[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6587145,"mediaKeyId","5676382-418f97750936b508c6aea1fd667cc11a","parentId",5676382,"title","Residents urge stronger air‑quality oversight and higher permit fees after Clairton coke‑works explosion","audioSeconds",815,"startMs",780000,"endMs",1595000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5676382-418f97750936b508c6aea1fd667cc11a&start=780&end=1595","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5676382-418f97750936b508c6aea1fd667cc11a/thumbnail_780000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6587145/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-urge-stronger-airquality-oversight-and-higher-permit-fees-after-Clairton-cokeworks-explosion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587145-34fff82d69fd177d94537b1494a0ccb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770868348&Signature=jkPw8ABA97pIKosREuCrZL1wafduRi5zTsHaoPJ4WIvqoVp0inrVt8VLPNgR6pVp95GXuEsUuBO2Pi9YwsBlZZNJkROYkIOOk8Dc7Z1ReOhBkb2K239pNadwvVTIciGXSFg2kMrthefvhBuKwgtxtZKYoq1uPdA7NFjQxlMaRreBoe7pfOdjXar1fHFGp012youW2H~qOqzyozJ4uv1un9LD8HDBBfnMQ34SO5wntgJqpiv2ln4EizX30HlMoz4oJpZscfFYdOI5siDr7~VvfQlScnsNbI7sE-rcmhCsoiFbtfxOaxYsjoNBSTljkW-TzaJ4J788ar2Jaess-D0Q5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Allegheny County, PA","date","2025-08-26T19:14:59Z","article","Several residents and environmental advocates used the council’s public‑comment period to demand stronger air‑quality oversight, immediate and expanded communication from industry and regulators, and a vote to raise air‑pollution permit fees following an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works.

Nicholas Bartel, a Beachview resident and clean‑air campaign manager for PennFuture, spoke for himself and his organization and said the council and the Allegheny County Health Department should provide faster, clearer updates to affected communities. Bartel offered condolences to \"the loved ones of Timothy Quinn and Stephen Menifee\" and said the company involved has promised to share environmental information \"on an adequate and timely basis\" in its sustainability report. He asked to meet with Councilman Palmiscena and any colleagues who want to pursue \"fair, common sense paths forward.\"

Arushi Banth, executive director of Allegheny County Clean Air Now (ACAN), told the council the explosion on Aug. 11 killed two people and injured at least 10, and she catalogued prior incidents at the Clairton plant and other industrial sites. Banth said repeated regulatory failures and intermittent pollution‑control outages show the county health department is understaffed and underfunded, and she urged the council to \"vote for this fee increase\" so ACHD can hold polluters accountable.

Several speakers representing the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network (PIN) reiterated similar calls. Karen Burns Retigliano and Reverend Dr. Kate Walker emphasized the county’s duty under the Pennsylvania Environmental Rights Amendment, with Burns Retigliano saying the amendment gives citizens \"a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment.\" Walker said congregations and their members are \"scared\" and urged council members to work with the county executive and ACHD to secure permit‑fee increases.

