December 5th, 2005

A move to use funding from the Clean Air Fund for the removal of asbestos has been opposed by panel members. The Board of Health wants to spend the money from the fund in order to deal with the issue, but Allegheny County's air pollution advisory committee has opposed the proposed action. The money was earmarked for the removal of fifteen stoves containing asbestos from the former U.S. Steel site in Duquesne.

Panel members will be getting together to write to the health board and explain the decision to oppose the move to use money from the county Clean Air Fund in order to pay for this asbestos removal. Kate St. John, an advisory committee alternate member who voted on the proposal, stated: "To say that it was unanimous is almost understated. No one had a good word to say about this idea."

The money that makes up the Clean Air Fund is that from people that have been fined for violations of the Clean Air Act. Under usual circumstances the requests for grants from the fund are reviewed by the committee prior to being voted on by the health board. However, plans were made to use $1.3 million on this project out of the $7.4 million in the fund.

Myron Arnowitt, Western Pennsylvania director for Clean Water Action, was pleased about the opposition, and stated: "I hope it sends a clear message to the Board of Health and to the community. It's a bad use of Clean Air Funds."