Clean Air Council

DESCRIPTION:THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO THE CLEAN AIR COUNCIL. SPECIFICALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL USE THESE FUNDS TO WORK WITH AIR MONITORING PROFESSIONALS, PUBLIC HEALTH ACADEMICS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSES REAL-TIME AIR POLLUTION TRENDS FROM THE DELAWARE CITY REFINERY (DCR). IN COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, PROJECT PARTNERS WILL ANALYZE THIS DATA TO IDENTIFY IMPACTS OF REFINERY POLLUTION ON RESIDENTS' HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE AND IDENTIFY PUBLIC HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS LIKELY TO RESULT FROM REDUCED POLLUTION FROM THE DCR. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO CREATE A NETWORK OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO PREPARE IMPACTED RESIDENTS FOR POTENTIAL INCIDENTS AT THE DCR, SUCH AS ACCIDENTAL FIRES AND DANGEROUS SHORT-TERM AIR POLLUTION. THIS PROJECT, VIA EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, AIR MONITORING, AND DATA ANALYSIS, WILL INFLUENCE THE NEXT ITERATION OF THE DCR'S AIR POLLUTION PERMITS BY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS OF POLLUTION REDUCTIONS IDENTIFIED AS A PART OF THIS PROJECT.ACTIVITIES:THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: 1) TRAINING OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS , MONITORING OF AIR QUALITY, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PLANS; 2) COMMUNITY-LED AIR POLLUTION MONITORING, PREVENTION, AND REMEDIATION TO HELP REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND OTHER AIR POLLUTANTS; 3) ENGAGEMENT OF DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN STATE AND FEDERAL ADVISORY GROUPS, PUBLIC COMMUNITY MEETINGS, RULEMAKINGS, AND OTHER PUBLIC PROCESSES; 4) MONITORING THE HAZARDS POSED BY REFINERY POLLUTION, INCLUDING ACCIDENTS AND OTHER UNPERMITTED RELEASES, BY COMBINING DATA WITH COMMUNITY ADVOCACY; 5) PILOTING OF REAL-TIME, FENCE-LINE MONITORING THAT WILL USE OPTICAL OPEN PATH SENSORS TO MEASURE CONCENTRATIONS OF BENZENE, TOLUENE, ETHYLBENZENE, XYLENES, NAPHTHALENE, AMMONIA, AND SULFUR DIOXIDE IN 5-MINUTE INTERVALS; AND 6) EQUIPPING INDIVIDUALS LIVING NEAR DCR TO REPORT ODORS AND HEALTH SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM IN REAL TIME. THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS CAN LEARN ABOUT HOW TO REDUCE THEIR OVERALL RISK FOR RESPIRATORY ISSUES, CANCER, AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN THE PROJECT AREA.SUBRECIPIENT:THIS PROJECT INCLUDES TWO SUBAWARDS. ONE SUBAWARD FOR $84,000 WILL BE AWARDED TO DREXEL UNIVERSITY'S, DR. GWEN OTTINGER AND HER STUDENTS. TOGETHER THEY WILL MAKE REAL-TIME DATA AVAILABLE, COORDINATE COMMUNITY MONITORING ACTIVITIES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO REPORTS. THE SECOND SUBAWARD WILL BE AWARDED FOR $148,000 TO COMMUNITY HOUSING AND EMPOWERMENT CONNECTIONS INC. THIS SUBAWARD WILL ESTABLISH A LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUP DEDICATED TO PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH IN NEIGHBORHOODS IMPACTED BY THE DELAWARE CITY REFINERY. THE RESIDENTS WILL LEARN HOW TO USE THE AIR QUALITY DATA COLLECTED WITHIN THIS PROJECT TO ADVOCATE TO LOCAL AND STATE DECISION MAKERS FOR MORE PROTECTIVE POLICIES AND MITIGATION MEASURES TO REDUCE THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION ON PUBLIC HEALTH. OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES ARE: 1) CREATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD AND HEALTH QUESTIONNAIRE. 2) SUBMISSION OF QUARTERLY REPORTS 3) CREATION OF CUSTOM BRANDED, RESIDENT-LED OUTREACH TEAM; 4) CREATION OF EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY HAZARDS AND HEALTH; AND 4) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TWO WORKING GROUPS TO INFLUENCE LOCAL DECISION MAKING AND MONITOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES ARE: 1) THE INSTALLATION OF UV DOAS AIR MONITORS IN THREE NEIGHBORHOODS; 2) CREATION OF A NEW COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS ENGAGED IN ADDRESSING AIR POLLUTION CONCERNS FROM THE DCR THROUGH LEVERAGING AIR MONITORING DATA AND CROWD-SOURCED INFORMATION; 3) ENHANCED UNDERSTANDING AND IDENTIFICATION OF EACH COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS ABOUT SPECIFIC POLLUTANTS AND HEALTH ISSUES; 4) REDUCTIONS IN AIR POLLUTION REQUIRED BY AN UPDATED AIR POLLUTION PERMIT AT THE DCR AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH-RELATED DECISIONS, AS A RESULT OF INCREASED PUBLIC ENGA

