The purpose of this environmental justice and american rescue plan funded small grant is to educate community members near refineries and petrochemical facilities, particularly those communities where…

The purpose of this environmental justice and american rescue plan funded small grant is to educate community members near refineries and petrochemical facilities, particularly those communities where covid-19 fatalities have been disproportionately high, about available air quality information, including its connection to covid-19 morbidity and greenhouse gas emissions. Project activities include engaging and training 20-30 residents per parish over three parishes to become aware of air quality via air sampling and reports to the louisiana department of environmental quality (LDEQ) hotline; synthesizing data, including demographics, covid-19 rates, and emissions information; and compiling incident data into a report to understand the frequency of incidents and their connection with bad weather events.activities:project activities include engaging and training 20-30 residents per parish over three parishes to become aware of air quality via air sampling and reports to the louisiana department of environmental quality (LDEQ) hotline; synthesizing data, including demographics, covid-19 rates, and emissions information; and compiling incident data into a report to understand the frequency of incidents and their connection with bad weather events. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:anticipated deliverables include 20-30 residents per parish over three parishes trained on air quality sampling and a completed report on air incident data . Expected outcomes include increased community awareness about greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, and respiratory illnesses, such as covid-19, and community-generated documentation of air quality and industry incidents that is shared with governmental agencies. People with moderate-to-severe or uncontrolled asthma are more likely to be hospitalized from covid-19. Air pollution may contribute to asthma. By addressing air pollution in clean air act (CAA) 103(B)(3) projects, the chances of severe illness from covid-19 are reduced. Direct beneficiaries are residents of the ST. John, ST. James, and caddo parishes in louisiana.