The Berkshire Environmental Action Team received financial support from the EPA under an Assistance Agreement. This funding allows us to conduct the Breathe Easy Berkshires project.
On June 25, 2021, the EPA announced American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding that provides a total of $100 million for the EPA to address health outcome disparities from pollution and the COVID-19 pandemic. They have selected 132 projects in 37 states to receive a total of $53.4 million to conduct ambient air monitoring of pollutants in communities across the country. Grant selections have gone to community-based non-profit organizations (such as BEAT!), Indian tribes, states, and local governments to enhance ambient air quality monitoring in and near underserved communities across the US.
In the chart ‘Selections for the ARP Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring Competitive Grant‘ from their website:
| Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Inc. | MA | $300,131 | Recipient will use ten stationary air monitors and five mobile monitors to measure air pollutants throughout locations in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, including environmental justice neighborhoods and near sources of pollution. Monitoring data will be supplemented by a survey of community health conditions, conducted during the monitoring period, to look for correlating increases or decreases in severity. |
| Berkshire Regional Planning Commission | MA | $465,589 | Recipient will expand indoor and outdoor air monitoring opportunities for all Berkshire County residents, especially the County’s most vulnerable populations. Recipient will deploy indoor and outdoor sensors which will be accompanied by extensive community outreach and municipalities and local groups will utilize data to guide regional planning initiatives. |
To learn more about the American Rescue Plan, click here.