Environmental History of Pittsburgh RiverQuest. A City at the Confluence Advantageous location on major rivers Natural resources, bituminous coal.

Environmental History of Pittsburgh

Environmental History of Pittsburgh

RiverQuestRiverQuest

A City at the Confluence

A City at the Confluence

Advantageous location on major rivers

Natural resources, bituminous coalOne of the world’s industrial

centers from 1850-1980Environmental history defined by

air, water, and land

Advantageous location on major rivers

Natural resources, bituminous coalOne of the world’s industrial

centers from 1850-1980Environmental history defined by

air, water, and land

1870’s River Traffic1870’s River Traffic

South Side

downtown

Steamboats and barges carry a valuable commodity.

Bituminous Coal: Pros & Cons

Bituminous Coal: Pros & Cons

Cheap, easily attainable. Why?

High BTU content when burntCO2, Hg, AsMining wastesUnderminingSmoke

Cheap, easily attainable. Why?

High BTU content when burntCO2, Hg, AsMining wastesUnderminingSmoke

What was the biggest barrier to controlling smoke pollution?

The Point, 1896The Point, 1896

Why is the air in this picture mysteriously less smoky?

1906 Strip District1906 Strip District

June, 11:00 am

1907 Flood1907 Flood

Penn Avenue, downtown

Water Woes: 1870’s-1900’sWater Woes: 1870’s-1900’sHighest Typhoid Fever mortality rateWhy?Wells located adjacent to outhousesSewage disposed of in river to 1958River is the drinking water supply!“Modern” Combined Sewer System,

water filtration plant, chlorination-1907

Highest Typhoid Fever mortality rateWhy?Wells located adjacent to outhousesSewage disposed of in river to 1958River is the drinking water supply!“Modern” Combined Sewer System,

water filtration plant, chlorination-1907

ALCOSAN Plant came online in 1958.

1911: Stacks Fifth Avenue

1911: Stacks Fifth Avenue

Jenkins Arcade, currently Fifth Avenue Place

Smoky City, USA… time??

Smoky City, USA… time??

A rainy autumn morning in fall 1945, 9:20 am.

Nov. 5, 1945Nov. 5, 1945

11:00 am?11:00 am?

11:00 pm?11:00 pm?

1910s-1940s1910s-1940s

“Hell, with the lid off.”“Hell, with the lid off.”

Pittsburgh Steel Company, Monessen Works 1949

When did things start to change?

Air Quality MovementAir Quality Movement 1930’s: St. Louis, MO passes

ordinances to reduce pollution. How? Using cleaner-burning fuels Using mechanical combustion equipment

1940: Pittsburgh starts to follow suit New industry created to treat coal Most improvement due to advance of

natural gas usage.

1930’s: St. Louis, MO passes ordinances to reduce pollution. How? Using cleaner-burning fuels Using mechanical combustion equipment

1940: Pittsburgh starts to follow suit New industry created to treat coal Most improvement due to advance of

natural gas usage.

Clear ImprovementsClear ImprovementsDowntown as seen from the Liberty Tunnel

19451945 19511951

“You missed a spot…”“You missed a spot…”

1952: a downtownbuilding is cleaned of more than 80 years of soot

Other ChangesOther Changes1950s: regional railroads switch from

coal-burning to diesel-electric locomotives

1960s: metals industry still resistant to controlling emissions

1970s: GASP works to advocate enforcement of Clean Air Act

1980s: iron and steel industry collapse

1950s: regional railroads switch from coal-burning to diesel-electric locomotives

1960s: metals industry still resistant to controlling emissions

1970s: GASP works to advocate enforcement of Clean Air Act

1980s: iron and steel industry collapse

Where did the steel industry go?

Coal-to-Gas ControversyCoal-to-Gas Controversy

Why a grassroots uproar over the mandated conversion to gas heating?

Costly to residents and small businesses

Despite political opposition, Mayor Lawrence won reelection

Controversy around clean air today?

Why a grassroots uproar over the mandated conversion to gas heating?

Costly to residents and small businesses

Despite political opposition, Mayor Lawrence won reelection

Controversy around clean air today?

1972: Water Pollution Control Act

1972: Water Pollution Control Act

Stringent controls on industrial pollution

Increased local legislation Dozens of watershed agencies Ongoing concern over CSO, runoff Why is CSO and runoff getting

worse?

Stringent controls on industrial pollution

Increased local legislation Dozens of watershed agencies Ongoing concern over CSO, runoff Why is CSO and runoff getting

worse?

Land Use and ReclamationLand Use and Reclamation

LTV Works,1945

Brownfield,1975

SouthSideWorks,2005

Herr’s IslandHerr’s Island1875- majorRail-stop forLivestock; Huge meat-Packing andRendering Plants

1981,BrownfieldWith toxic wastes

Washington’s LandingWashington’s Landing

$2.5 million clean-up has resulted in $70 million in public and Private investment and over $1 million in city revenue

The Waterfront, Homestead

The Waterfront, Homestead

Former U.S.Steel Homestead Works Brownfield for 25 years 2002--opened as upscale destination

for shopping, housing, nightclubs, movies, and corporate headquarters (Eat n’ Park, AIU3, etc.)

