Project Grant 00A01601

DESCRIPTION:THE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (MASSDEP) FOR THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THEIR AIR MONITORING ACTIVITIES. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL ENHANCE AIR MONITORING OF NATIONAL AIR TOXICS TREND STATIONS (NATTS) AND NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARD (NAAQS) POLLUTANTS IN OR NEAR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (EJ) POPULATIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE INITIATING PROCUREMENT REQUESTS FOR ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT; PURCHASING THE AIR MONITORING EQUIPMENT TO EITHER REPLACE OUTDATED EQUIPMENT AND SHELTERS OR PURCHASE A NEW FINE PARTICULATE MONITOR IN THE WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS (MA)-CONNECTICUT (CT) METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA), VERIFYING FUNCTIONALITY OF EQUIPMENT, AND SETTING UP AND INSTALLING EQUIPMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER AFTER FOLLOWING EXISTING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND OTHER NECESSARY QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL DOCUMENTATION; ESTABLISHING A NEW MULTIPOLLUTANT AIR MONITORING SITE IN A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED ON THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES MAP; DEVELOPING A STATE-WIDE USER-FRIENDLY DASHBOARD FOR DATA VISUALIZATION OF AIR MONITORING DATA; AND REPORTING ON PROGRESS ON A SEMI-ANNUAL BASIS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE: - NUMBER OF NEW MONITORS DEPLOYED AND MEASURING AIR POLLUTION - NUMBER OF SHELTERS REPLACED - NUMBER OF NEW MULTIPOLLUTANT AIR MONITORING SITES IN A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY - NUMBER OF NEW EQUIPMENT DEPLOYED AT EXISTING AIR MONITORING SITES - REPORTING ON THE DRAW-DOWN OF FEDERAL FUNDS UPON DELIVERY AND ACCEPTANCE OF GRANT-FUNDED EQUIPMENT. - DEVELOPMENT OF A STATE-WIDE USER-FRIENDLY DASHBOARD FOR DATA VISUALIZATION OF AIR MONITORING DATA. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE: - INCREASED COLLECTION OF QUALITY ASSURED AMBIENT AIR QUALITY DATA TO HELP ENSURE THAT DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND ALL MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS ARE LIVING AND WORKING IN AREAS THAT MEET AIR QUALITY STANDARDS - BRING WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS (MA)-CONNECTICUT (CT) METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA) IN COMPLIANCE WITH REVISIONS TO THE FINE PARTICULATE MONITORING NETWORK DESIGN CRITERIA, WHICH REQUIRES AN ADDITIONAL FINE PARTICULATE MONITOR IN THE WORCESTER MASSACHUSETTS (MA)-CONNECTICUT (CT) METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA) - INCREASED ACCESS TO AIR QUALITY DATA AND TOOLS THAT INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AND REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RISKS - RAISE AWARENESS AND INFORM MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, OF THEIR LOCAL AIR QUALITY - INCREASED SUSTAINABILITY OF MASSACHUSETTS' DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION'S AMBIENT AIR MONITORING NETWORKS - INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF AIR QUALITY DATA IN UNMONITORED DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION'S STAFF AND RESIDENTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, INCLUDING THE RESIDENTS IN OR NEAR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES WHERE SHELTERS ARE BEING REPLACED AND WHERE AIR MONITORING IS BEING CONDUCTED.