Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act of 2022

Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act of 2022

This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency to implement a pilot program to award, on a competitive basis, grants or contracts to state, local, and tribal air agencies to carry out specified projects for hyperlocal air quality monitoring systems in environmental justice communities (i.e., communities with significant representation of communities of color, low income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities that experience, or are at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects).

A project carried out using a grant or contract awarded under the pilot program may not exceed five years in duration.

Bill 117 HR 6759, also known as the Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act of 2022, aims to address the issue of environmental injustice by improving air quality monitoring in communities that are disproportionately affected by pollution. The bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a grant program to support the installation and operation of air quality monitoring systems in these communities.

The bill also mandates that the EPA develop guidelines for the operation of these monitoring systems, as well as protocols for the collection and reporting of air quality data. This data will be made publicly available in order to increase transparency and accountability in environmental monitoring efforts.

Furthermore, the bill requires the EPA to prioritize funding for air quality monitoring systems in communities that have historically been marginalized or underserved. This will help to ensure that these communities have access to the information they need to advocate for cleaner air and healthier environments. Overall, the Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act of 2022 seeks to address environmental injustice by improving air quality monitoring in communities that are most affected by pollution. By increasing access to accurate and timely air quality data, this bill aims to empower communities to advocate for cleaner air and healthier environments for all.