Project Grant 02J68801

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO THE NEZ PERCE TRIBE FOR THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THEIR AIR MULIPOLLUTANT MONITORING ACTIVITIES. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL PARTICIPATE IN TWO NASA NETWORKS, THE PANDONIA GLOBAL NETWORK USES PANDORA SPECTROSCOPY TO MEASURE COLUMNAR AMOUNTS OF TRACE GASES (LIKE OZONE AND FORMALDEHYDE) IN THE ATMOSPHERE, AND THE AERONET (AEROSOL ROBOTIC NETWORK) WHICH IS A GROUND-BASED REMOTE SENSING AEROSOL NETWORK. A MAJOR CONSTITUENT OF THESE AEROSOLS IS THE CRITERIA POLLUTANT PARTICULATE MATTER. PARTICIPATING IN THESE NETWORKS WILL BENEFIT THE USERS OF THE DATA PRODUCTS, BUILD TRIBAL CAPACITY, AND INCREASE SPATIAL COVERAGE OF AIR QUALITY MEASUREMENTS. FUNDING WILL ALSO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION IN SKY QUALITY MONITORING (UNIHEDRON SKY QUALITY SENSOR), ANOTHER GLOBAL NETWORK THAT AIMS TO RESTORE THE NIGHTTIME ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF LIGHT POLLUTION THROUGH OUTREACH, ADVOCACY, AND CONSERVATION. LIGHT POLLUTION DISRUPTS WILDLIFE, IMPACTS HUMAN HEALTH, WASTES MONEY AND ENERGY, CONTRIBUTES TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AND BLOCKS OUR VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE. CULTURAL CONNECTION TO THE NIGHT SKY AND STORIES WILL BE MAINTAINED. CAMERAS PURCHASED THROUGH THIS GRANT WILL BE USED TO VISUALIZE SMOKE FROM ALL SOURCES, ESPECIALLY SMOKE FROM AGRICULTURAL BURNING AND PRESCRIBED FORESTRY BURNING. THE OUTCOME IS TO IMPROVE OUR SMOKE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO MINIMIZE HEALTH IMPACTS FROM SMOKE TO HUMANS. FUNDING WILL ALSO SUPPORT POLLEN MONITORING. EXPECTED OUTPUT IS A DAILY POLLEN FORECAST AND EXPECTED OUTCOME IS BETTER HEALTH FROM AWARENESS OF ALLERGENS. THE COMMITMENTS IN THIS WORKPLAN SUPPORT FY 2022-2026 EPA STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL 4 ENSURE CLEAN AND HEALTHY AIR FOR ALL COMMUNITIES ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN TWO NASA NETWORKS, THE PANDONIA GLOBAL NETWORK WHICH USES PANDORA SPECTROSCOPY TO MEASURE COLUMNAR AMOUNTS OF TRACE GASES (LIKE OZONE AND FORMALDEHYDE) IN THE ATMOSPHERE, AND THE AERONET (AEROSOL ROBOTIC NETWORK) WHICH IS A GROUND-BASED REMOTE SENSING AEROSOL NETWORK FUNDING WILL ALSO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION IN SKY QUALITY MONITORING (UNIHEDRON SKY QUALITY SENSOR), ANOTHER GLOBAL NETWORK THAT AIMS TO RESTORE THE NIGHTTIME ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECT COMMUNITIES FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF LIGHT POLLUTION THROUGH OUTREACH, ADVOCACY, AND CONSERVATION. CAMERAS WILL BE PURCHASED THROUGH THIS GRANT TO VISUALIZE SMOKE FROM ALL SOURCES, ESPECIALLY SMOKE FROM AGRICULTURAL BURNING AND PRESCRIBED FORESTRY BURNING. FINALLY, FUNDING WILL ALSO SUPPORT POLLEN MONITORING. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE NEW EQUIPMENT DEPLOYED AT EXISTING AIR MONITORING SITES. THE PAN GLOBAL AND AERONET PROJECT WILL OCCUR AT THE LAPWAI, ID, SITE. THE UNIHEDRON SKY QUALITY MONITORING WILL OCCUR AT THE LAPWAI, KAMIAH, AND WINCHESTER SITES. THE VISIBILITY CAMERAS WILL BE PLACED AT THE LAPWAI, KAMIAH, CRAIGMONT, AND NEZPERCE SITES AND THE POLLEN MONITORING WILL OCCUR AT THE LAPWAI SITE. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION; INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF AMBIENT AIR QUALITY; INCREASED ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND TOOLS THAT INCREASE UNDERSTANDING AND REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RISKS; INFORMED POLICY AND DECISION MAKING BY AIR AGENCIES; CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR OF PUBLIC BASED ON NEW AIR QUALITY INFORMATION; PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AIR QUALITY MONITORING DATA FOR COMMUNITIES; AND BENEFITS FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. PARTICIPATING IN THE NASA NETWORKS WILL BENEFIT THE USERS OF THE DATA PRODUCTS, BUILD TRIBAL CAPACITY, AND INCREASE SPATIAL COVERAGE OF AIR QUALITY MEASUREMENTS. MONITORING NIGHT SKY VISIBILITY WILL HELP ENSURE CULTURAL CONNECTION TO THE NIGHT SKY AND STORIES WILL BE MAINTAINED. CAMERAS PURCHASED TO MONITOR SMOKE WILL IMPROVE THE SMOKE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO MINIMIZE HEALTH IMPACTS FROM SMOKE TO HUMANS. FINALLY ADDING POLLEN MONIT