Speakers named several facilities by example, including Metallico and Riverside Concrete and Supply, and characterized the health department as \"dangerously understaffed\". No formal council action on permit fees or ACHD funding occurred during the meeting; the comments were submitted during the public‑comment portion of the agenda. The council noted its time was limited and said future public‑comment time would be reserved for Allegheny County residents.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Allegheny County Council Regular Meeting - August 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents and advocacy groups urged Allegheny County Council to support increased air‑quality permit fees and stronger communication and enforcement by the Allegheny County Health Department after the US Steel Clairton Coke Works explosion that killed two workers.","taxTitle","Allegheny County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2935,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587149,"Council introduces ordinance for South Park Boxing use and resolution for West Penn Allegheny financing; both referred to committees",69,586000,655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5676382-418f97750936b508c6aea1fd667cc11a&start=586&end=655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5676382-418f97750936b508c6aea1fd667cc11a/thumbnail_586000.jpg","/articles/6587149/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Council-introduces-ordinance-for-South-Park-Boxing-use-and-resolution-for-West-Penn-Allegheny-financing-both-referred-to-committees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587149-765344ef01fc00a410d5f23e2a8cad0b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770868348&Signature=RudG5wAHBudSOUC2TDMNm-SaK3Mu1vIZgAAOed7NiEDtgR8fxsVqmPPMyqEChNPKMbfmRJlaHmophCM7kMrnz93cW38VsAunUDWpvwtNSzBhKR4zEJearz-~7suAk8UlKz5w0MbYoydwDsdXtPZWLrAcnxM8nK~4Rd2YLQWRcC4DbDff86LeGtE8r9PlthMvL~MsnLEN3PJcnRAJAAG1dIJvg2qzYO9UK87TvYzOK0sws1e-cGB1hin3BnsvbtxCSX80g0xbth5yO7ostz89qXt1MaXwoOsIlBMSIzB3AElwefptt5yfH3DGK6Jr1e~CDDSi3Xk~Ndl-j6wKgAUwsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Allegheny County Council introduced two items of new business: an ordinance authorizing South Park Boxing Incorporated to continue using county property in South Park, and a resolution approving a financing project for West Penn Allegheny Foundation LLC. Both items were read into the record and referred to committees for further review; no final votes were taken on either item.

The ordinance (agenda item 13634‑25) would authorize South Park Boxing Incorporated to continue using county property at \"100 acres drive\" in South Park to conduct organized boxing and fitness training. The clerk read the ordinance and the item was placed on the Committee on Parks for consideration; no further action was taken at the meeting.

The resolution (agenda item 13635‑25) would approve a project benefiting West Penn Allegheny Foundation LLC, with West Penn Allegheny Health System Incorporated named as the sole corporate member, to be financed by the Allegheny County Hospital Development Authority by issuing tax‑exempt notes in one or more series in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $55,000,000. The resolution text, read into the record, explicitly states that \"the taxing power of the county of Allegheny, Pennsylvania shall not be obligated in any way with respect to the notes\" and declares the financing \"desirable for the health, safety, and welfare\" of people served by the financed facilities. That resolution was referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Job Creation.

No committee reports or votes on these items occurred during the meeting. The items will return to council after committee review per usual procedure.","Council introduced Ordinance 13634‑25 authorizing South Park Boxing Inc. to use county property in South Park and read a financing resolution (13635‑25) for West Penn Allegheny Foundation LLC, up to $55 million in tax‑exempt notes; both items were referred to committees for review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":80,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587154,"Allegheny County Council urges U.S. lawmakers to support legislation for disabled minors and higher black lung benefits",63,718000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5676382-418f97750936b508c6aea1fd667cc11a&start=655&end=718","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5676382-418f97750936b508c6aea1fd667cc11a/thumbnail_655000.jpg","/articles/6587154/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Allegheny-County-Council-urges-US-lawmakers-to-support-legislation-for-disabled-minors-and-higher-black-lung-benefits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587154-0f158760d3fe55e9c2b4f54b576e802f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770868348&Signature=OCYjUcuZmun9mIrgqF50R61G3ZPQ08EzRap11YsmzvEvOWkPphd7CeTgvPrrYLH4dpMPqA-j34SHN91XGrivygJDzPz06DzBqB0mhV-28bXefJ2h~BbjISVAYITOGr6p2tg0SAPhlZ3cgDhDl5nnkRmvkkGnAw73q3t9XobvDcd0JfsMYmAODyHZ0m8bwwwxPYUk1gqBa3OlY~989G-P9u2Rlq7~QPFRzY3TdcglZrmplrj6lfbc4A1LURmf2hGezhSHnwEeNOmF4Ub5U862gAJrCO2IGnsLIt~Uu744aImFloSzvD9YUuZIHQEhN0cNBRBPaW40p87JGF7ezv~W0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Allegheny County Council approved a motion urging the county’s congressional delegation to support federal legislation to assist disabled minors and to increase monthly black lung benefit rates.

