Smoke Planning and Research Act of 2021
Bill: S.2421 | Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff (D-OR)
Policy area: Environmental Protection

Summary:
Smoke Planning and Research Act of 2021
This bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to research and mitigate the impacts of smoke emissions from wildland fires.
Specifically, the EPA must establish (1) four Centers of Excellence for Wildfire Smoke at institutions of higher education, and (2) a grant program to support community mitigation efforts.

To authorize the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
     to conduct research on wildfire smoke, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Smoke Planning and Research Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. RESEARCH ON WILDFIRE SMOKE.

    (a) Centers of Excellence.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental 
        Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the 
        ``Administrator'') shall establish at institutions of higher 
        education 4 centers, each of which shall be known as a ``Center 
        of Excellence for Wildfire Smoke'', to carry out research 
        relating to--
                    (A) the effects on public health of smoke emissions 
                from wildland fires; and
                    (B) means by which communities can better respond 
                to the impacts of emissions from wildland fires.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this 
        subsection $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal 
        year thereafter.
    (b) Research.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall carry out 
        research--
                    (A) to study the health effects of smoke emissions 
                from wildland fires;
                    (B) to develop and disseminate personal and 
                community-based interventions to reduce exposure to and 
                adverse health effects of smoke emissions from wildland 
                fires;
                    (C) to increase the quality of smoke monitoring and 
                prediction tools and techniques; and
                    (D) to develop implementation and communication 
                strategies.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this 
        subsection $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal 
        year thereafter.

SEC. 3. COMMUNITY SMOKE PLANNING.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a competitive 
grant program to assist eligible entities described in subsection (b) 
in developing and implementing collaborative community plans for 
mitigating the impacts of smoke emissions from wildland fires.
    (b) Eligible Entities.--An entity that is eligible to submit an 
application for a grant under subsection (a) is--
            (1) a State;
            (2) a unit of local government (including any special 
        district, such as an air quality management district or a 
        school district); or
            (3) an Indian Tribe.
    (c) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an eligible entity described in subsection (b) shall 
submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may 
require.
    (d) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator may use amounts made 
available to carry out this section to provide to eligible entities 
described in subsection (b) technical assistance in--
            (1) submitting grant applications under subsection (c); or
            (2) carrying out projects using a grant under this section.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator to carry out this section $50,000,000 
for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter.
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