Project Grant 98T59801

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO MAINTAIN FINE PARTICULATE MATTER (PM2.5) MONITORING NETWORKS. THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO COLLECT QUALITY ASSURED DATA ON AMBIENT AIR CONCENTRATIONS OF PM2.5 AS WELL AS CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PRECURSORS. DATA WILL BE USED FOR: (1) PROVIDING AIR POLLUTION DATA TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN A TIMELY MANNER, (2) PM2.5 NATIONAL AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STANDARDS (NAAQS) COMPARISONS, (3) DEVELOPMENT AND TRACKING OF IMPLEMENTATION PLANS, (4) ASSESSMENTS OF REGIONAL HAZE, AND (5) ASSISTANCE FOR HEALTH STUDIES AND OTHER AMBIENT AEROSOL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES. THE PM2.5 MONITORING NETWORK DESIGN ADDRESSES THESE FOUR PROGRAM OBJECTIVES THROUGH A COMBINATION OF SITING AND INSTRUMENTATION STRATEGIES. THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FULL FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $574,481, OF WHICH $38,000 IS SET ASIDE FOR EPA IN-KIND SERVICES. PRE-AWARD COSTS ARE APPROVED BACK TO 4/1/2023.ACTIVITIES:THE RECIPIENT WILL PASSTHROUGH FUNDING TO COLLECT QUALITY ASSURED PM2.5 CONCENTRATIONS AND SUBMIT RESULTS TO EPA'S NATIONAL AIR QUALITY DATABASE. IN ADDITION, THIS GRANT INCLUDES FUNDING FOR SMALLER DISTRICTS TO ATTEND THE 2024 PRIMARY QUALITY ASSURANCE ORGANIZATION (PQAO) TRAINING CONDUCTED BY THE CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD.SUBRECIPIENT:CALIFORNIA AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (CAPCOA) WILL PASSTHROUGH FUNDING TO SMALL AIR DISTRICTS TO IMPLEMENT AIR POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED SHORT-TERM OUTCOME FOR THIS PROJECT IS AN INCREASE IN THE KNOWLEDGE REGARDING THE CHARACTER AND EXTENT OF PM2.5 IN THE AMBIENT AIR. THE LONG-TERM OUTCOME, THROUGH THE EVENTUAL DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION OF THE STATE'S IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, IS REDUCED PM2.5 CONCENTRATIONS AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE PM2.5 NAAQS AS SET FORTH IN THE CLEAN AIR ACT. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE STATE RESIDENTS WHO WILL HAVE DECREASED RISK OF ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS, INCLUDING CANCER AND NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS.