This story was originally published by ProPublica.
For years, harmful gases leaked from major industrial polluters, affecting nearby communities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had relied on companies to estimate these emissions, despite acknowledging the methods were often unreliable.
In 2023, the EPA found that these estimates were significantly flawed when 20 industrial sites were required to install temporary air monitors. The findings revealed actual emissions were much higher. A steel plant near Pittsburgh had carcinogen levels over 30 times higher than reported, while a Louisiana chemical facility showed a 156-fold increase in toxic emissions.
Despite industry resistance, the EPA mandated over 130 facilities to install permanent air monitors. These monitors would alert if emissions exceeded new EPA standards, obligating facilities to address leaks. Temporary monitoring at half of the 20 sites revealed they would have breached these standards.
However, the Trump administration halted these efforts, allowing companies to seek exemptions from the rules. This shift potentially increased cancer risks for more than 5 million people near such plants, based on EPA data, which likely underestimates emissions.
The White House directed inquiries to the EPA, which acknowledged discrepancies between self-reported emissions and monitoring data, without identifying causes. Trump’s policy reversals dismayed environmentalists and affected communities.
Clairton Coke Works, south of Pittsburgh, continues operating since 1916, converting coal to coke for steel production. The plant releases benzene, a cancer-linked gas, and other pollutants. The area’s geography exacerbates pollution effects, trapping emissions during temperature inversions.
Residents like Miriam Maletta question the health impact versus economic benefits from U.S. Steel, which still employs thousands locally. Her family’s cancer and respiratory issues raise concerns about air pollution’s role, although proving specific causes is challenging.
The Allegheny County Health Department fined U.S. Steel over $10 million for alleged air pollution violations. A 2018 coke plant fire intensified local pollution, increasing emergency asthma cases. Residents like Cindy and David Meckel, whose health has declined, have faced persistent pollution issues.
They joined Valley Clean Air Now, distributing air filters and advocating against U.S. Steel. The precise pollution levels from Clairton Coke Works remain uncertain due to complex emission-reporting methods, which often rely on problematic emission factors.
The EPA has recognized emission factors’ inaccuracies since 1990. Facilities base these on limited measurements, leading to inconsistent estimates. The 2023 EPA initiative revealed actual benzene levels at Clairton were 37 times higher than estimated, prompting calls for permanent monitoring.
Fence-line monitoring, effective at reducing refinery emissions under previous regulations, prompted the EPA to propose similar requirements for other industries. Five coke plants, including Clairton, showed higher benzene levels than estimated, reinforcing the need for these measures.
U.S. Steel opposed the EPA’s permanent monitoring proposal, citing costs and competitiveness concerns. The EPA estimated annual monitoring costs at $107,000 per plant, significant compared to U.S. Steel’s $1.4 billion cash reserve in 2024.
Despite opposition, environmentalists advocate for accurate monitoring to address leaks. Former EPA inspector Cary Secrest emphasized the need for direct measurements over unreliable emission factors.
David Meckel testified about Clairton’s health impacts at a 2023 public hearing. The EPA’s 2024 rule requiring fence-line monitoring was seen as a victory, potentially reducing benzene and overall emissions.
The EPA’s new regulations for coke plants and larger facilities promised accountability. In Cancer Alley, Louisiana, where the Dow Chemical plant underreported emissions, new rules could cut cancer risks by 97%, affecting 90,000 residents.
The Trump administration delayed these regulations, granting exemptions to numerous facilities. Environmentalists have since sued, challenging these exemptions.
Local residents like Qiyam Ansari, affected by asthma, continue advocating for stricter regulations. His organization, Valley Clean Air Now, collaborates with researchers to document health impacts, pushing for local action.
These regulatory changes have left some communities disillusioned. The Meckels, facing health challenges, relocated for cleaner air but remain committed to advocacy. The loss of their dog to cancer underscored their health concerns, motivating their ongoing efforts.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org