The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act to the mille lacs band of ojibwe for the expansion and enhancement of their air monitoring activities

This Project Grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 under the CFDA Program 66.034 - Surveys, Studies, Research, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Special Purpose Activities Relating to the Clean Air Act provides $105,000.00 in funding to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe to expand and enhance their air monitoring activities.

The key products and services to be delivered under this grant include: 1) Upgrading aging ozone sampling equipment at the tribe's existing air quality monitoring site, and 2) Establishing a new monitoring site to sample for black carbon particulate matter. These activities will enable the Mille Lacs Band to establish baseline data on black carbon levels within their airshed, quantify the impact of wildfire smoke, and inform policy decisions to reduce human exposure to these pollutants in the disadvantaged communities on the Mille Lacs Reservation. The grant term runs from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2029.

Specifically, the recipient will replace aging monitoring equipment and establish a new air quality monitoring site.activities:these activities include upgrading aging ozone sampling equipment and establishing a new monitoring site to sample for black carbon particulate matter. These data will enable mille lacs to establish the background carbon load in the air and quantify the black carbon load due to wildfire smoke. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include establishment of a new carbon black particulate matter monitoring site and upgrading its aging ozone analyzer and related equipment at its current ozone site. The expected outcomes include collection of baseline data for a previously unsampled pollutant, carbon black particulate matter, in a currently unmonitored area within a disadvantaged service district on the mille lacs reservation. These data will inform policy decisions to reduce human exposure to these pollutants within the mille lacs airshed, and improve the tribal community's awareness of ambient air quality issues. The intended beneficiaries include the residents of the mille lacs reservation and members of the surrounding disadvantaged communities.