Clean air advocacy can take many different forms. So far this year, GASP has engaged in organizing community meetings, speaking at City Hall, and providing resources for public commenting on permits. This time, we’re sharing a new way to report pollution. We’re hosting another Smoke School and getting certified!
Smoke School is one of the most hands-on ways community members can get involved in protecting the air we breathe. The training teaches participants how to evaluate the opacity of visible emissions coming from smokestacks and other industrial sources. Opacity refers to how much light is blocked by smoke or particulate matter. By learning to read these plumes, participants can determine whether emissions may be exceeding legal limits.
Brad Singleton, Singleton Smoke School Facilitator
Learning the Science of Smoke
Led by Singleton Smoke School, Brad Singleton will guide participants through an EPA Method 9 visible emissions evaluation. Attendees will learn how to identify different levels of smoke opacity and understand how those observations can be used to document potential violations.
This is a vital skill to have In Birmingham, where neighborhoods have long lived alongside heavy industry, residents often witness pollution in real time. Smoke School can give community members the knowledge and confidence to interpret what they see and take meaningful action when something doesn’t look right.
Hands-On Training in the Field
Attendees Test Smoke Opacity Skills
During the field portion of the training, participants will practice evaluating smoke generated by specialized equipment designed to simulate different opacity levels. These exercises test each person’s ability to visually estimate how dense a plume is and determine whether it falls within regulatory limits.
It takes focus and practice, but the moment when everything clicks is unforgettable. Smoke School is for the community and supported by it. We want to ensure that every participant walks away knowledgable, confident, and certified. Expect community support that brings you together with other activists learning how to read smoke plumes.
Regulatory inspectors cannot be everywhere at once. When community members understand how to recognize visible emissions, they become an important part of ensuring accountability and protecting public health.
Building a Community of Watchful Advocates
GASP 2025 team at Smoke School
One of the most inspiring parts of Smoke School is the mix of people who attend. Advocates, environmental professionals, attorneys, and community members all come together with the same goal: cleaner air for Birmingham.
By the end of the day, participants leave with new knowledge, new connections, and in many cases a certification that allows them to conduct official visible emissions observations.
Most importantly, they leave knowing that their role in the fight for environmental justice just became a little more powerful.
Why Smoke School Matters
Smoke School is a key part of GASP’s community science work. By equipping residents with technical skills, Smoke School helps bridge the gap between lived experience and environmental enforcement. It transforms concern into action.
When communities know how to identify pollution, they are better positioned to hold polluters accountable and advocate for stronger protections
Smoke School is April 8th, 2026 from 7:30 AM – 2:00pm. Registration is required! Please fill out the application form below. If you want more information about what you will learn, please consider joining us for our Smoke School Orientation April 1st via zoom. Please reach out to Barbara Jackson at [email protected] for any questions.
