summary
Introduced
07/29/2020
07/29/2020
In Committee
07/29/2020
07/29/2020
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020
12/31/2020
Introduced Session
116th Congress
Bill Summary
Requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement policies, programs, and regulations related to air quality monitoring. Specifically, the EPA must implement a program using specified methods and technologies to administer or conduct the best available form of fenceline monitoring (i.e., monitoring of ambient air concentration using technology at a site's property line) of specified stationary sources of hazardous air pollutants. The stationary sources to be monitored must include the 25 high-priority facilities named in the EPA Inspector General report (#20-N-0128) from March 31, 2020, and at least another 25 major sources or synthetic area sources. Among other requirements, the EPA must also determine whether whether to add fenceline monitoring for any additional stationary sources, complete an evaluation and promulgate a determination on whether any existing emission factors must be updated to better reflect or account for the results of fenceline monitoring data collected under the established program, promulgate regulations establishing emission standards for specified source categories, require an additional 80 National Core multi-pollutant monitoring stations, and deploy at least 1,000 air quality sensors to monitor specified pollutants in census tracts or counties with per capita death rates from COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) that are at least 10% higher than the national average. Finally, the Department of Health and Human Services and the EPA must carry out a Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research grant program to establish and support at least 10 research centers.
AI Summary
This bill, the Public Health Air Quality Act of 2020, requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement policies, programs, and regulations to improve air quality monitoring. Specifically, the EPA must establish a fenceline monitoring program to monitor hazardous air pollutants emitted by certain high-priority facilities and other major sources. The EPA must also promulgate new regulations requiring continuous emissions and fenceline monitoring for certain source categories, such as chemical and petrochemical manufacturing facilities. Additionally, the bill requires the deployment of 80 additional NCore multi-pollutant monitoring stations, prioritizing locations with vulnerable populations and high COVID-19 death rates. The bill also directs the EPA to deploy at least 1,000 low-cost air quality sensors in communities with high COVID-19 death rates. Finally, the bill establishes a grant program to support environmental health disparities research centers.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (6)
Tammy Duckworth (D)*,
Cory Booker (D),
Dick Durbin (D),
Ed Markey (D),
Jeff Merkley (D),
Elizabeth Warren (D),
Last Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (on 07/29/2020)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/4369/all-info |
| BillText | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4369/BILLS-116s4369is.pdf |
| Bill | https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4369/BILLS-116s4369is.pdf.pdf |
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