Allegheny, PA — In a historic step, the Allegheny Board of Health unanimously voted to move forward with the Fracking Subcommittee’s recommendations, including closing the Article 21 loophole which currently allows oil and gas companies to proceed without air quality permits or monitoring.

With yesterday evening’s vote, Allegheny County is one step closer to requiring thousands of fracking operations to acquire standard air quality permits for the first time. In the coming months, Allegheny County staff will be directed to outline avenues to amend Article 21 and  create a timeline for presenting amendments to Allegheny County Council for a vote.

Fracking is well-known to increase air pollution, and southwestern Pennsylvania is home to some of the country’s worst air quality. In April, the American Lung Association ranked Allegheny County on a list of the 20 most polluted counties nationally. In recent years, Allegheny County has consistently ranked in the top 25 for short-term and long-term particulate matter pollution, which is known to cause severe health issues.

Robin Lesko, Western Pennsylvania Organizing Manager with Food & Water Watch, issued the following statement in response:

“Today’s decision is a historic step toward Allegheny County winning the clean environment we’re entitled to. After 20-plus years of the fracking industry ravaging Western Pennsylvania without consequences, this decision is a beacon of hope. For families who have dealt with some of the worst air pollution in the country, poisoned water, and rare cancers, this is a monumental first step in addressing the harms of fracking by prioritizing people over industry.

“Today’s decision begins to shift the tide toward an Allegheny County where every person can live and thrive. We look forward to county staff moving swiftly to draft and advance, enforceable amendments to Article 21 and bring them before the County Council for a final vote. Our communities have waited long enough for these protections.”