Roger Westman, longtime manager of the Allegheny County Health Department's Air Quality Program, has been forced out of his job, a move that environmental groups say will weaken the office.

Mr. Westman, 62, has worked in the program for 34 years and has been its chief for the past 12 years. He confirmed yesterday that he would retire Feb. 27.

He was told Wednesday by the health department's executive director, Dr. Bruce Dixon, that County Manager Jim Flynn Jr. had decided to remove him as the air program's manager of daily operations. Neither Dr. Dixon nor Mr. Flynn could be reached for comment.

Mr. Westman has earned high marks from state and federal agencies, industry, and health and environmental groups.

But over the past year, Mr. Flynn and County Chief Executive Dan Onorato have criticized the program for what they saw as slowness in granting operating permits to industry.

Mr. Onorato's office confirmed in November that it was considering transferring operation of the program to the state, and Kevin Evanto, Mr. Onorato's spokesman, said that the office was nearing the end of a full-scale review of the air program and its permitting process.

"The chief executive's office has received push-back on the concept of moving the program to the state, so it appears that the new plan is to just manipulate the system from within, by micromanaging every aspect of the program," said Rachel Filippini, executive director of the Group Against Smog and Pollution, a local clean air advocacy group.

"It's a shame that political interference trumps the efforts of a program dedicated to cleaning the air. We are very sorry to see Roger Westman go. We believe that he truly had the interests of Allegheny County residents at heart."

His departure occurs as the air program is working on one of its most complicated permit applications -- the planned $1 billion upgrade of U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works, one of the biggest air pollution sources in the county.

"I'm really disappointed Mr. Westman is leaving. It's a big loss for the health department," said Kathy Lawson, Western Pennsylvania director of Clean Water Action. "I hope whoever replaces him is someone who cares as much about the air quality of the county."

Jim Thompson, the air program's chief enforcement officer, has temporarily been put in charge of day-to-day operations.

Mr. Thompson was hired after a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency audit criticized the program for lax enforcement. Since he was hired in December 2003, enforcement fines and penalties have increased.

Prior to working for the county, Mr. Thompson, an engineer, was employed by Sunoco Chemicals Inc., which took over operation of Aristech Chemical Corp. in Clairton. Aristech was a spin-off company created in 1990 from a U.S. Steel Co subsidiary.

Paul King, chairman of the Allegheny County Board of Health, praised Mr. Westman's tenure and defended the county's decision to appoint Mr. Thompson to run a program that will oversee the environmental compliance of companies for which he once worked.

"I think he's up to the challenge and will pick up where Roger left off," Mr. King said. "Based on his last four years and his performance on the job, I'm not at all concerned. He's done an excellent job."