The motion, introduced as a council action and sponsored by Council Members Katina, Prizio, Grisbeck, Botta, Betkowski, Hallam, Nacharetti, Chavgis, Fotoulis, Ambrosia, Macy, and Palmiscena, passed on a voice vote after brief remarks from Council Member Prizio.

Council Member Anita Prizio summarized the motion, saying coal mining in southwestern Pennsylvania has exposed generations of families to dust that causes black lung disease. Prizio said the motion notes that \"thousands of coal miners and their dependents rely on federal black lung benefits, including 43 claimants that reside in Allegheny County,\" and that claimants' benefits \"have declined by 30% since 1969.\" She urged colleagues to support the motion so claimants \"deserve to live their lives with dignity.\"

Council approved the motion by voice vote; the transcript records members saying \"Aye\" and the president announcing, \"Motion carries.\" The council did not record individual tallies in the transcript. The motion is a formal expression of the council’s policy preference intended for transmission to the county’s U.S. senators and representatives.","Council passed a motion urging the county's U.S. representatives to back legislation to assist disabled minors and increase federal black lung benefit rates; sponsors included a broad group of council members and the motion passed by voice vote.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6587159,"Allegheny County Council waives remote‑participation limit for one meeting",74,105000,179000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5676382-418f97750936b508c6aea1fd667cc11a&start=105&end=179","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5676382-418f97750936b508c6aea1fd667cc11a/thumbnail_105000.jpg","/articles/6587159/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Allegheny-County-Council-waives-remoteparticipation-limit-for-one-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6587159-42ff683f47b411730578744cf881baff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770868348&Signature=BhLhNY~3ZT4vMk8ax~z496B0S8yOheGmAtJkjxgedIE2qxEQy3Zg2Q1s8cX~vLVOS06JceZ2yDsvxzayZR4ONulyLPAqsOl0G7ngFma1iI48ERn8qJhb67NEFBQBzjXXFng~0hSPlJ74eMld1hVm84A3cMl4cuTbQI1hYgXXmNnRvcEnV55VzyA7T3ArVICc-2iqQO9Iyoqfnu~4GIUh8yH5a-QsYQBXJXX8A7~WBO0zWDUiAzjc8RxPJujiBR82KE4RsXwoc28Eh7e-SL1Acvln-3WPPvMjgiYcpikSUsZbuKUjAZd75ivnW3Ajv9~ld3p3ZC-YU~g2dLgBwu4Fsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Allegheny County Council voted to waive its rule limiting the number of members who may participate remotely, allowing more than five members to take part in the meeting by phone on a one‑time basis.

President Patrick Jacotina told the council that several members were unable to attend for legitimate reasons and cited “article 2 section j 4 of the rules of counsel” as the standing limit on remote participation. Jacotina said he \"would be inclined to entertain a motion to waive this limitation\" for the evening. Councilman DeWalt asked whether the waiver was temporary; Jacotina replied, \"One time waiver for this evening.\"

A motion to waive the rule was made and seconded; the council approved the waiver by voice vote. The record shows multiple members saying \"aye\" and the president announcing, \"Motion carries.\" The meeting proceeded with the additional remote participants present by phone.

No formal change to the council rules was adopted; the waiver was explicit to this meeting only.","Council voted to waive a rule limiting remote participation to five members for this meeting only after members reported legitimate absences; the one‑time waiver passed on a voice vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge stronger air‑quality oversight and higher permit fees after Clairton coke‑works explosion

Council introduces ordinance for South Park Boxing use and resolution for West Penn Allegheny financing; both referred to committees

Allegheny County Council urges U.S. lawmakers to support legislation for disabled minors and higher black lung benefits

Allegheny County Council waives remote‑participation limit for one meeting