Sec. 4. Grants for indoor air and environmental health in educational settings
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In this section: The term eligible facility has the meaning given the term in section 501(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2695(a) ). The term Indian Tribe means any federally recognized Indian Tribe. The term indoor air quality means the chemical, biological, and physical characteristics of air in an eligible facility that impact the health and comfort of individuals, including sensitive and susceptible individuals, in the eligible facility. The term poor indoor air quality means the characteristics of air in an eligible facility that adversely impact the health and comfort of individuals, including sensitive and susceptible individuals, in the eligible facility, including the following characteristics:
Physical or environmental conditions, such as temperatures and relative humidity, that are uncomfortable to occupants. Air pollutant concentrations exceeding action levels or mitigation recommendation levels, including for radon, issued by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Characteristics resulting from the failure to comply with standards or guidance issued by the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health or the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
The presence of radon, PM 2.5 , PM 10 , asbestos, mold, biological contaminants, chemical contaminants, environmental tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke or aerosols, lead, carbon monoxide, or other air pollutants, that exceed local, State, or Federal guidance or requirements, as applicable. The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation (referred to in this section as the Administrator ), in consultation with relevant stakeholders, shall establish a program under which the Administrator shall provide grants in accordance with this section to States, territories of the United States, Indian Tribes, and other Federal agencies that manage schools, for the purposes of improving indoor air quality and minimizing exposure to environmental hazards in eligible facilities that have poor indoor air quality.
A State, territory, Indian Tribe, or Federal agency described in subsection
(b)shall be eligible for a grant under this section if the State, territory, Indian Tribe, or Federal agency submits to the Administrator an application that, as determined by the Administrator— demonstrates sufficient State, territorial, Tribal, or Federal authority, capacity, capability to implement a comprehensive indoor air quality and environmental quality management plan that includes, at a minimum— the provision of technical assistance to eligible facilities in the development and implementation of indoor air quality and environmental quality plans that address impacts on indoor environments from climate change; assessment of eligible facilities, through on-site monitoring, site visits, or other means, of indoor air quality and environmental quality for the purpose of prioritizing assistance and services provided by the State, territory, Indian Tribe, or Federal agency, which may include collaborating with the State educational agency, local educational agencies (as those terms are defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 )), early childhood education programs, eligible child care providers (as those terms are defined in section 501(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2695(a) )), and other agencies with expertise in environmental health and carrying out such assessments; and the provision of information, assistance, and services to school districts and eligible facilities for identifying and securing financial aid or other sources of funding necessary to mitigate identified risks associated with poor indoor air quality or other hazards; demonstrates community and labor engagement in the development of the State or Tribal plan described in paragraph (1), including— consultation with— other State, Tribal, and local agencies; educators and school leaders; child care providers; community stakeholders; and labor unions and other worker organizations; and conducting public hearings; and meets such additional requirements as the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, may establish. A State, territory, Indian Tribe, or Federal agency described in subsection
(b)that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant to implement a State, territorial, Tribal, or agency comprehensive indoor air quality and environmental quality management plan described in subsection (c)(1), including— the provision of statewide, territory-wide, Tribal, or agency assistance to eligible facilities in the development or implementation of indoor air quality and environmental quality plans that address— causes of poor indoor air quality; mitigation measures to improve indoor air quality; and impacts of a warmer climate on indoor air quality; the provision of information, assistance, and services to eligible facilities, including local educational agencies (as defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 )), early childhood education programs, and eligible child care providers (as those terms are defined in section 501(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act ( 15 U.S.C. 2695(a) )), for identifying and securing financial aid or other sources of funding necessary to identify and mitigate risks associated with poor indoor air quality; conducting assessment and monitoring of indoor air quality and other environmental conditions, in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency guidance, such as the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit, as appropriate, at eligible facilities, including installing air quality monitors to measure common indoor air pollutants and indicators of respiratory harms, such as radon, PM 2.5 , and carbon dioxide concentrations, in classrooms and other shared spaces, such as cafeterias and gymnasiums; ensuring current, regularly updated data from the indoor air quality monitors described in paragraph
(3)are made available to employees of eligible facilities, students, parents, educators, child care providers, and the general public in real time on a publicly available website that includes quality-controlled archived records of past measurements; ensuring data described in paragraph
(4)are available during the school day, any before or after school programming, and any other events at the eligible facility; the provision of training and technical assistance to State or local government staff who are involved in school maintenance or operations or educational facilities capital outlay projects, on the hiring of the staff and annually thereafter, on the maintenance and servicing of heating, ventilation, and air quality monitoring equipment; developing programs and high-quality professional development opportunities for educators to support student learning on air quality monitor results; providing for existing facility and facility system maintenance and upgrades to address poor indoor air quality, including making available portable filtration, dehumidifiers, and air cleaners to supplement existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to improve indoor air quality at eligible facilities; the provision of guidance on improving indoor air quality, including guidance on remediating mold and using less toxic cleaning supplies; ensuring that ventilation verification assessments and ventilation verification reports are available to students, parents, educators, child care providers, and the general public in real-time on a publicly accessible website; ensuring that when concentrations of indoor air pollutants, as measured under paragraph (3), increase, and the classroom or other occupied space has an adjustable mechanical ventilation system, the ventilation rate is adjusted; and ensuring that when concentrations of indoor air pollutants, as measured under paragraph (3), increase, and the classroom or other occupied space lacks an adjustable mechanical ventilation system, temporary measures, such as opening windows or doors or the use of portable filtration devices, may be used when appropriate to attempt to improve indoor air quality. Nothing in this section (including any regulation issued pursuant to this section) prohibits individual educators, State or local government staff who are involved in school maintenance or operations or educational facilities capital outlay projects, or groups of those educators or staff, from— using portable filtration and air cleaners; or acting on real-time data in a classroom or area to improve ventilation or filtration, such as by opening any available window or door, using 1 or more air cleaners, or alerting appropriate employees of eligible facilities. The Administrator may provide to a State, a territory, an Indian Tribe, or a Federal agency described in subsection
(b)that is determined under subsection (c)(1) to be ineligible for a grant under this section financial assistance to carry out actions necessary to develop a comprehensive indoor air quality and environmental quality management plan that meets the minimum eligibility requirements described in subsection (c)(2). A State, a territory, an Indian Tribe, or a Federal agency that receives financial assistance under paragraph
(1)shall provide opportunities for public participation and stakeholder engagement in carrying out the actions described in that paragraph. The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the heads of other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, shall issue such regulations and guidance as are necessary for the implementation of this section. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2035.
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Sec. 4
Grants for indoor air and environmental health in educational settings
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