Formula Grant 97T15701

This is a $136,130 Formula Grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the "Training, Investigations, and Special Purpose Activities of Federally-Recognized Indian Tribes Consistent With the Clean Air Act (CAA), Tribal Sovereignty and the Protection and Management of Air Quality" program (CFDA 66.038). The purpose of this grant is to build the capacity of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians tribe to assess air quality conditions and develop strategies to address air quality issues on the tribal lands.

The key activities to be delivered under this one-year grant, which runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, include: strategic planning and evaluation, compliance assistance, reservation-wide air emissions monitoring, developing an air regulatory program, providing community education and outreach, and participating in regional and national initiatives to improve air quality. The expected deliverables include collecting air quality data and submitting results to the EPA's National Air Quality Database, as well as establishing programs to address the attainment and maintenance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and mitigate immediate and emerging threats to public health and welfare from air pollution. The direct beneficiaries of this program are residents of the Torres Martinez area who will have decreased exposure to criteria and hazardous air pollutants.