AIR

Figure 1: Locust Ridge Wind Farm

As of February 19, 2024, The Schuylkill County Pennsylvania air quality was rated “good” by Breezometer. However, the average annual air quality raises some concerns. The average annual air quality shows that some pollutants in the area may cause harm with long term exposure. The dominant local pollutants include ozone, followed by PM10, PM2.5, Nitrogen Dioxide, Carbon Dioxide, and others. (1).

Ozone poses several health risks to humans and the planet. First, increasing ozone increases global warming in general, but it can have more acute local effects. (2). When humans breathe in excess ozone, it reacts chemically with biological molecules in the respiratory tract which can lead to harm. Ozone can worsen conditions like asthma and bronchitis, and it can even harm healthier folks by making air harder or painful to breathe during exercise. (2).

Another large air pollutant in Schuylkill County is PM, which stands for “particulate matter” or “particle pollution”. (3). PM10 are inhalable particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers, and PM2.5 are fine inhalable particles with a diameter of 2.5micrometers and smaller. (3). In scale, a human hair is about 70 micrometers in diameter, meaning that PM10 are seven times smaller, and PM2.5 are about thirty times smaller. PM10s often consist of pollen, mold, and dust particles, while PM2.5 consist of finer particles like microscopic metals, combustion particles, etc. (3).  These pose the greatest risk, as they are fine enough to enter into human bloodstreams. PM can be omitted from smoke, construction sites, industry, and vehicles. (3). Research from Breezometer shows that Schuylkill County has an average PM2.5 monthly exposure which is nearly double the yearly guideline. (1). Thus, this poses a health risk to residents to heart and lung conditions.

Local challenges to air pollution include coal mining, fossil fuel burning, agriculture, and waste burning in residential areas. While Schuylkill County is past its anthracite mining heydays, smaller scale mines are still in operation. Both coal mining and the use of coals as a fuel contribute to PM pollution, which is very high in the county. (4). Coal burning also releases Carbon and Nitrogen Oxides, other high polluters in the region. Also, because the county is 33% rural, many communities are spread out, meaning long commutes to work and activities, releasing even more fossil fuels. (5).

Figure 2: Emissions from vehicles create carbon and nitrogen dioxide.

Schuylkill County contains many agricultural operations, including livestock, which can emit many polluting gasses such as methane, nitrous oxides, and carbon dioxide. (6). While pastureland only took up 4% of PA farm land use, livestock sales surpassed those of crops, so it is safe to assume that even though livestock may be taking less farmland, they still occupy many acres and sales in the county. This also suggests that livestock may be concentrated on small acres and may not be pasture raised, since the percentage of land use is low but the percentage of sales is high. The economic benefit of raising cattle in smaller spaces de-incentivises farmers to limit livestock or raise them in larger pastures. (6). 

Lastly, residential burning is a common practice in Schuylkill County. Many residents choose to burn their leaves rather than compost, and many still barrel burn their trash, including my grandparents. (7). Barrel burning from under 40 households daily can produce levels of toxic emissions similar to a 200 ton/day municipal incinerator (8). These toxins can include PMs like lead, chromium, and cadmium. (8).

Stakeholders in the area’s air quality include:

These “stakeholders” all have investments into air pollution regulation, whether it be for regulation for health, or against it for business practices. Nonetheless, several solutions have been developed, nationwide to locally, to improve Schuylkill County’s Air Quality. A catalyst of change was the Clean Air Act of 1970, signed into law by President Nixon. (9).  It was a federal law to regulate air quality by capping certain pollutants and emissions for the benefit of public and environmental health (9). This solution is sustainable in not only caring for the environment and the public, but also helps to stimulate the economy by promoting jobs to oversee air quality.

