Welcome, Hudson Valley to this week’s edition of IN TOUCH, the public affairs and issues program that runs across Townsquare Media of the Hudson Valley radio stations.

DEC, 2022-23 Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative
DEC, 2022-23 Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative
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This week’s guests are Adriana Espinoza and Margaret LaFarr from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, or DEC for short. We discuss New York’s Community Air Monitoring Initiative, the impact of emissions in local communities, and the best ways for the public to get involved.

We invite you to join us, and listen to a previously recorded conversation between Adriana, Margaret and myself here on In Touch.

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This has been this week’s edition of IN TOUCH, the public affairs and issues program that runs across Townsquare Media of the Hudson Valley radio stations. We want to give a big thank you to Adriana and Margaret. For more information on the Community Air Monitoring Initiative, visit the DEC Website for the 2022-23 Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/125320.html

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has new opportunities for public input and review of current work in regards to communities participating in the 2022-2023 Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative. This first round of meetings will help DEC gather community input to target emission sources and future strategies to reduce air solution in these communities, including greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

The 2022-23 Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative 

The DEC is undertaking a statewide community air quality monitoring effort in ten disadvantaged communities that are home to an estimated five million New Yorkers. Air quality monitoring will target locations within the communities with high air pollution burdens. The DEC's efforts are to try to reduce air pollution to help achieve the goals of the State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

The ten communities identified as having a disproportionate air pollution burden include

  • Buffalo/Niagara Falls/Tonawanda,
  • Capital Region,
  • Bronx,
  • Manhattan,
  • Rochester,
  • Syracuse,
  • Mount Vernon/Yonkers/New Rochelle,
  • Brooklyn,
  • Queens,
  • Hempstead/New Cassel/Roosevelt/Uniondale/Westbury.

Air monitoring will be bolstered by an addition $2 million in grants that will support community-led, complementary air monitoring efforts, and $1 million in Community Air Monitoring Capacity Building Grants, for a total of $3 million in grants to communities. At the completion of the monitoring, the DEC will advance strategies to reduce emission of toxic air contaminants, criteria air pollutants, and greenhouse gases in these communities.

Air pollution data will be collected by Aclima, who have been contracted by New York State to measure air pollution from cars, diesel trucks, construction equipment, commercial sources and industrial facilities.

NY DEC Seeking Community Input for 2022-23 Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative

The DEC has announced it's first wave of meetings to receive public input, along with provide an overview of the initiative. The DEC will present a preliminary overview of the first quarter of air monitoring results to each community. Information presented will include how and where the air monitoring is conducted on the street level and how the DEC will compile and analyze the data. The point of the data is to identify potential contributors of emissions for each pollutant being monitored.

The DEC will also provide an update on progress of establishing community advisory committees to engage with local stakeholders throughout this initiative. the DEC plans to hold meetings regularly throughout the year to update the community on the progress of the air monitoring and to provide a space for input. Staff from DEC's Division of Air Resources and the Office of Environmental Justice will be available to answer questions.

Marist College Center for Lifetime Study Open House

For info on the Marist College Center for Lifetime Study, including their open house happening March 8th at Locust Grove in Poughkeepsie, visit https://www.marist.edu/professional-programs/cls

MORE OF IN TOUCH

Thank you to everyone who listened to In Touch in 2022. Last year saw a lot of growth with this program, and we expect even more to come in 2023. You can find In Touch episodes new and old on your favorite streaming services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher and more! That, and listen On Demand with your Townsquare Radio Station Mobile App. Of course, you can still find all articles and audio under the In Touch Tab on this radio station’s app and website. And don’t forget, we are also on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram @intouch_hv.

We are booking guest spots for 2023! We have a whole year ahead of us! Whether you have a topic you want discussed or you want to be a guest, the best way to contact us is through our office number 845-471-1500 or email direct to conor.walsh@townsquaremedia.com.

I’ve been your host, Conor Walsh. Until next time, stay curious, keep an open mind, and as always, I’m glad we get to Spend Some Time.

 

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