Project Grant 96265700

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION FOR THE EXPANSION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THEIR AIR MONITORING ACTIVITIES. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL PROCURE EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES, AND SITE MAINTENANCE FOR EXISTING AIR MONITORING SITES AND IMPLEMENT AIR TOXICS STUDIES IN FOUR COMMUNITIES.ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE THE PROCUREMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF CALIBRATION EQUIPMENT AND AETHALOMETERS FOR USE AT EXISTING AIR MONITORING SITES. A SUBAWARD WILL BE MADE TO RUTGERS UNIVERSITY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE AIR MONITORING SITE MAINTENANCE AND METEOROLOGICAL EQUIPMENT AUDITING. NJDEP WILL, THROUGH A CONTRACT, PERFORM AN AIR TOXIC MONITORING PROJECT IN SEVERAL OVERBURDENED COMMUNITIES.SUBRECIPIENT:RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WILL PROVIDE ACCESS AND MAINTENANCE TO THE NJDEP SITE LOCATED ON THE COOK COLLEGE CAMPUS. FOR THE METEOROLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS PERFORMED AT THE SITE, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WILL PERFORM AUDITS, SUBMIT QUARTERLY REPORTS, SUBMIT METEOROLOGICAL DATA TO EPA'S AIR QUALITY SYSTEM (AQS), AND SUBMIT A FINAL REPORT FOR THE SUBAWARD PORTION OF THIS AGREEMENT. OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE REPORTS ON EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES PROCUREMENT, AUDITS, AND AIR TOXIC PROJECT. NJDEP WILL PROCURE AND INSTALL MULTIGAS CALIBRATORS, OZONE CALIBRATORS AND AETHALOMETERS. THE METEOROLOGICAL PARAMETERS AT THE PHOTOCHEMICAL AIR MONITORING SITE AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WILL BE AUDITED AND CALIBRATED. AN AIR TOXICS PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED IN OVERBURDENED COMMUNITIES. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES MONITORED FOR AIR QUALITY; INCREASED SUSTAINABILITY OF AMBIENT AIR MONITORING NETWORKS; AND THE MONITORING OF ADDITIONAL POLLUTANTS RELATED TO DIESEL EXHAUST AND WILDFIRES. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, AND THOSE WHO WORK INVOLVES AIR QUALITY DATA.