Uploaded March 2014 | Updated September 2026, 11 hours ago
An early air pollution film made by Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP). Partly funded by federal grants and partly by fundraising proceeds, this 18 minutes film was the work of GASP member Esther Kritzes. It was widely distributed in in the 1970s and recently digitized and posted to the GASP YouTube channel with several other interesting air pollution films from this environmental group. (youtube.com/user/GASPPgh). GASP was founded in 1969 by a group of 43 volunteers concerned about air quality issues in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Over the years, GASP has maintained a continuous program to educate the public on questions of pollution and its remediation. Through public meetings, engagement with the press, educational events, permit reviews, and other means, GASP has worked tirelessly to explain and combat our air quality problems. During these years, GASP has participated actively on various county, state, and national boards, with stakeholder groups, and on committees involved with environmental policy. In the 1970s, GASP went to Federal District Court to require Allegheny County to adopt standards based on the Clean Air Act. In the 1980s, GASP cooperated with the EPA in bringing about enforcement of air quality standards at the Clairton Coke Works. In the 1990s, GASP joined a successful EPA suit against LTV Corporation to enforce air quality standards at the firm's Hazelwood plant, which subsequently closed. A GASP notice in 1998 of its intent to file suit against Shenango for long-standing air quality infractions at its Neville Island coke plant was preempted by a successful EPA suit on the same issue. In each case the court action resulted in substantial fines and/or remedial actions being imposed on the defendant. For more, visit the GASP website at gasp-pgh.org .
An early air pollution film made by Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP). Partly funded by federal grants and partly by fundraising proceeds, this 18 minutes film was the work of GASP member Esther Kritzes. It was widely distributed in in the 1970s and recently digitized and posted to the GASP YouTube channel with several other interesting air pollution films from this environmental group. (youtube.com/user/GASPPgh). GASP was founded in 1969 by a group of 43 volunteers concerned about air quality issues in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Over the years, GASP has maintained a continuous program to educate the public on questions of pollution and its remediation. Through public meetings, engagement with the press, educational events, permit reviews, and other means, GASP has worked tirelessly to explain and combat our air quality problems. During these years, GASP has participated actively on various county, state, and national boards, with stakeholder groups, and on committees involved with environmental policy. In the 1970s, GASP went to Federal District Court to require Allegheny County to adopt standards based on the Clean Air Act. In the 1980s, GASP cooperated with the EPA in bringing about enforcement of air quality standards at the Clairton Coke Works. In the 1990s, GASP joined a successful EPA suit against LTV Corporation to enforce air quality standards at the firm's Hazelwood plant, which subsequently closed. A GASP notice in 1998 of its intent to file suit against Shenango for long-standing air quality infractions at its Neville Island coke plant was preempted by a successful EPA suit on the same issue. In each case the court action resulted in substantial fines and/or remedial actions being imposed on the defendant. For more, visit the GASP website at gasp-pgh.org .
