Common Pleas Judge Judith L.A. Friedman today granted a preliminary injunction to prevent Allegheny County from disbursing $1.3 million for the demolition of 15 asbestos-containing blast furnaces at a former steel mill in Duquesne.

The Group Against Smog and Pollution this week filed a lawsuit against the county, its health department and others after the Board of Health approved the expenditure from the Clean Air Fund, which is made up of fines and penalites from air polluters.

Fund rules indicate grants are for projects that improve air quality or to further knowledge about air pollution, and not for economic development, GASP said.

Judge Friedman will decide whether a permanent injunction should be issued after a hearing on Feb. 1, according to GASP.