Amendment #15 to H4876

Improving Air Quality in Environmental Justice Communities

Ms. Barber of Somerville moves to amend the amendment by adding the following section:-

SECTION XX. The department of environmental protection, in consultation with the executive office of energy and environmental affairs and bureau of environmental health, shall convene a technical advisory committee that shall consist of not less than 9 individuals, at least 1 of whom shall represent residents of environmental justice populations, as determined by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, impacted by air pollution living adjacent to a major highway, at least 1 of whom shall represent academics with expertise in air monitoring, environmental health, air toxics and air pollution and at least 1 of whom shall represent organized labor. The committee shall: (i) identify communities with high cumulative exposure burdens for toxic air contaminants and criteria pollutants, including “ultrafine particles” as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency; (ii) identify the likely air pollution hotspots and corridors due to high concentrations of traffic-related air pollution throughout the commonwealth that should be equipped with new or expanded air monitors; and (iii) establish definitions for “air quality” and “air quality target pollutants” that shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of criteria pollutants, black carbon and ultrafine particulate matter.

Not later than June 30, 2025, the department of environmental protection shall install and operate air monitors in not less than 8 air pollution hotspots or corridors that measure at least 1 of each of the following pollutants: (i) black carbon; (ii) nitrogen oxides; and (iii) ultrafine particulate matter. Not later than December 31, 2026, the department of environmental protection shall establish baseline air quality in air pollution hotspots and corridors. Data from the air monitors shall be publicly accessible and provide near-time information. The department of environmental protection shall work with residents from environmental justice populations to conduct participatory action research where residents can use mobile air sensors to expand the number of locations where residents can track air quality.

The department shall convene the technical advisory committee by December 1, 2024.

The department of environmental protection shall file a report of the technical advisory committee’s findings, including the baseline air quality levels and recommendations to reduce air pollution in those identified locations by 50 per cent below the baseline by December 31, 2030, with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on public health and the joint committee on environment, energy and natural resources not later than June 30, 2026.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #15 to H4876

Improving Air Quality in Environmental Justice Communities