The agreement provides funding under the inflation reduction act (IRA) to washington department of ecology (wdoe) for the expansion and enhancement of their air monitoring activities

This Project Grant award of $1,450,547 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 under the CFDA Program 66.034 - Surveys, Studies, Research, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Special Purpose Activities Relating to the Clean Air Act provides funding to the Washington Department of Ecology (WDOE) to expand and enhance their air monitoring activities. Key deliverables include upgrading or replacing air monitoring equipment at 26 existing sites, adding 5 new multipollutant air monitoring sites, and developing SensWA sensors for enhanced wildfire smoke and emergency response. The award also provides sub-grants to several regional clean air agencies in Washington to install new PM2.5 monitoring sites, replace aging equipment, and upgrade monitoring infrastructure. The overall goal is to increase air quality monitoring capabilities, particularly in disadvantaged communities, and provide more comprehensive data to inform policy and decision-making.

Specifically, the recipient will: upgrade/replace air monitoring equipment, add several new air monitoring sites, upgrade/replace a monitoring site shelter and data acquisition system, and develop senswa sensors.activities:the activities include (bult not limited to): upgrade/replace monitoring site shelter, upgrade/replace air monitoring equipment and data acquisition system, add new ozone monitoring site at pasco WA, add new PM2.5 monitoring sites throughout WA, purchase equipment and supplies to support pams monitoring; the development of senswa sensors for enhanced wildfire smoke and emergency response; and purchase of AE33 aethalometer for lab support of black carbon monitoring.subrecipient:puget sound clean air agency (pscaa) will replace aging wind sensors and nephelometers; purchase and install a ceilometer at the bremerton monitoring site, and install a new PM2.5 monitoring site in kent. Spokane regional clean air agency (srcaa) will install a new liberty lake PM2.5 monitoring site; install anemometers at PM monitoring sites in spokane and spokane valley; and install new ceilometer in the spokane area. Northwest clean air agency (nwcaa ) will install new PM2.5 monitoring sites in friday harbor and OAK harbor. Olympic region clean air agency (orcaa) will replace monitoring shelter for the lacey-college ST site. Outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include increased sustainability of ambient air monitoring network; 5 new areas measuring air pollution; 5 new multipollutant air monitoring sites; new equipment deployed at 26 existing air monitoring sites; 27 existing air monitoring sites and equipment supported and upgraded; development of quality assurance/quality control documentation; completion of air monitoring related performance testing and/or audits. The expected outcomes include: increased disadvantaged communities monitored for air quality; increased public awareness of ambient air quality; increased access to information and tools that increase understanding and reduction of environmental and human health risks; information about air quality in previously unmonitored areas; increased sustainability of ambient air monitoring networks; informed policy and decision making by air agencies; change in behavior of public based on new air quality information; reduction of human exposure to certain air pollutant(s); publicly available air quality monitoring data for communities; benefits for disadvantaged communities. The intended beneficiaries are the residents throughout the state of washington.