This week on The Allegheny Front, Norfolk Southern will invest $200 million in rail safety as part of a settlement with the federal government over last year’s train derailment in East Palestine. Earlier this month, a controversial natural gas pipeline that will soon go online failed a crucial safety test. We speak with a reporter who is following the story. Some student entrepreneurs looked for alternatives to firefighting foam and equipment which commonly contain PFAS, those forever chemicals linked to increased cancer risk.Â
We have news about federal money for cleaner school buses, demands for transparency about the Appalachian hydrogen hub project from a coalition of community and environmental groups, and a new report about the carbon emissions of Pittsburgh buildings. Â Â
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Biden administration visits central Pa. glass plant to tout clean manufacturing standards
Study finds air purifiers significantly improve air quality at day cares
College students find greener protections for firefighters - As a class project, Lehigh University students came up with ways to protect firefighters from dangerous PFAS chemicals on the job.
Groups call for freeze on hydrogen hub talks over lack of transparency - The groups want information like site locations for the hydrogen projects involved in the ARCH2 project, as well involvement of community groups in the process.
Pittsburgh buildings are lowering carbon emissions but more can be done - A new report shows that Pittsburgh buildings participating in the 2030 District to reduce carbon emissions are making progress through renewable energy.
Pa. environmental education programs receive $1 million from state - This year’s projects range from running summer camps to helping people protect their homes from stormwater.
Philadelphia hatchery finds new ways to produce mussels in a lab - The Philadelphia hatchery doubled the number of mussels it typically produces, thanks to scientific discoveries.
Mountain Valley Pipeline’s completion delayed again, builder says - Equitrans Midstream is still doing hydrostatic testing. A section of the pipeline ruptured earlier this month during testing. 
Air pollution decreased, but still causes hundreds of deaths a year in Allegheny County - The report finds up to 1373 people died annually in Allegheny County from 2020 to 2022 from exposures to fine particulate matter.
EPA, Norfolk Southern reach $310 million settlement for East Palestine derailment - It includes $235 million for EPA’s past and future expenses for the cleanup of toxic chemicals, with only $15 million assessed as a civil penalty.
Heaviest Pa. storms drop 60% more rain than they used to, report says - Climate change is causing a warmer atmosphere that holds more moisture, which can fuel heavy rain events and flash floods.
