EPA provides nearly $400,000 for Denver air quality monitoring

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Oct. 8 that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has won a nearly $400,000 Community Air Toxics Monitoring program to measure air toxics in environmental justice neighborhoods along the Interstate 70/Interstate 25 freeway exchange in Denver.

"This is an exciting opportunity to increase our understanding of an important public health issue," CDPHE Environmental Programs Director Martha Rudolph said. "We look forward to working with the city and county of Denver on this project to assess air pollution levels and to provide the local community with up to date and relevant information."

The funds will be administered in cooperation with the city and county of Denver and the Department of Environmental Health to monitor air quality in the neighborhoods of Globeville, Elyria and Swansea.

“Local participation in environmental decision-making is critical to building healthy communities,” EPA Regional Administrator for Denver Shaun McGrath said. “This project will address community concerns about air quality in north Denver neighborhoods and will generate data that will help us understand and reduce exposure to hazardous air pollutants.”