Project Grant 96241922

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (ARP) FUNDED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ST. CROIX FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR A COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROJECT THAT WILL PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH DATA AND INFORMATION ON HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK AND RISK MITIGATION BEST PRACTICES. ALSO, WITH A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MARINE BIOLOGY PROGRAM AND ECO SCHOOL CLUB AT ST. CROIX CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, THE ECO SCHOOL CLUB AT THE ST. CROIX EDUCATIONAL COMPLEX AND UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS IN COOPERATION WITH CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ALBERT A. SHEEN CAMPUS IN ST. CROIX, THIS PROJECT WILL TRAIN STUDENTS FOR TO CONDUCT MONITORING, SAMPLE COLLECTION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL STATUTES CLEAN AIR ACT, SECTION 103(B)(3) AND CLEAN WATER ACT, SECTION 104(B)(3).ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL ESTABLISH AIR QUALITY-ASTHMA MONITORING SYSTEM AND SUPPORT THE ONGOING WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY STEERING COMMITTEE OF LOCAL COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AND CONCERNED RESIDENTS TO GUIDE PROJECT ACTIVITIES. ESTABLISH AN INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING NETWORK OF MONITORS THROUGHOUT THE TARGET AREAS OF THE ISLAND. THE PROJECT WILL DEVELOP AN AIR MONITORING PROGRAM THAT PRODUCES DATA THAT ARE SCIENTIFICALLY VALID AND USEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY. THE PROJECT WILL DETERMINE THE TECHNOLOGY TO BE USED BASED ON NEED, COSTS AND USER CAPACITY SUCH AS PURPLEAIR MONITORS, GRAB SAMPLES/BUCKET BRIGADE, FENCELINE MONITORING, TEMPORARY STATIONARY MONITORING, MOBILE MONITORING, OR A CAMN NETWORK. THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN REAL-TIME, LOCAL AIR QUALITY DATA THAT CAN ALSO BE USED IN SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS; EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY UTILIZING VARIOUS MEDIA INCLUDING PRINT, SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBSITE, PUBLISHING AND DISTRIBUTE PRINTED BROCHURES, AND TOWNHALL MEETINGS. THE LONG TERM GOAL IS TO ESTABLISH A NETWORK OF AIR MONITORS THAT ARE INSTALLED AT BUILDINGS OR OTHER SITES WITHIN THE SELECTED COMMUNITY. THE MONITORS CONTINUOUSLY MEASURE LEVELS OF SPECIFIC AIR POLLUTANTS AND SEND THAT INFORMATION OVER THE INTERNET TO A SERVER, WHERE THE DATA ARE STORED IN A DATABASE.SUBRECIPIENT:THE RECIPIENT INTENDS TO ISSUE SUBAWARD AGREEMENTS TO ITS PARTNERS IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPENDIX A OF EPA'S SUBAWARD POLICY. THE SUB-AWARDEES WILL PROVIDE COORDINATION FOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES, PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND LEAD THE AIR-MONITORING EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM. OUTCOMES:ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE REPORT AND TWO BROCHURES ON LOCAL AIR AND WATER QUALITY. EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT ARE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AIR QUALITY ORDINANCES AND POLICIES ENACTED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT; DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ASTHMA-RELATED HOSPITAL VISITS AMONG COMMUNITY RESIDENTS; AND AN INCREASE IN COMMUNITY DIALOGUE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT ARE PREDOMINANTLY RESIDENTS LOCATED IN LOW INCOME/HIGH DENSITY NEIGHBORHOODS OF ST. CROIX.