On November 4, 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Request for Information on seven programs established in sections 60105 and 60106 of the IRA. The programs aim to support activities that will increase air pollution monitoring in and by communities, expand and strengthen national air monitoring methods, improve air monitoring capacity, make air monitoring data more available and useful for communities, and improve air quality in schools.
The Request for Information seeks input on various issues related to design and implementation of the program. The Request lists four “Crosscutting Questions” as follows:
- How can EPA design these programs to most effectively benefit low-income and disadvantaged communities that face disproportionate impacts from air pollution?
- How can EPA (or the federal government generally) incentivize/facilitate cooperation/coordination across state agencies to implement the IRA (to facilitate communication between a states or tribe’s Department of Environmental Protection/Quality, utilities commission, and Department of Transportation and promote coordination among them)?
- What metrics should this program use for measuring success and ensuring accountability?
- What EPA technical assistance (training, tools) or other support is needed by low- income and disadvantaged communities especially for successful application for and implementation of the IRA programs?
The Request also poses specific questions relating to each of the seven programs. EPA accepted responses through January 18, 2023.