Statewide, the Pennsylvania Bureau of Air Quality has improved pollution levels. Included in the founding of the Department of Environmental Protection in 1995, the Bureau of Air Quality has ensured the state upholds the goals of the federal Clean Air Act and Pennsylvania’s Air Pollution Control Act. (10). The bureau creates statewide regulations, tracks air quality and meteorology through regular studies, and develops ways to control vehicle emissions by improving transportation. (10). This helps the public in more ways than one: the public is healthier and they get better transportation. The Department of Environmental Protection oversees Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water waterways and attempts to limit pollution to maintain a clean environment.  They work in conjunction with local governments and agencies, like Schuylkill County’s Conservation District, to ensure environmental protection at all levels. (10).

A local project has helped to improve Schuylkill County’s air Quality. The Locust Wind farm, completed in 2007, helped to limit pollution by creating an alternative emission free energy source in the county. According to PPL, the project offsets an annual 85 million pounds of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to removing 8,000 cars from the road and planting 34,000 acres of trees. (11). This serves a great alternative to coal power, which often provides electricity to the area. The Locust Wind farm prevents fossil fuel emissions, therefore pollution, by providing alternative energy and helping to improve the lives of the local community and environment. (11).

Limitations to these kinds of initiatives often pertain to local mindset and current lifestyle practices. Many Schuylkill residents are not keen on change, even if it may be considered “green” or for the better. Older generations, especially those of my grandparents, do not plan on halting their habits like barrel burning. (7). A solution for this may be instituting new laws or ordinances against barrel burning and fining those who do not obey. However, there may be push back from the public. Sometimes, it is the mere locations of green operations that causes disputes and stops progress; in 2022, a proposed 175 acre windfarm was halted by its proximity to a military base. (12). Even with these limitations, our county and its government tries its best to improve local air quality.

A broader list of assets with regard to air pollution are as follows:

  • Local forests, like Weiser state forest
  • Locust Wind Farm
  • Pennsylvania Bureau of Air Quality
  • Schuylkill County Conservation District
  • SEDCO (Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation)

Bibliography

  1. Breezometer. 2024. “Air Quality Map Schuylkill County.” (https://www.breezometer.com/air-quality-map/air-quality/exposure)
  2. EPA. May 24, 2023. “Health Effects of Ozone Pollution.” https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/health-effects-ozone-pollution 
  3. EPA. July 11, 2023. “Particulate Matter (PM) Basics” (https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics)
  4. Union of Concerned Scientists. December 19, 2017. “Coal and Air Pollution.” https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/coal-and-air-pollution 
  5. Lehigh Valley Health Network. 2022. “2022 Community Health Needs Assessment Health Profile Schuylkill County.” 
  6. USDA, Census of Agriculture. 2017. “Schuylkill County Profile.” https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Pennsylvania/cp42107.pdf 
  7. Cappel, Dianna, personal communication, January, 2024. 
  8. Pennsylvania DEP. November, 2018. “Air Pollution from Household Open Burning in Pennsylvania.” (https://greenport.pa.gov/elibrary/GetDocument?docId=1425511&DocName=AIR%20POLLUTION%20FROM%20HOUSEHOLD%20OPEN%20BURNING%20IN%20PENNSYLVANIA.PDF%20%20%3Cspan%20style%3D%22color%3Agreen%3B%22%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%20%3Cspan%20style%3D%22color%3Ablue%3B%22%3E%3C%2Fspan%3E%2012%2F12%2F2025 ). 
  9. EPA. September 6, 2023. “Summary of the Clean Air Act.” https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-clean-air-act
  10. Pennsylvania DEP. 2024. “Bureau of Air Quality.” https://www.dep.pa.gov/Business/Air/BAQ/Pages/default.aspx
  11. PPL. Jun 19, 2007. “Gov. Rendell Opens Newest Pennsylvania Wind Power Project.” https://news.pplweb.com/news-releases?item=20349
  12. National Wind Watch. February 23, 2022. “Dispute Over Schuylkill Co. Wind Farm Exposes Fissures in Pa.’s Push to Meet Renewable Energy Goals.” https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2022/02/23/dispute-over-schuylkill-co-wind-farm-exposes-fissures-in-pa-s-push-to-meet-renewable-energy-goals/.
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