Project Grant 05D39025

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION PROVIDES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $170,000 TO THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY-DIVISION OF AIR QUALITY EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN FINE PARTICULATE MATTER (PM2.5) MONITORING NETWORKS IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO COLLECT QUALITY ASSURED DATA ON AMBIENT AIR CONCENTRATIONS OF PM2.5 AS WELL AS CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PRECURSORS. DATA WILL BE USED FOR: (1) PROVIDING AIR POLLUTION DATA TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN A TIMELY MANNER, (2) PM2.5 NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS (NAAQS) COMPARISONS, (3) DEVELOPMENT AND TRACKING OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS, (4) ASSESSMENTS OF REGIONAL HAZE, AND (5) ASSISTANCE FOR HEALTH STUDIES AND OTHER AMBIENT AEROSOL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. THE PM2.5 MONITORING NETWORK DESIGN ADDRESSES THESE FOUR PROGRAM OBJECTIVES THROUGH A COMBINATION OF SITING AND INSTRUMENTATION STRATEGIES.ACTIVITIES:THE RECIPIENT WILL COLLECT QUALITY ASSURED PM2.5 CONCENTRATIONS AND SUBMIT RESULTS TO UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPAS) NATIONAL AIR QUALITY DATABASE.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED SHORT-TERM OUTCOME FOR THIS PROJECT IS AN INCREASE IN THE KNOWLEDGE REGARDING THE CHARACTER AND EXTENT OF PM2.5 IN THE AMBIENT AIR. THE LONG-TERM OUTCOME, THROUGH THE EVENTUAL DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION OF THE STATE'S IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, IS REDUCED PM2.5 CONCENTRATIONS AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE PM2.5 NAAQS AS SET FORTH IN THE CLEAN AIR ACT. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS WHO WILL HAVE DECREASED RISK OF ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS, INCLUDING CANCER AND NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS.