering The Reality Of Fracking - Doing It Safely Or The Wild West - Not For Or Against - By Bruce Riefenstahl, Mount Joy

-- The Guardian: LNG Gas Has Far Worse Climate Emissions Than Coal, Cornell Study Finds

-- Marcellus Drilling News: PJM, Other Electric Grid Operators File Brief In Lawsuit Against EPA Gas-Fired Power Plant Regulation  [PDF of Article]  [PJM, et al Brief]

-- WESA: Pittsburghers Pledge To Get Out Of The Car For ‘Week Without Driving’

-- Washington Post: US Supreme Court Refuses To Block EPA Limits On Oil & Gas Methane, Power Plant Mercury Pollution

[Posted: October 6, 2024]

10/7/2024