FORWARD TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Until ten years ago, Lisa Graves Marcucci lived a pretty normal suburban life.

However, now the petite mother of two is a force to be reckoned with.

She has no science background, but you'd never know that when she starts talking about fly ash and the environment.

It all began in the mid-1990's. At that time there were plans in Munhall to fill a natural valley with tons of fly ash.

The valley just happened to share a property line with Lisa's parents' backyard.

Marcucci said, "We showed up at a meeting. We started asking questions. We got more questions than answers.

"Information was scarce. We saw preliminary medical reports saying especially inhalation risks from fly ash were very dangerous for humans."

Marcucci believes citizens have a right to protection of public health. "I think it's a simple right versus wrong. The Department of Environmental Protection's mission statement says they are charged with protecting the health of citizens and the environment of the Commonwealth. When I see an agency not responding, limiting public information, limiting public access, I get very concerned on the principal of being included, of being included in due process."

Lisa arrived on the scene shortly after tons of fly ash fell on Forward Township residents in January.

She realized most homeowners didn't know the muck was fly ash or about the possible dangers from it.

Barb Diess lives on Rostoky Ridge.

Her yard was filled with about eight inches of black stuff.

She said, "Lisa came along and said 'don't you know what that is, it's fly ash."

Rhonda Jarvis also lives on Rostosky Ridge. She said the DEP at first wasn't sure what the mud was and told residents more testing needed to be done.

Jarvis said, "We weren't told for days it was fly ash. They told us to clean up as best we could. They didn't give us any precautionary measures."

Many residents are grateful for Lisa's help and knowledge.

That event has become very personal to Lisa. "I feel an emotional bond with folks impacted. When I heard it came down in their neighborhood I felt the need to share the information I've gathered. It's important they know what they might be exposed to. When I showed up I found they had never been told that there was a potential for risk. It's a fundamental right for citizens to be protected. Citizens have a right to be heard and when an accident happens citizens have a right to have an emergency response in a timely manner and that never occurred."

Lisa helped get the Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) involved.

The agency reviewed testing done by the Allegheny County Health department and identified arsenic as the primary contaminant of concern.

It made recommendations to residents about clean up.

Marcucci also used her contacts with local experts who gave residents more information on how to deal with fly ash.

While some government officials may dread hearing Marcucci’s name, she doesn't think they should.

"The information we request, we aren't asking for just to be annoying. We're asking because public health may be at risk," Marcucci said.

Marcucci believes to solve this problem and other environmental issues; industry, citizens, government and health experts all need to be invited to the table.

She's not blind to the economic impact and isn't anti-industry. "We're in an industrial valley. We know that and industry is welcome, but there has to be a balance. They have to be a safe co-existing neighbor."