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA). EPA'S CONSUMER RECYCLING EDUCATION AND OUTREACH (REO) GRANT PROGRAM WILL FUND A RANGE OF PROJECTS THAT WILL INCREASE WASTE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES, INCREASE THE COLLECTION OF RECYCLABLE MATERIALS AND PROGRAM PARTICIPATION RATES, AND DECREASE CONTAMINATION OF THE RECYCLING STREAM, FUND PROJECTS THAT FOCUS ON COMMONLY RECYCLED MATERIALS SUCH AS MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (E.G., PLASTICS, ALUMINUM, PAPER, GLASS, ETC.), INCLUDING FOOD WASTE AND ORGANICS, AND/OR FUND PROJECTS AND PROVIDE TOOLS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THAT WILL LEAD TO LONG-TERM, SUSTAINED CHANGE, BENEFITS, AND SUPPORT BEYOND THE LIFE OF THE GRANT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS TO ENHANCE THE CLEAN AIR COUNCIL'S EFFORTS TO MEET THE REO GRANTS ELEMENTS. SPECIFICALLY, THE COUNCIL WILL WORK WITH INTERESTED RESIDENTS IN BRADDOCK, CLAIRTON, AND SWISSVALE, PA TO DEVELOP COMPOSTING SYSTEMS AT THE BACKYARD AND COMMUNITY LEVELS. THE COUNCIL WILL COLLABORATE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO DEVELOP AN OUTREACH APPROACH, DESIGN PUBLIC OUTREACH MATERIALS AND EVENTS, HOLD PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENTS TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ON THE BENEFITS OF COMPOSTING, HOLD MEETINGS ON HOW TO DESIGN COMPOSTING SYSTEMS, AND FINALLY MONITOR COMPOST WASTE, INCLUDING MEASURING THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WASTE DIVERTED FROM LANDFILLS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT BRADDOCK, CLAIRTON, AND SWISSVALE, PA ARE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES ACCORDING TO CEJST.ACTIVITIES:THE EXACT ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED ARE: (1) DIRECT OUTREACH TO COLLABORATORS, (2) DEVELOP PUBLIC OUTREACH APPROACH, (3) DESIGN PUBLIC OUTREACH MATERIALS, (4) HOLD PUBLIC EDUCATION EVENTS, (5) HOLD HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS, (6) HOST SYSTEM-DESIGN MEETINGS, (7) DISTRIBUTE COMPOSTING MATERIALS, (8) MONITOR COMPOST WASTE, INCLUDING MEASURING THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WASTE DIVERTED FROM LANDFILL, (9) CONDUCT OUTREACH TO INCREASE NUMBER OF RESIDENT PARTICIPANTS, (10) IDENTIFY RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUPPORT COMPOSTING SYSTEMS' SUSTAINABILITY AFTER GRANT FUNDING ENDS, AND (11) SUBMIT FINAL REPORT TO EPA. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO BUILD AND SUPPORT BACKYARD AND COMMUNITY COMPOSTING SYSTEMS IN BRADDOCK, CLAIRTON, AND SWISSVALE, PA. THIS PROJECT SUPPORTS GOAL 6 (SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES) OF EPA'S 2022-26 STRATEGIC PLAN. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES ARE: 1. 22 OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS, 2. THREE COMMUNITIES REACHED 3. TWO JOBS CREATED 4. 150 COMPOSTING PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED THE ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES ARE: 22 OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS;150 COMPOSTING PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED; 20 TONS OF MSW (MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE) COLLECTED, RECYCLED, COMPOSTED, OR MANAGED VIA OTHER MANAGEMENT PATHWAYS; 18.76 MTCO2E GHG EMISSIONS REDUCED; 117% REDUCTION FROM BASELINE EMISSIONS FROM COMPOSTABLE MATERIAL, REDUCED WASTE, REDUCED TRANSPORTATION; 150 NEW PARTICIPANTS IN LOCAL COMPOSTING PROGRAMS; THREE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES REACHED THROUGH OUTREACH ACTIVITIES; AND TWO JOBS CREATED. OTHER OUTCOMES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. CONNECTING RESIDENTS OF LOW-INCOME AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES INTERESTED IN COMPOSTING WITH NEIGHBORS 2. STRENGTHENED NETWORKS AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENSURE PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY 3. DIVERTED BIOMASS AWAY FROM LANDFILLS AND CONVERT THAT BIOMASS INTO A USEFUL BIOLOGICAL PRODUCT 4. OTHER OUTCOMES IN WORKPLAN. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: RESIDENTS OF BRADDOCK, CLAIRTON, AND SWISSVALE, PA.

THIS PROJECT WILL STUDY AND EVALUATE AIR POLLUTION IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY OF SOUTH WILMINGTON, DELAWARE. THE INITIAL STAGE OF THE PR