Group Against Smog and Pollution (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

The Group Against Smog and Pollution, GASP, was a Pittsburgh and Allegheny County area citizens action group founded in 1969. Membership in this group was not limited to professionals such as scientists, doctors, lawyers, and teachers but included housewives and anyone interested in their health. In order to meet the organization's goal of preventing and reducing the existing forms of ecological degradation, Mrs. Michelle Madoff, the organization founder, used a number of acting standing committees in the medical, legal, scientific, and water and air pollution areas. These groups took legal action, wrote medical opinions, and kept an eye on major polluters of the area. They were very active in attending and testifying at hearings and it was due to their participation that many laws were changed. Many of the laws accepted by the Allegheny County Commissioners were written by committee members and became the toughest laws in the country for pollution.