Pittsburgh braces for waves of demonstrations, marches on EPA rules

Downtown traffic could snarl by midday Thursday when thousands of miners and their union allies are poised to march in Pittsburgh's streets in opposition to a federal plan to limit carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants.

The march is timed to coincide with the first day of the Environmental Protection Agency's two-day public hearing on its Clean Power Plan in the William S. Moorhead Federal Building. The proposal to limit carbon emissions has triggered impassioned national debate between the energy sector and environmentalists over retaining jobs and addressing pollution.

Groups on both sides plan large-scale events to drive home their messages.

Just as thousands of commuters settle into their workdays, as many as 5,000 members and supporters of the United Mine Workers of America will arrive on charter buses about 11 a.m. and gather at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center for a rally. About noon, the group will start walking to the federal building.

City officials agreed to block streets to vehicular traffic to accommodate marchers.

Tim McNulty, spokesman for Mayor Bill Peduto, said Downtown workers, residents and drivers should be “prepared for heavy traffic disruption.” Some parking spots may be unavailable, McNulty said, though he could not cite numbers or locations.

On any given day, at least 113,110 people work Downtown, though the actual number of commuters is much greater because of business meetings, consumers, students and event attendees, the Downtown Pittsburgh Partnership said. They utilize many of the 28,500 parking spaces Downtown.

At the August Wilson Center, Downtown, environmental advocacy groups PennFuture, the Sierra Club and others will rally at 11 a.m. in support of the EPA proposal. They say carbon pollution damages the environment and public health. Event organizers expect hundreds to attend. Peduto is one of several scheduled speakers.

Those touting coal as an essential fuel for jobs, industries and the electricity that powers everyday life began assembling on Wednesday.

“We need you to convince the people in Washington that we truly need an all-of-the-above — and below-the-ground — philosophy when it comes to energy,” Gov. Tom Corbett told a crowd of about 500 at a four-hour event defending “coal country” at Highmark Stadium in the South Side.

Organized by the Pennsylvania Coal Alliance and other groups, the rally drew West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Ohio Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.

The UMW obtained a special-event permit for Thursday's march, city officials said.

The union's spokesman, Phil Smith, said the group includes 70 buses of members who began arriving on Wednesday evening from Midwest states and Alabama. Most were staying outside of the city, he said. More protesters from West Virginia and Ohio were scheduled to arrive on Thursday.

During the march, buses will wait at a large parking lot in the Hill District before incrementally heading back to the convention center, Smith said.

The march will snake down Penn Avenue and onto Ninth Street, then up Liberty Avenue toward the federal building via Seventh and Grant streets. After a brief demonstration, protesters are expected to head back to the convention center on Tenth Street.

McNulty said police will monitor events to “ensure that protesters and members of the public are safe.” He would not say how many officers will be patrolling, but emphasized that the city has prepared to handle the demonstrations.

“The city has a long history of hosting rallies and protests, and we don't shy away from that,” he said. “In fact, we welcome it.”

Paul Lazzaro, an owner of Monte Cello Restaurant along the march route, was unaware of the plans. He wasn't too worried about a traffic jam because most lunchtime business comes from pedestrians.

“These things have happened in the past,” Lazzaro said. “Everybody was outside with plaques and signs. Then they put their signs away and came to eat.”

Melissa Daniels is a Trib Total Media staff writer. Reach her at 412-380-8511 or mdaniels@tribweb.com. Staff writer Alex Nixon contributed to this report.