The purpose of this american rescue plan funded grant is to allow the mescalero apache tribe to address covid pandemic impacted participation under this environmental justice small grant funded…

The purpose of this american rescue plan funded grant is to allow the mescalero apache tribe to address covid pandemic impacted participation under this environmental justice small grant funded under the american rescue plan. The tribe's project focuses on air quality impacts from wild fire smoke and particulate matter that impacts tribal and community member health, especially lung disease and asthma rates. The project provides outreach and education to the community in partnership with the mescalero high school community. The high school students, along with the mescalero apache environmental director, will develop a quality assurance (QA) project plan to place and operate purple air sensors in and around the community to monitor air quality. The environmental data gathered under the QA plan will be be uploaded to a website for local use on poor air quality days. Tribal and community members will be able to check air quality in real time, daily, in order to plan to stay in doors on poor air quality days to protect public health. 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 CAA 103(b)(3) projects, the chances of severe illness from covid-19 are reduced.activities:the project activities include education and outreach on air quality and public health impacts from wildfire smoke. The project involves collecting environmental air quality data and a quality assurance project plan (qapp) will be drafted and submitted to the EPA for approval prior to air sensor purchase or air monitoring activities implemented. The project involves partnership with the local high school students for broader outreach and science, technology, engineering, and math (stem) educational support. The project will be foundational to assist the mescalero apache tribe with developing an air quality monitoring program. The project will help break down public participation barriers that increased due to covid pandemic shut downs and isolation. Website access for air quality status will be created and shared with the community. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:members of the mescalero apache tribe and community surrounding the reservation will be the primary beneficiaries of the project. The anticipated deliverables include an approved quality assurance project plan for air quality monitoring using purple air sensors. The project deliverables include purchase and installation of air sensors around the community. The project outcomes include air quality monitoring and website data hosting for the sensors. The project outcomes include increased public participation for all community and tribal members to understand air quality impacts from increased wildfire smoke and particulate matter.