At its core, the legislation directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allocate grants to air pollution control agencies. These grants, capped at $3,000,000 each, are intended for implementing a cleaner air space program. As a nod to diversity and representation, the bill mandates the Administrator to provide at least one grant to a Tribal agency overseeing air quality.
Essentially, the cleaner air space program revolves around establishing “Clean Air Centers” in at-risk areas. These centers are purposefully designed in public buildings and offer clean air rooms, intended to drastically reduce harmful pollutants during wildfire events. Moreover, the centers must be accessible to households located in a low-income community, including individuals vulnerable to wildfire smoke-related health hazards.
Furthermore, the program endeavors to increase awareness through advertisement and education. The public is to be alerted of the availability of clean air centers during wildfire events, while comprehensive information about the local cleaner air space program is communicated, including the free provision of air filtration units for eligible households.
The devices eligible to be distributed as air filtration units must meet a stringent set of criteria. These requirements include achieving a Clean Air Delivery Rate of at least 97 for smoke and using a high-efficiency particulate air filter capable of removing 99.97 percent of larger particles.
To ensure successful implementation, the air pollution control agencies must partner with community organizations. Still, the Act allocates responsibilities, including the establishment of clean air centers and distribution of educational materials, under the auspices of the air pollution control agencies.
The Cleaner Air Spaces Act legislates the administration of anonymous surveys six months post-implementation to gain insights from beneficiaries on their interaction with the air filtration units, their perception of air quality improvement, and how the program could be enhanced.
Interestingly, this legislation employs a future-oriented governance approach. It mandates the submission of a report to Congress three years after its enactment detailing the implementation of the cleaner air space program, feedback from the surveys, and whether the program should be expanded and improved.
The Act is to be funded through appropriations amounting to $30,000,000 for the fiscal years 2024 through 2026. From this appropriation, up to 10 percent may be allocated for administrative expenses relating to the program’s execution.
To recap, the Cleaner Air Spaces Act appears meticulously designed to address the dire need for cleaner air, particularly in poor, wildfire-prone areas. Its immediate beneficiaries will be those who reside in low-income communities, particularly people at high risk due to health conditions, disabilities or age. The next legislative step would be for the bill to be considered by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The underlying ambition is to achieve a significant positive impact on the public health landscape by neutralizing the hazard of air pollution, especially during wildfire events. While its long-term effectiveness remains to be seen, the intended provision of immediate relief and education about air purification presents a hopeful picture.
