The agreement provides funding under inflation reduction act to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants of greatest concern in communities with environmental and health outcome disparities…

The agreement provides funding under inflation reduction act 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 clean air council seeks to develop and expand existing community-based air monitoring pilot projects in environmental justice communities along the industrialized i-95 corridor in delaware county and southwest philadelphia, PA. The council will also work in partnership with john hopkins university to analyze the air quality monitoring data, and compile a report for key stakeholders, including delaware county council, delaware county health department, philadelphia city council, and philadelphia department of public health. In addition to installing monitors throughout the impacted area, the council will work with community partners to launch community-based outreach and education programs. The council will support residents and key stakeholders in working collaboratively towards policy changes and enforcement actions that could reduce air pollution risk and improve public health outcomes. Activities:the activities that the clean air council will perform include developing and expanding community air monitoring projects, openly share the data, community outreach, and community education programs. The clean air council will work closely with john hopkins university and our community partners to install up to 60 low-cost air sensors (purpleair monitors) for PM and vocs at homes, businesses, and community hubs (e.g., libraries) throughout the area. The data from these PM/VOC monitors will be continuous and open source, available twenty-four hours a day in real time via a website and APP. In addition, the council will install approximately ten higher sensitivity unitec benzene monitors throughout the area to support the detection of plumes containing vocs and haps. The applicant will also work with community partners to create accessible data visualizations used for community outreach and education programs. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include developing and expanding community-based air monitoring by installing 60 outdoor PM/VOC monitors, enhancing community-informed tools and resources to visualize existing local air quality. The expected outcomes include the following: enhanced understanding of each community's concerns about specific pollutants and health issues; increased community knowledge of pollution impacts on public health and quality of life; understanding by local and state decision makers of the environmental health impacts of industrial facilities in delaware county and southwest philadelphia, and the need for additional protections for vulnerable communities; and increased monitoring of pollution incidents by agencies and enforcement actions taken as a result of community reporting about potential air pollution incidents. The intended beneficiaries are chester, marcus hook, trainer and eastwick residents who live near industrial pollution sources along the i-95 corridor in southeast pennsylvania. The open-source digestible air quality data visualizations and communications from this project will enhance residents' understanding of air pollution and support community organizing and advocacy efforts to reduce industrial pollution and improve public health.