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Michael Hansen
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40 Civil Rights, Labor & Environmental Orgs to Trump: ‘It’s Time for Pruitt to Resign, or Be Removed’
Forty national civil rights, labor, conservation and environmental organizations representing millions of members and supporters across the United States have taken out a series of full page ads Wednesday calling for the resignation or firing of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
read moreGasp Responds to Corruption and Bribery Charges Related to North Birmingham
The following is a statement from Gasp Executive Director Michael Hansen regarding corruption & bribery charges related to North Birmingham: I was stunned to learn the extent of the conspiracy involving former-Rep. Oliver Robinson, Balch & Bingham, and Drummond...
read morePresident Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement
Below is a statement from Gasp Executive Director Michael Hansen on President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement: "Pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement jeopardizes our role in the world as leaders on climate action. Global problems...
read moreBREAKING NEWS: Alabama Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gasp
The Alabama Supreme Court today denied a petition from ABC Coke (a division of Drummond Company) and the Jefferson County Board of Health for writ of certiorari in ABC Coke and Jefferson County Board of Health v. Gasp, Inc. In other words, the Alabama Supreme Court...
read moreOn April 4, Whole Foods Market Birmingham to Donate 5% of Sales to Gasp
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Whole Foods Market in Mountain Brook is hosting a Community Giving Day — also known as 5% Day — benefiting Gasp on Tuesday, April 4. All day, 5% of net sales will be donated to support our mission for clean air, healthy communities and...
read moreUsing Comedy to Lift Spirits, Raise Awareness
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gasp is teaming up with the Alabama Rivers Alliance to host a unique event Sunday, March 26 at Cahaba Brewing Company. "A Viscous Cycle: Thick Comedy" seeks to lift spirits and connect supporters of the two organizations. Gwen Sunkel and Carson...
read moreGasp Launches New Online Air Quality Tool
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Gasp Launches New Online Air Quality Tool BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Jan. 5, 2017) — In an effort to reduce exposure to the harmful health effects of air pollution, Gasp this week announced that it has released a new online tool for users to get the...
read more19 copies of ‘Toxic City’ DVD donated to the Birmingham Public Library
For Immediate Release 19 copies of 'Toxic City' DVD donated to the Birmingham Public Library BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- Gasp, a Birmingham-based health advocacy nonprofit, has given the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) 19 DVD copies of “Toxic City: Birmingham’s Dirty Secret,”...
read moreAlabama Court of Civil Appeals Sides with Gasp
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Alabama Court of Civil Appeals Rules in Gasp's Favor BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals today affirmed a prior court ruling that Gasp is entitled to a hearing before the Jefferson County Board of Health (BOH) on the reissuance...
read moreGasp Applauds Senators for Introducing RECLAIM Act
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gasp applauds U.S. Senators Joe Manchin, Tim Kaine, Mark Warner, Sherrod Brown, and Bob Casey who today announced that they are introducing the RECLAIM Act. The bill would release $1 billion over five years to help coal states like...
read moreScott Pruitt is an Offensive Choice for the EPA
Yesterday, multiple news outlets reported that President-Elect Donald Trump has selected Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Below is Gasp Executive Director Michael Hansen's statement in response to this pick: By...
read moreState of the Air Report Shows Citizen Advocacy and Common-Sense Policies Work
The American Lung Association released its annual “State of the Air” report today and it showed that Birmingham has made significant improvements in air quality over recent years. The Birmingham metro area ranked 53rd most polluted for ozone, 22nd most polluted for...
read moreUtility Charges Hamper Alabama’s Nascent Clean Energy Economy
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A new white paper released today by health advocacy organization Gasp examines the detrimental impact of charges imposed on residential utility customers who install solar power on their own homes. The report — “An Analysis of Utility Network Use...
read moreCircuit Court Reverses Board of Health Decision Denying Request for Hearing
Today, the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Ala., reversed a decision by the Jefferson County Board of Health denying Gasp’s Request for Hearing on the reissuance of ABC Coke’s operating permit. Finding that Gasp adequately followed Board of Health rules, Judge...
read moreNew Ozone Standards Will Protect Children, Elderly
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released a long-awaited new air quality health standard for ground-level ozone, or smog. This announcement is welcome news for thousands of Alabamians young and old who want to live a healthy life. The EPA set the new...
