People living near Clairton Coke Works invited to ask questions about U.S. Steel agreement

CLAIRTON, Pa. — Mon Valley residents had the chance to talk to Allegheny County Health Department officials about the quality of their air.

A public hearing was held Tuesday night and it was a packed room at the Clairton Municipal Building. Union Workers and environmental watchdog groups were among the 59 speakers.

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At issue was the draft settlement agreement with US Steel over pollution violations at Clairton Coke Works.

As part of the settlement, U.S. Steel agreed to pay $2.7 million in fines. Most of that money will be deposited into a "community benefit trust.”

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It's intended to benefit communities impacted by air pollution from Clairton Coke Works, like Clairton, Glassport, Liberty, Lincoln and Port Vue.

In addition, a portion of the money will go towards the county’s existing Clean Air Fund.

The settlement also requires U.S. Steel to upgrade batteries to reduce emissions.

For people living near the plant, like Melanie Mead, there are concerns that problems at the coke works will impact her family's health.

"You people aren't serving the people's public health and I don't know who is," she said.

Cox Media Group