Public Health Air Quality Act of 2020

To protect clean air and public health by expanding fenceline and ambient air monitoring and access to air quality information for communities affected by air pollution; to require immediate toxic air monitoring at the fenceline of facilities with pollution linked to local health threats; to ensure the Environmental Protection Agency promulgates rules that require fenceline air monitoring in communities with air polluting industrial source categories; to expand and strengthen the national ambient air quality monitoring network; to deploy air sensors in communities affected by air pollution, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Public Health Air Quality Act of 2020 2. Health emergency air toxics monitoring (a) Monitoring Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall carry out a program to administer or conduct, pursuant to authority provided under the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7401 42 U.S.C. 7414 (b) Publication of results The Administrator shall publish and maintain the results of all fenceline monitoring conducted under the program under subsection (a) on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency for a period of at least 5 years. (c) List of sources (1) Development The Administrator shall develop a list of stationary sources of hazardous air pollutants that includes— (A) the 25 high-priority facilities listed in Appendix A of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General Report #20–N–0128 (March 31, 2020); and (B) at least another 25 major sources or synthetic area sources. (2) Requirements The Administrator may include a stationary source on the list developed under paragraph (1) only if the source— (A) emits at least one of the pollutants described in paragraph (3); (B) is— (i) located in, or within 3 miles of, a census tract with— (I) a cancer risk of at least 100-in-1 million; or (II) a chronic non-cancer hazard index that is above 1 based on the most recent National Air Toxics Assessment; or (ii) in a source category with— (I) a cancer risk that is at least 50-in-1 million; (II) a total organ-specific hazard index for chronic non-cancer risk that is greater than 1; or (III) an acute risk hazard quotient that is greater than 1; and (C) is— (i) classified in one or more of North American Industry Classification System codes 322, 324, 325; or (ii) required to prepare and implement a risk management plan pursuant to section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7412(r) (3) Pollutants The pollutants described in this paragraph are ethylene oxide, chloroprene, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and formaldehyde. (d) Methods and technologies (1) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), in carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— (A) for each stationary source on the list developed under subsection (c)(1), employ, as necessary to monitor the pollutants described in subsection (c)(3) emitted by such stationary source, at least— (i) Method 325A and Method 325B; and (ii) Method TO–15; and (B) for each of the 10 stationary sources on such list that either emit the greatest volume of pollutants described in subsection (c)(3), or cause the greatest health risk as determined by the Administrator based on a residual risk assessment performed pursuant to section 112(f)(2) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7412(f)(2) (i) optical remote sensing technology to provide real-time measurements of air pollutant concentrations along an open-path; or (ii) other monitoring technology with the ability to provide real-time spatial and temporal data to understand the type and amount of emissions. (2) Updates (A) Method 325A and Method 325B If the Administrator determines it necessary to update Method 325A and Method 325B to implement this section, the Administrator shall update such Method 325A and Method 325B not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. (B) New test method If the Administrator determines it necessary to approve a new test method to implement this section, the Administrator shall finalize such a method not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. (e) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall report on the results of the program carried out under subsection (a), including— (1) the results of fenceline monitoring implemented under the program under subsection (a); (2) any enforcement, regulatory, or permitting actions taken based on such fenceline monitoring; and (3) whether the Administrator proposes to continue fenceline monitoring at any or all of the stationary sources on the list developed under subsection (c)(1), or to implement fenceline monitoring of any additional stationary sources as determined under subsection (f). (f) Determination regarding additional sources Not later than 3 months before the program under subsection (a) terminates, the Administrator shall make a determination, and publish such determination in the Federal Register, on whether to add fenceline monitoring for any stationary sources to— (1) ensure compliance of such stationary sources with existing emission standards under section 112 of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7412 (2) prevent accidental releases; or (3) protect the health of the communities most exposed to the emissions of hazardous air pollutants from such stationary sources to the greatest extent possible. (g) Determination regarding emission factors Not later than 3 months before the program under subsection (a) terminates, the Administrator shall complete an evaluation and promulgate a determination whether any existing emission factors must be updated to better reflect or account for the results of fenceline monitoring data collected pursuant to Method 325A or 325B or the program under subsection (a). (h) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $73,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. 