The agreement provides funding under inflation reduction act to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in communities with environmental and health outcome disparities…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded a $472,656 Project Grant under the CFDA 66.034 "Surveys, Studies, Research, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Special Purpose Activities Relating to the Clean Air Act" program to the Black Parents United Foundation (BPUF) to conduct ambient air monitoring in vulnerable communities in Aurora, Colorado. The funding will support the establishment of a mobile air monitoring trailer to continuously track levels of ozone precursors, methane, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and other pollutants over a 1-1.4 year period. The data will be publicly reported on a website, and BPUF will hold community meetings to share findings and engage with local stakeholders. The project aims to increase awareness of the atmospheric impacts of oil and natural gas operations on air quality in environmental justice communities affected by pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agreement provides funding under inflation reduction act to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in communities with environmental and health outcome disparities stemming from pollution and the covid-19 pandemic. Black parents united foundation (BPUF) will monitor ozone precursors, methane, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOC), and other pollutants including radioactivity to understand the regional impacts of oil and natural gas drilling on vulnerable aurora communities. The air monitoring technical provider will be in communication with BPUF and all community partners throughout the study. A public website will present a project description, updates, tabulated and graphical display of data, and a communication link for citizens to submit inquiries. Open, BI-annual project update meetings, including presentation of preliminary results will be conducted by BPUF with the assistance and technical advice of its air monitoring and public health contractors will be held with all community partners, aurora elected officials and policymakers, and the public invited. Activities:the activities will be used to support community and local efforts to monitor their own air quality and to promote air quality monitoring partnerships between communities and tribal, state, and local governments that: leverage existing air quality expertise, expand use of community monitoring groups and other approaches that give the community a voice in the monitoring of the air quality, and build a foundation of trusting relationships and enhanced understanding from which sustainable solutions to community air pollution problems can be found. One mobile air monitoring trailer will be established and moved from site to site within the city for the duration of 1-1.4 years. The sites will be selected in areas of the city where people of color and low-income families live in greatest numbers. There will also be collection of meteorological data, including temperature, humidity, wind direction, and wind speed. All measurements will provide quality assured data. The monitoring will be fully automated, continuous, 24/7, and for 1-1.4 years. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include real time data from the mobile air monitor to be shared on a public website. This will be accomplished through high quality observations of atmospheric contaminants over a full annual cycle, interpretation of results, and a preliminary health impact assessment. The expected outcomes include detailed spatial and temporal characterization and interpretation of urban pollution resulting from oandng influences. The study will increase community awareness of atmospheric impacts of oil and natural gas on air quality. The intended beneficiaries include the community members in aurora, colorado.