For air quality monitoring in underserved areas, the New Mexico Energy Department and the Pueblo de San Ildefonso is receiving $545,099 in funds.
According to a Nov. 3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency news release, this is the largest investment in monitoring air quality in the history of the EPA.
“I’ve traveled across the country and visited communities who’ve suffered from unhealthy, polluted air for far too long. I pledged to change that by prioritizing underserved communities and ensuring they have the resources they need to confront longstanding pollution challenges,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in the release. “The air monitoring projects we are announcing today, which include the first EPA grants funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, will ensure dozens of overburdened communities have the tools they need to better understand air quality challenges in their neighborhoods and will help protect people from the dangers posed by air pollution.”
The New Mexico Energy Department is receiving $59,633 for monitoring pollutants in the Carlsbad area, as well as to study health impacts, the release reported. This data will help with reducing emissions.
According to the release, Pueblo de San Ildefonso will get $485,4666 for air monitor installation. This is to monitor pollutant levels, smoke and dust. Data will help so residents have minimum exposure to the pollutants.
These air pollution monitoring projects are through the $30 million provided in the Inflation Reduction Act, the release reported. This supplemented $20 million from the American Rescue Plan.
The grants are a part of the Justice40 Initiative and President Joe Biden’s executive order called Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. This involves 40% of benefits of various federal investments going to communities that have higher than normal health and environmental impacts, according to the release.
“We are pleased to award these grants to the state, local, Tribal agencies and community-based groups to monitor air pollution in their areas,” EPA Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance said in the release. “This funding will allow vulnerable communities to have better data on toxic pollutants and allows for development on community led strategies that achieve healthy air quality.”
