Joint State Legislative Hearing in Clairton Focuses on Improving Air Quality

Clairton, February 7, 2019 – With an overflow crowd of steel workers and concerned citizens in attendance at Clairton City Hall, a joint state Senate-House Democratic Policy Committee hearing was held today on ways to improve air quality, community notification procedures and emergency response.

The hearing was held in Clairton at the request of state Senator Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) and Representative Austin Davis (D-Allegheny). It was prompted by a December 24, 2018, fire at the Clairton Coke Works that resulted in emissions of high levels of sulfur dioxide and damage to the facility’s gas processing system.  

“We need to see to it that air quality standards are properly monitored, and that local emergency response and community notification procedures are accurate and timely,” Brewster said. “To accomplish this goal, we must bring together officials from U.S. Steel, the Allegheny County Department of Health, local governments, labor organizations and emergency responders.  We need to both address air quality issues and protect good paying jobs in the industry.”

Davis added, “Improving the air quality in our communities is my top priority. I appreciate the testimony of all stakeholders. As we look to improve air quality it’s imperative that we look for effective ways to do so.”

The hearing was jointly chaired by state Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton/Lehigh) and state Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster).

“Being raised in the shadow of the Bethlehem Steel plant, I am well aware of the seriousness of air quality issues and how communities such as Clairton must balance an economic reliance on good industrial jobs against health and environmental issues,” Boscola said.

Sturla added, “I thank Representative Davis for bringing this important issue to the House Democratic Policy Committee’s attention. This joint public hearing helps ensure that all perspectives are heard as the legislature looks for effective ways to improve air quality.”

Claiming that U.S Steel is committed to keeping the coke works operational and doing more to improve its environmental efforts, Chris Masciantonio, who serves as Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy for U.S. Steel, said, “The Mon Valley community is more than just the company’s home; it’s our company’s birthplace and where our employees work and live. The safety of our employees, our partnering contractors and our neighboring communities is paramount to our efforts.”

Masciantonio argued that placing the plant on hot idle, as some environmentalists have urged, would be a lengthy, difficult and costly process.

Don Furko, who serves as president of the United Steelworkers Local #1557, added, “Simply put, if U.S. Steel ends up idling batteries, our members will lose their jobs. This will begin a chain of events that will have a devastating impact on them, their families and our communities across the Mon Valley.”

Members of environmental organizations and Dr. Deborah Gentile of Pittsburgh testified that residents of the Mon Valley have been exposed to pollutants for decades. They said the pollution level and related health threats were compounded by the recent fire and emission exceedance.

Some of the environmentalists called for greater U.S. Steel efforts to comply with health and safety dictates and reduce pollution discharges. They also called on the Allegheny County Department of Health to step up monitoring, enforcement vigilance and provide more responsive public notification when problems arise.

Dr. Karen Hacker, director of the county health department, said the department has already ramped up its enforcement efforts. She said her agency has imposed direct enforcement orders and civil penalties. She said the department’s expanded legal team has also stepped up inspections, toughened penalties and collaborated with state and federal environmental enforcement agencies.

“The department will continue to be proactive and aggressive to improve air quality in our county, as our actions indicate,” she said. “We will continue to improve our communication via our current strategies through additional opportunities such as mobile phone applications and direct communication with citizens, municipal leaders and legislators.”

The hearing follows a January 22 public meeting in Clairton.  Brewster, Davis and Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) and Rep. Bill Kortz (D-Allegheny) and Austin Davis (D-Allegheny) were also updated on January 25 by officials from the Allegheny County Health Department.

Joining Brewster, Boscola and Costa at today’s hearing were Senators Wayne Fontana (D-Allegheny) and Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny). In addition to Davis, Sturla and Kortz, Representatives Summer Lee, Ed Gainey, Dan Miller, Brandon Markosek and Sara Innamorato (all D-Allegheny) attended.

Those who testified included:

Panel from U.S. Steel Corporation:

  • Chris Masciantonio, Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy
  • Mike Rhoades, Plant Manager, Clairton Coke Works
  • Tishie Woodwell, General Manager, Environmental Affairs
  • Kurt Barshick, General Manager, Mon Valley Works
  • Jim Futrell, Vice President of Market Research and Analysis, Allegheny Conference on Community Development

Panel from Allegheny County Health Department:

  • Dr. Karen Hacker, Director
  • Jim Kelly, Deputy Director for Environmental Health
  • Michael Parker, Solicitor
  • Dr. LuAnn Brink, Chief Epidemiologist

Panel from area unions:

  • Don Furko, President, United Steel Workers Local 1557
  • Jeff Nobers, Executive Director, Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania
  • Ken Broadbent, Business Manager, Steamfitters Local Union 449

Panel of health and environmental advocates:

  • Dr. Deborah Gentile, Physician, Pediatric Alliance
  • Rachel Filippini, Executive Director, Group Against Smog & Pollution
  • Matt Mehalik, Executive Director, Breathe Project
  • Ashleigh Deemer, Western Pennsylvania Director, PennEnvironment

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Senator Costa to Introduce Legislation to Halt UPMC Highmark Divorce, Require Productive, Ongoing Relationship for Benefit of Healthcare Consumers

Pittsburgh, Pa. − February 6, 2019 − Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. today circulated a memo seeking cosponsors for legislation that would require UPMC and Highmark to either contract with each other for services or enter mandatory arbitration if they fail to come to an agreement on their own.

The bill addresses the issue of integrated delivery networks throughout the Commonwealth; however, this issue is particularly problematic in southwestern Pennsylvania given the ongoing dispute between UPMC and Highmark. While the two are currently operating under a consent decree, that order will expire in June of this year.

Under existing law, there is no mechanism to resolve contract disputes between large integrated delivery networks, like UPMC, Allegheny Health Network, and Geisinger, which could threaten patient access and choice. Under Senator Costa’s legislation, if networks fail to come to an agreement on their own, they would be compelled to enter mandatory arbitration to settle the dispute.

“Both parties need to come to the table, negotiate and cultivate a relationship that will allow the residents of Western Pennsylvania to get the care they need. It’s time to undo the damage caused by the divorce of these two companies. Disputes between enormous, profitable companies cannot get in the way of patients and their care,” said Senator Costa. “Health care consumers should not have to worry about whether their insurance will be accepted when they’re sick, injured or simply seeking preventive care. Their only worry should be getting healthy. This legislation can relieve that stress and establish consistency for integrated delivery networks.”

There are strong consumer protection and public policy reasons for adopting this legislation.

First, by requiring hospitals and physicians operating as part of an integrated delivery network to contract with all insurers, consumers will not be denied care, or worse abandoned mid-treatment, simply because they hold one type of insurance over another. All consumers should be afforded access to these vital hospital and physician services, regardless of which insurance card they carry.

Second, the legislation will also eliminate the ability of any dominant hospital system from demanding unreasonable rates for services from insurers, and in turn raising the overall cost of health care because they are the “must have” system in the area.

For more information on the legislation, read the full cosponsorship memo and follow its progress here.