Grace Hill Clean Air Partnership - Overview Doug Eller, Grace Hill Settlement House Gwen Yoshimura, Region VII EPA For Air Quality Advisory Committee July 27, 2006

Goals of Presentation Provide background on the partnership Outline the project goals of the Grace Hill Clean Air Partnership Motivate people and engage community into action

What is CARE? - Local communities understanding and reducing risks from toxics. community driven focus on partnerships

CARE Community Categories Nationally competed cooperative agreements are awarded in two categories. Level II ~ $300,000 Level I ~ $75,000

Key Benefits of CARE Achieves reductions Builds capacity Promotes collaborative solutions.

Background of the Clean Air Project (CAP) Funded by an EPA Level 2 CARE Grant (following Southside CAP) Mobilize and engage community in taking active role in air quality issues

What Grace Hill CAP covers Primary objective: reduce six toxins of concern in CARE study area Arsenic Benzene Acetaldehyde Chromium Formaldehyde Diesel Emissions (Also covers particulate matter)

Five Project Components Reduce toxins of concern at point and area sources Collaborate with schools and community on reducing school bus idling Run hotline to facilitate reporting of air quality issues in community Outreach and education on air-friendly or “green” cleaning techniques Conduct “In the Air” Neighborhood College courses to provide information on indoor and ambient clean air issues

Goal One: Point and Area Sources Point Source – large industrial sites (mostly smokestacks) Collaborate and outreach to help reduce toxins and collaborate with community Identify three point source partners in MO, two in IL

Goal One: Point and Area Sources Area Sources: usually smaller, more local (auto refurbishers, dry cleaners, etc.) Taking inventory of area sources within Zip Codes Outreach to businesses to adopt more air-friendly alternatives Requesting: Experts, resources, interested businesses for collaboration

Goal Two: School Bus Idling Five of six toxins of concern are found in diesel emissions Both SLPS City and County prohibit idling of any vehicle for more than 10 minutes Working with SLPS, other agencies (like SLACO) and community residents on reducing school bus idling

Goal Two: School Bus Idling Why school buses specifically? Community members feel they have control Exposes children to harmful substances in air Programs and resources available to retrofit or replace school buses Requesting: Political connections, bus company contacts

Goal Three: Clean Air Hotline Residents can report air quality incidents 24/7 – Completely Anonymous Allows Partnership to track trends and identify key areas of concern Seeking volunteers to serve as community reporters

Goal Four: Green Cleaning Outreach Many commercial cleaners aggravate asthma and other respiratory problems Can be expensive to use household cleaners Some communities do not have access to air-friendly cleaners

Goal Five: Inform & Train Residents Community Residents often unaware or ill informed on clean air issues Grace Hill Neighborhood College provides free classes on clean air issues

Have any questions? Please feel free to ask

For more information, please contact Doug Eller, Grace Hill Settlement House Gwen Yoshimura, Region VII EPA