read moreEPA to Investigate Alleged Civil Rights Violations from Air Pollution
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Aug. 28, 2015) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Civil Rights has accepted a complaint by Gasp against the Jefferson County (Ala.) Department of Health for alleged civil rights violations from air pollution. Gasp, a clean air...
read moreA Strong Clean Power Plan Will Reduce Carbon Pollution, Protect Health
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released its long-awaited Clean Power Plan, a set of rules designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants. Overall, the plan seeks to bring carbon pollution down 32 percent...
read moreBREAKING: Board of Health Denies Gasp’s Request for a Hearing on Walter Coke Air Permit
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — July 8, 2015 — The Jefferson County Board of Health, the governing body of the Department of Health (JCDH), voted tonight to dismiss a request by Gasp for a hearing on the issuance of a key air pollution permit for the Walter Coke facility in...
read moreGasp Wins Hermes Creative Award for ‘Toxic City: Birmingham’s Dirty Secret’
Updated on Tuesday, May 5 to include link to film. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gasp is proud to announce that “Toxic City: Birmingham’s Dirty Secret” won a Gold Hermes Creative Award in the documentary category. The award is given by the Association of Marketing and...
read moreBoard of Health Dismisses Gasp’s Request for Hearing on ABC Coke Permit
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2011 named ABC Coke — one of Alabama’s worst toxic air polluters — a potentially responsible party for contamination in northern Birmingham. ABC Coke’s Title V Operating Permit was up for renewal last year, and Gasp...
read moreCivil Rights Complaint Alleges Environmental Discrimination by Health Department
Gasp petitions EPA to investigate environmental discrimination in northern Birmingham neighborhoods suffering from toxic air pollution BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 3, 2015) — Gasp today announced that it has filed a second civil rights complaint against the Jefferson...
read moreLeft in the Dark: Report Shines Light on Lack Of Transparency at Alabama PSC
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Feb. 26, 2015) — A study published today by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis shows the Alabama Public Service Commission conducting much of its most important oversight of Alabama Power in private. The report, by David...
read moreGasp launches Solar Works to promote Alabama’s solar potential
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Oct. 16, 2014) — Gasp launched Solar Works today, a campaign designed to educate and raise awareness about the benefits of solar energy in Alabama. The Solar Works website explains Alabama's solar power capacity, jobs potential, incentive programs...
read moreEPA Grants Gasp Petition to Investigate in Tarrant
The federal agency announced that is has granted a July request by Gasp to conduct a preliminary assessment in the Birmingham suburb TARRANT, Ala. (Oct. 9, 2014) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has notified Gasp that it has granted a July 1, 2014,...
read more‘Toxic City’ to be Released on DVD September 16
The short film, produced by Gasp, will be released on DVD next Tuesday with bonus features including a screening kit guide, exclusive online access to the film BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gasp announced today that "Toxic City: Birmingham's Dirty Secret" will be available...
read moreAlabama Power to Close Coal Units
Last Friday, Alabama Power announced that it is closing two small coal units at Plant Gorgas (the oldest units at the plant), as well as reducing or eliminating coal from four others at Plant Barry and Plant Greene County. The company said the move is to comply with...
read moreGasp Commends Proposed EPA Rule to Reduce Carbon Emissions by 2030
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gasp commends the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and President Barack Obama for putting forth a draft of a new rule to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants. The EPA estimates the reduction in carbon emissions will prevent up to...
read moreNew Film Calls Attention to Pollution, Injustice
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — “If there’s anything this documentary can do, I hope it will be to save our children, our next generation. Those are the final words in “Toxic City: Birmingham’s Dirty Secret,” a heartbreaking 26-minute documentary about families fighting for their...
read morePublic Hearing Scheduled for Walter Coke Air Pollution Permit
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) is holding a public hearing regarding Walter Coke's Title V Operating Permit. The hearing is May 20 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the North Birmingham branch of the Birmingham Public Library (2501 31st Ave...
read moreNew Campaign Uses Storytelling to Promote Clean Air
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gasp and the American Lung Association (ALA) in Alabama today announced a new campaign, Voices for Clean Air, to bring awareness to the health effects of breathing polluted air. The project will tell the real stories of how air pollution affects...
read moreGasp Releases 175-Page Comment on ABC Coke Permit
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Gasp, a nonprofit health advocacy organization working for clean air in Alabama, has released a 175-page comment on the Title V operating permit draft for ABC Coke, which is currently up for renewal with the Jefferson County Department of Health...
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