The purpose of this competitively selected grant is to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in communities with environmental and health outcome disparities stemming from…

The City of Philadelphia's Air Management Services Division received a $389,206 Project Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Surveys, Studies, Research, Investigations, Demonstrations, and Special Purpose Activities Relating to the Clean Air Act (CFDA 66.034) program. The purpose of this grant is to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in three overburdened communities in Philadelphia near major emission sources like the former Philadelphia refinery complex, airport, storage tanks, and highways. Key activities include purchasing and deploying continuous air monitors, conducting sampling and data analysis, and producing reports to help strategize pollution reductions in these areas. The expected outcomes include improving understanding of prevalent air pollutants, recommending interventions to reduce exposure, and establishing trust and cooperation between the Air Management Services Division, local communities, and environmental groups. This 2-year project grant began on November 1, 2023.

The purpose of this competitively selected grant is to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in communities with environmental and health outcome disparities stemming from pollution and the covid-19 pandemic. The overall objective of this proposal is to deploy continuous air monitors at three neighborhoods in philadelphia, located in environmental justice (EJ) areas near major emission sources including the former philadelphia refinery complex, the philadelphia international airport, kinder morgan storage tanks, a US postal processing center, major highways (I-95, I-76, roosevelt blvd.), etc. The project will produce results to fill gaps of monitoring data in these areas and help strategizing pollution reductions in overburdened communities. Activities:these funds will be used to support community and local efforts to monitor their own air quality and to promote air quality monitoring partnerships between communities and tribal, state, and local governments that: leverage existing air quality expertise, expand use of community monitoring groups and other approaches that give the community a voice in the monitoring of the air quality, and build a foundation of trusting relationships and enhanced understanding from which sustainable solutions to community air pollution problems can be found. The activities that the applicant will perform include equipment purchase, testing, and training; site preparation, installation, and field testing; sampling; data assessments; and preliminary and final reports. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include the following: facilitate cooperation and information flow between communities, local environmental groups, and AMS; establish three stationary sites, plus a mobile monitoring platform, for PM2.5, NO2, O3 and vocs in overburdened community areas; address issues of inclusiveness and equality in air monitoring coverage; prepare assessment of overburdened communities' vulnerability to air pollutants; documentations and procedures for continuous and real-time air monitoring capabilities; and build capacity for AMS in human capital and equipment pertaining to air quality monitoring. The expected outcomes include the following: improve understanding of which air pollutants are prevalent in overburdened areas; recommend or conduct interventions to reduce air pollution exposure in the local community; establish trust and cooperation between AMS, local communities and environmental groups in EJ areas; build better understanding on citywide spatial and seasonal changes and patterns of pollutant concentrations; minimize air pollutants' disproportionate effect on overburdened and low-income communities; and assist new policy making efforts by providing timely and quality data to policy makers. The beneficiaries are residents in philadelphia, pennsylvania. Specifically residents living near the monitoring sites in the following overburdened communities: the nicetown neighborhood in north philadelphia (ZIP code 19140), the port richmond neighborhood, lower northeast section of philadelphia (ZIP code 19134), and the neighborhood near the former refinery complex in south philadelphia (ZIP code 19145).