3. Community air toxics monitoring (a) Regulations Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall promulgate regulations pursuant to section 112(d) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7412(d) (1) require all sources in such source category to implement the best available form of continuous emissions monitoring and fenceline monitoring to assure compliance with the emission standards for hazardous air pollutants; (2) for facilities in such source category that are required to submit risk management plans under section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act, to prevent accidental releases and provide for effective emergency response; (3) establish a corrective action level at the fenceline for at least the top 3 hazardous air pollutants that drive the cancer, chronic non-cancer, or acute risk for the source category; and (4) require a root cause analysis and consequences if such corrective action level is exceeded. (b) Source categories The source categories described in this subsection shall include each category or subcategory of major sources or area sources containing— (1) at least one of the stationary sources of hazardous air pollutants that are on the list developed under section 2(c); (2) major sources or area sources identified in the most recent National Emissions Inventory of the Environmental Protection Agency as emitting ethylene oxide, chloroprene, 1–3 butadiene, benzene, or formaldehyde; (3) chemical, petrochemical, or plastics manufacturing sources or marine vessel loading operations; and (4) any other major sources of fugitive hazardous air pollutant emissions for which the Environmental Protection Agency is subject to a court-ordered or statutory deadline, engaged in a reconsideration proceeding, or subject to a court remand to, not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, review and determine whether to revise the emissions standards that apply to such sources. (c) Determination of best available form of monitoring The Administrator, in consultation with the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, and the Office of Environmental Justice, shall, for purposes of the regulations promulgated pursuant to subsection (a), determine the best available form of continuous emissions monitoring and fenceline monitoring and shall ensure the methods required are at least as stringent as Method 325A and Method 325B. (d) Methods and technologies For all stationary sources in the source categories under subsection (b), the Administrator shall, in the regulations promulgated pursuant to subsection (a)— (1) require application, implementation, or employment of— (A) Method TO–15 or optical remote sensing technology to provide real-time measurements of air pollutant concentrations along an open-path; or (B) other monitoring technology with the ability to provide real-time spatial and temporal data to understand the type and amount of emissions; or (2) provide an explanation of why application of Method TO–15 or the technologies described in paragraph (1) is not necessary— (A) to assure compliance with the emission standards established under the regulations promulgated pursuant to subsections (d) and (f) of section 112 of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7412 (B) to protect the public health. (e) Precautionary approach In promulgating the corrective action level for each of the hazardous air pollutants described in subsection (a)(3), the Administrator shall take a precautionary approach to ensure that, if the monitored concentration at the fenceline hits a level that has potential to cause any person to experience impaired quality of life, become ill, or die from cancer or any other chronic or acute health impairment related to short- or long-term air pollution exposure (including any fetal exposure that begins in utero), that the facility must reduce its emissions to prevent such harm. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2021. 4. Criteria pollutant/NAAQS monitoring network (a) Deployment of NCore multipollutant monitoring stations The Administrator shall require the deployment of an additional 80 NCore multipollutant monitoring stations. (b) Deadline Not later than 12 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ensure all NCore multipollutant monitoring stations required to be deployed under subsection (a) are installed and integrated into the air quality monitoring system established pursuant to section 319 of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7619 (c) Monitoring results (d) Locations (1) Vulnerable populations (A) Census tracts The Administrator shall ensure that at least 40 of the NCore multipollutant monitoring stations required under subsection (a) are sited in census tracts that each meet one or more of the following criteria: (i) The rates of childhood asthma, adult asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, or cancer are higher than the national average for such condition in the census tract. (ii) The percentage of people living below the poverty level, that are above age 18 without a high school diploma, or that are unemployed, is higher than the national average in the census tract. (iii) Two or more major sources (as defined in section 501(2) of the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7661(2) (iv) COVID–19 death rates are at least 10 percent higher than the national average in the census tract. (v) There is a higher than average population in the census tract of vulnerable or sensitive individuals who may be at greater risk than the general population of adverse health effects from exposure to one or more air pollutants for which national ambient air quality standards have been established pursuant to the Clean Air Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7401 (B) Limitation Not more than 1 of the NCore multipollutant monitoring stations described in subparagraph (A) may be sited within the same metropolitan statistical area, municipality, or county. (2) Siting determinations In determining and approving sites for NCore multipollutant monitoring stations required under subsection (a), the Administrator shall— (A) invite proposals from or on behalf of residents of a community for the siting of such stations in such community; (B) prioritize siting of such stations in census tracts or counties with per capita death rates from COVID–19 that are at least 10 percent higher than the national average, as of the date of enactment of this Act or the date of the proposal; and (C) prior to making siting determinations, provide