Project Grant 98T62901

DESCRIPTION: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. THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FULL FEDERAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000. PRE-AWARD COSTS ARE APPROVED BACK TO JUNE 15, 2023.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. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL MAINTAIN, OPERATE, AND UPGRADE THE 'IDENTIFYING VIOLATIONS AFFECTING NEIGHBORHOODS' (IVAN) AIR REAL-TIME AIR MONITORING NETWORK, AND PROVIDE AIR QUALITY EDUCATION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AREAS OF IMPERIAL VALLEY, EASTERN COACHELLA VALLEY, SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, AND SAN FRANCISCO BAYVIEW HUNTERS POINT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPOSED TO BAD AIR QUALITY DAYS AND HIGH EPISODES OF PARTICULATE MATTER. SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDS WILL BE PROVIDED TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO MAINTAIN THEIR LOCAL NETWORKS. COSTS WILL INCLUDE STAFFING, MATERIALS, AND MILEAGE. OUTCOMES:EXPECTED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE DATA COLLECTED ACROSS THE NETWORK INTO THE IVAN DATABASE AND ON-SITE MONITORING EQUIPMENT. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: TASK FORCE PARTICIPATION, RESOLUTION OF AIR QUALITY ISSUES, COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP OF THE IVAN NETWORK THROUGH INVOLVEMENT AND ONGOING PARTICIPATION, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE IVAN PARTNERS. OPERATION OF PM 2.5 OR OTHER NAAQS POLLUTANTS AIR MONITORING IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL EPA REQUIREMENTS LEADING TO COLLECTION OF QUALITY ASSURED AMBIENT AIR QUALITY DATA TO HELP ENSURE THAT MORE AMERICANS ARE LIVING AND WORKING IN AREAS THAT MEET HIGH AIR QUALITY STANDARDS. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE COMMUNITY RESIDENTS WHO WILL HAVE DECREASED RISK OF ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS, INCLUDING CANCER AND NEUROLOGICAL EFFECTS.