Air quality improves near U.S. Steel facility

According to area traffic and ambient air quality data, particulate matter (PM2.5) ambient air concentrations near U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works fell 40 percent since Spring 2020.

Study findings were analyzed from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) traffic data taken from within a 40-mile radius of that site and from the Liberty Monitor. Trinity Consultants, an environmental consulting firm, verified U.S. Steel’s findings.

Production at the Clairton Plant remained unchanged. Vehicle traffic declined 50 percent as a consequence of the COVID-19 stay-at-home order.

“These findings shed light on the impact that mobile sources, such as vehicle emissions, have on our community, including during weather conditions such as inversions, and indicate the importance of multifaceted strategies to address the impact of inversions,” Brett Tunno, U.S.Steel environmental engineer, said. “We look forward to exploring this further and support and encourage similar efforts by other members of our community.”

Findings suggest a direct, significant correlation between Liberty Monitor PM2.5 concentrations and vehicle traffic rates, U.S. Steel said.

U.S. Steel and Trinity plan to share the data findings with the Allegheny County Health Department and other authorities.

U.S. Steel aims to reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity by 20 percent by 2030 from 2018 levels.