Questionable benefit for adjacent neighborhoods of Munhall, Homestead, and West Homestead.

Former U.S.Steel Homestead Works Brownfield for 25 years 2002--opened as upscale destination

for shopping, housing, nightclubs, movies, and corporate headquarters (Eat n’ Park, AIU3, etc.)

Questionable benefit for adjacent neighborhoods of Munhall, Homestead, and West Homestead.

Other Notable ProjectsOther Notable Projects Summerset at Frick Park

Reclaimed slag dump on Nine Mile Run

Pittsburgh Technology Center Reclaimed J&L site on Monongahela

Riverplace/Duquesne RIDC Reclaimed U. S. Steel site on

Monongahela

Summerset at Frick Park Reclaimed slag dump on Nine Mile

Run Pittsburgh Technology Center

Reclaimed J&L site on Monongahela Riverplace/Duquesne RIDC

Reclaimed U. S. Steel site on MonongahelaCentury III Mall and other shopping center locations

in West Mifflin and Jefferson Hills are built on slag dumps. What are the risks?

Green PittsburghGreen Pittsburgh

Green Building Movement: 1990s-2000s “Sustainability” Pittsburgh is a leader in 2006 Indoor environment: 80-90% 40 buildings certified or included in

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

Green Building Movement: 1990s-2000s “Sustainability” Pittsburgh is a leader in 2006 Indoor environment: 80-90% 40 buildings certified or included in

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

Pittsburgh Voyager’s new vessel will be a “green” boat. However, the US Green Building Council chose not to assess a passenger vessel for LEED status. Expect this to change in the next decade!

Greener Things:Greener Things:

Buildings on brownfields (reclaimed)Systems save 30-60% on energySystems save 20-50% on waterUp to 90% of construction waste is

recycledAbundant natural lightingEmphasis on healthy buildings

Buildings on brownfields (reclaimed)Systems save 30-60% on energySystems save 20-50% on waterUp to 90% of construction waste is

recycledAbundant natural lightingEmphasis on healthy buildings

ALCOA World HQ, North Shore

ALCOA World HQ, North Shore

PNC FirstSide CenterPNC FirstSide Center

PNC FirstSide CenterPNC FirstSide Center

David L. LawrenceConvention CenterDavid L. LawrenceConvention Center

David L. LawrenceConvention CenterDavid L. LawrenceConvention Center

Reclaiming the PlaceReclaiming the Place

Rails to TrailsRails to Trails

Great Allegheny PassageMontour Trail, Present Day

1935

North Side becomes North Shore

North Side becomes North Shore

Three Rivers ParkThree Rivers Park•Mayor Tom MurphyMayor Tom Murphy

•Riverlife Task ForceRiverlife Task Force

•Friends of the Friends of the RiverfrontRiverfront

•PAFBC, PADEPPAFBC, PADEP

•TAXPAYERS OF TAXPAYERS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTYALLEGHENY COUNTY

•TAXPAYERS OF ARADTAXPAYERS OF ARAD

River = Resource = Revenue

River = Resource = Revenue

KAYAK PITTSBURGH rents kayaks to local paddlers from a stand beneath the 7th Street Bridge near PNC Park. FUN!

Sailing by the Cultural District

Sailing by the Cultural District

Pittsburgh PioneersPittsburgh Pioneers

David L. LawrenceMayor, 1945-1957 2 terms as Governor of PA•Notable for bi-partisan coalitions for the common good

•Served an unprecedented four successive terms as mayor

•Brought the Mellon family and other influential people into the support of “Renaissance I.”

Mayor Lawrence started the first action groups to fight against smog in Pittsburgh.

Howard Heinz•Son of H. J. Heinz, b. 1877

•Served many positions with Heinz Company, and served as trustee of many entities including PA Railroad, Mellon Bank, Regional Planning Association, Chamber of Commerce

•Notable commitment toward preserving natural spaces

•With other industrialists started the Greater Pgh. Parks Committee in 1932.

Richard King Mellon•Recruited by Mayor Lawrence to help lead the city’s Renaissance I in the 1950s

•Helped establish Allegheny Conference on Community Redevelopment

•Pressured railroads to reduce emissions

•Outdoor enthusiast

Rachel Carson•Native of Springdale, PA

•PA College for Women grad

•MA, Zoology, Johns Hopkins

•Wrote radio scripts for US Bureau of Fisheries during Depression

•Prize-winning study of the ocean

•Articles and books on ecology of life and humans as part of nature

•Silent Spring (1962) warned about usage of synthetic chemical pesticide

•Testified before Congress 1963 for new Health & Environ. Legislation.

Writer Scientist Ecologist

Steamboat Race 1912Steamboat Race 1912

Healthy WaterHealthy Water

Healthy LifeHealthy Life