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A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, urging the Allegheny County Board of Health to adopt the proposed Air Toxics Guidelines (ATGs) with all deliberate speed.
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WHEREAS, proper control of emissions of toxic chemicals from local industries is an important part of ACHD's efforts to improve air quality in Allegheny County, and has been a concern of County Council for a number of years; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County remains one of the highest ranked counties in both the state and the U.S. for annual release of toxic chemicals into the air; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County's toxic releases are greater than the total emissions from Westmoreland, Washington, Beaver, and Butler Counties combined, and the toxic releases from the Neville Island area alone would rank it above 40 of the counties in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Air Toxics Guidelines would give ACHD staff an important tool in permitting new or expanding facilities in Allegheny County by ensuring that scientifically based health protections for residents living near proposed facilities are in place for any of 300 toxic chemicals released by industry, ensuring that clear procedures are used by ACHD in the permitting process, so businesses affected will know what to expect, and ensuring that small businesses that use small amounts of toxic chemicals will be exempted; and
WHEREAS, an especially important aspect of the proposed ATGs is the “cumulative impact” provision, which establishes a process to ensure that the cumulative impact of clusters of pollution sources in a small area are considered before pollution levels are allowed to increase; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of Allegheny County Council to promote the safest environment possible for the residents of the County, and it is the sense of Council that the ATGs will aid in the creation of such an environment;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1.
The Allegheny County Council hereby urges the Allegheny County Board of Health to adopt the proposed Air Toxics Guidelines (ATGs) with all deliberate speed.
Section 2. Severability. If any provision of this Resolution shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Resolution which shall be in full force and effect.
Section 3. Repealer. Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Resolution.