Air Mail newsletter - February 2022

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EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

GreenCorps host site applications open

GreenCorps member in front of solar roof panels

The MPCA is accepting Minnesota GreenCorps host site applications for the 2022-2023 program year.

Minnesota GreenCorps is an AmeriCorps program coordinated by the MPCA. The MPCA plans to place up to 46 full-time members with host sites around the state for the upcoming program year, September 2022 through August 2023. Eligible host site organizations include public entities (local, regional, state, tribal), school districts, not-for-profit institutions of higher education, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

Organizations can apply for Minnesota GreenCorps members to serve on projects in the following topic areas:  

  • Air pollutant reduction
  • Community readiness and outreach
  • Green infrastructure improvements
  • Waste reduction, recycling, and organics management.

Examples of air pollution reduction projects include public building retrofits, wood smoke education, energy data tracking, bike workshops coordination, or vehicle electrification efforts.

For more information and to apply, visit the MPCA’s MN GreenCorps webpage.

Applications are due by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

Please direct questions to mngreencorps.pca@state.mn.us.


MPCA available to collaborate on EPA community air grants

EPA has announced $20 million in competitive grants for community air monitoring through the American Rescue Plan. EPA will award funds to support community and local efforts to monitor air quality and to promote air quality monitoring partnerships between communities and tribal, state, and local governments. The MPCA’s air sensor program is available to collaborate and assist on these grants.

Grant applications must address ambient monitoring for either criteria pollutants (particle pollution, carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, or sulfur dioxide) and their precursors, or hazardous air pollutants as defined by the Clean Air Act. The grants do not require matching funds from organizations that apply. Applications should focus on air pollution problems identified by communities and effective partnerships. The deadline for submittals is March 25.

The MPCA has tested several kinds of air sensors and recently used them in its two-year urban air monitoring project. We want to share our expertise and equipment to support communities.

Contact Dr. Monika Vadali, 651-757-2776, to partner with the MPCA to develop a community monitoring plan, identify monitoring locations and pollutants of concern in your community, or put a grant application together.


High-emitting vehicle repair grant

Car bumper with dual tailpipes

The MPCA is seeking a contractor to administer another round of the high-emitting vehicle project. The contractor will partner with auto repair shops, dealerships, tech colleges, and others to offer free emission repairs (up to a certain dollar amount) on older vehicles in densely populated, low-income areas.

Visit the High-emitting vehicle repair grant web page for full details on who may apply, eligible project costs, and other information that will help applicants submit a proposal.

  • Application deadline: February 25, 2022, 4 p.m. Central Time
  • Eligible applicants: For-profit businesses with fewer than 500 employees, or governmental entities, educational institutions, or nonprofit organizations with any number of employees
  • Maximum grant amount: $25,000. Applicant must be willing to match grant funding dollar for dollar. Match funding may be cash, in-kind, or other grants.

Apply to host a green chemistry intern

Green chemistry intern

Could your business use help reducing the health and environmental impacts of product chemistries? If you have this kind of work in mind and it can take place in Minnesota, then consider applying for a $12,000 grant to fund an intern next summer.

Information about the program, past projects, and the application process are available on the MPCA’s Green chemistry grant webpage.

Note that application materials are now only available through the State's SWIFT system. A link to the SWIFT portal is provided on the webpage linked above.

Submit your proposal by March 28, 2022.


REGULATORY

EPA adds 1-bromopropane to hazardous air pollutant list

Effective February 4, facilities need to report potential to emit (PTE) for 1-bromopropane (1-BP, aka n-propyl bromide) like other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Facilities using 1-BP should recalculate their PTE, and if they are now a major HAP source (1-BP greater than 10 tons per year, total HAPs greater than 25 tons per year), submit a Part 70 air permit application by February 4, 2023. Facilities that now qualify as a major source should check whether there are newly applicable NESHAPs to comply with as well.

EPA is developing a regulation to address implementation and compliance, to be proposed in 2022 and finalized in early 2023, and is evaluating whether a new NESHAP is needed. More information on the final rule and EPA actions is available on the EPA’s 1-BP rule webpage and 1-BP rule fact sheet.

The MPCA is working to incorporate 1-BP into the agency’s air quality protection programs and will provide updates.


EPA adds PFAS chemicals to TRI

EPA has added four per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).

TRI data are reported to EPA annually by facilities in certain industry sectors that manufacture, process, or otherwise use TRI-listed chemicals above certain quantities. Information collected through the TRI allows communities to learn how facilities in their area are managing listed chemicals. The data collected also help inform EPA’s efforts to better understand the listed substances.

More info on EPA's TRI webpage and EPA’s press release about this action.  


New PFAS guidance documents from MPCA

The MPCA has new sampling and analytical PFAS guidance posted on the MPCA Quality System webpage, in the section for laboratory guidance and references.

The current MPCA guidance document, called “Guidance for perfluorochemicals analysis,” will no longer be used for the 2023 accreditation year and will be retired at the end of 2022. The new guidance document must be adopted by January 2023. Subscribe for updates on the MPCA Quality System webpage.

Submit questions to qa.questions.mpca@state.mn.us.


GENERAL

Minnesota climate action framework released, feedback requested

Climate action framework cover

Minnesota has a historic opportunity to strengthen our economy, improve our health, and create a more equitable state by addressing climate change. To guide this work, Minnesota’s Climate Change Subcabinet has released a draft of our state’s Climate Action Framework, and wants to hear from you. 

The Climate Action Framework sets a vision for how Minnesota will address and prepare for climate change. It identifies near-term actions we must take to achieve the long-term goal of a carbon-neutral, resilient, and equitable future for our state. The framework is currently a draft. Help plan and prioritize how we will address climate change together by providing feedback on how in this plan aligns with the needs of your community. Share your perspective by visiting mn.gov/framework


MPCA air quality work in the news