public notice of proposed siting locations and provide an opportunity for public comment for at least 30 days thereafter— (i) in the Federal Register, by email to persons who have requested notice of proposed siting determinations; by news release; and (ii) by posting on the public website of the Environmental Protection Agency. (e) Report Not later than 4 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall— (1) in coordination with the States, complete an assessment, which includes public input, on the status of all ambient air quality monitors that are part of Federal, State, or local networks and used for determining compliance with national ambient air quality standards to determine whether each such monitor is operational; and (2) report to Congress, and publish on the public website of the Environmental Protection Agency, a list of all non-operational monitors and an accompanying schedule and plan to restore all such monitors into full operation within one year. (f) Funding (1) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $61,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. (2) Uses The Administrator— (A) may use amounts made available to carry this section to— (i) directly to deploy NCore multipollutant monitoring stations required under subsection (a); or (ii) make grants under section 105 of the Clean Air Act to State and local governments for deployment and operation of such NCore multipollutant monitoring stations; and (B) shall use at least 5 percent, but not more than 10 percent, of amounts made available to carry out this section to perform maintenance and repairs necessary to restore to operation to currently non-operational monitors located in nonattainment areas for ozone or PM2.5. 5. Sensor Monitoring (a) Deployment of air quality sensors Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall deploy at least 1,000 air quality sensors, that each cost $2,000 or less, in census tracts or counties with per capita death rates from COVID–19 that are at least 10 percent higher than the national average as of the date of enactment of this Act. (b) Pollutants Each sensor deployed pursuant to subsection (a) shall measure ozone, PM2.5, or sulfur dioxide. The Administrator shall determine which pollutant or pollutants to monitor based on the pollution sources affecting the area in which the sensor is to be deployed. (c) Priority The Administrator shall give priority for deployment of sensors pursuant to subsection (a) to census tracts or counties that— (1) lack SLAMS for the pollutant or pollutants that sensors would be deployed to measure; (2) have, or are substantially impacted by, significant emissions of ozone, PM2.5, or sulfur dioxide; and (3) are not part of an area designated as nonattainment under the Clean Air Act for the air pollutant or pollutants to be monitored. (d) Contracts The Administrator shall contract with qualified nonprofit organizations and State and local air pollution control agencies to execute deployment of the monitors in a manner that will ensure representative measurement of ambient air quality, and provide the public with real-time online access to the data collected. (e) Determination and installation Not later than 6 months after one year of monitoring with sensors deployed pursuant to subsection (a) has been completed, the Administrator shall determine whether data from the sensor or sensors deployed in a census track or county show air pollution levels during such year reached 98 percent of the national ambient air quality standard for any of the air pollutants described in subsection (b), and not later than 6 months after such determination, the Administrator shall ensure that Federal Reference Method monitors or Federal Equivalent Method monitors are installed and in operation within the census tract or county for each pollutant that reached or exceeded the 98 percent level. (f) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $2,500,000. 6. Environmental health disparities research grant programs (a) Centers of excellence on environmental health disparities research grants The Director of the National Institutes of Health, in coordination with the National Center for Environmental Research at the Environmental Protection Agency, shall carry out a Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research grant program. Such program shall establish and support no fewer than 10 research centers with 5 year awards to— (1) conduct basic and applied research on environmentally driven health disparities; (2) establish, develop, or expand collaborations with other researchers and organizations involved in environmental health disparities and affected communities; (3) disseminate scientific knowledge to other researchers and members of affected communities; (4) recruit and mentor investigators to conduct environmental health disparities research, including investigators from health disparities populations; and (5) other activities, as determined by the Director. (b) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this program $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2026. 7. Definitions In this Act: (1) Administrator The term Administrator (2) Accidental release The term accidental release 42 U.S.C. 7412(r) (3) Area source; existing source; hazardous air pollutant; major source; new source; stationary source Except as otherwise provided, the terms area source existing source hazardous air pollutant major source new source stationary source 42 U.S.C. 7412(a) (4) COVID– 19 The term COVID–19 42 U.S.C. 247d (5) Method 325A The term Method 325A Volatile Organic Compounds from Fugitive and Area Sources: Sampler Deployment and VOC Sample Collection (6) Method 325B The term Method 325B Volatile Organic Compounds from Fugitive and Area Sources: Sampler Preparation and Analysis. (7) Method TO–15 The term Method TO–15 Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) In Air Collected In Specially-Prepared Canisters And Analyzed By Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) (8) NCore and SLAMS The terms NCore SLAMS (9) Synthetic area source The term synthetic area source synthetic minor HAP source

Summary: Public Health Air Quality Act of 2020 This bill 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.