H.F. No. 4739 Summary

• Establishes a community air monitoring system pilot grant program within the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to measure air pollution levels in environmental justice areas in Minneapolis.

• Eligible applicants must be partnerships between nonprofit organizations located in environmental justice areas and entities with experience operating air monitoring systems; grant funds may be used for planning, equipment purchase, staff training, data analysis systems, and project reporting.

• Environmental justice areas are defined as census tracts where 40% or more of the population is nonwhite, 35% or more of households have income at or below 200% of federal poverty level, 40% or more of residents over age five have limited English proficiency, or areas located within Indian Country.

• Grant priority must be given to projects in areas with high rates of air pollution-related illnesses (asthma, COPD, heart disease, chronic bronchitis, cancer) that promote public access to monitoring data and conduct community outreach activities.

• Commissioner must submit a report to the legislature by January 15, 2024, detailing changes to the air monitoring network, agency actions to reduce pollution in grant recipient areas, and recommendations for legislation including whether to extend or expand the program; fiscal year 2023 appropriation (amount unspecified) is one-time and any unexpended funds cancel on December 31, 2023.