The Houston Health Department (HHD) requests City Council authorization of a grant contract between the City and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for the City's Bureau of Pollution Control and Prevention's air pollution control program. The contract will allow for Section 105 air monitoring services until August 31, 2023. The total grant funding amount of the agreement is $1,240,895.52. The maximum amount to be reimbursed by TCEQ is $831,400.00. The City's matching funds total is $409,495.52 and will be matched by the salaries and fringe benefits of 2.7 general funded HHD's program employees.
HHD also request City Council authorize the Mayor to execute all related contracts, agreements and documents with the approval of the City Attorney in connection with the grant assistant program and to authorize the Director or his designee to act as the City's representative with the authority to apply for, accept an expend the grant funds if and as awarded, and to accept and expend all subsequent supplemental awards, if any, and to extend the term and/or budget and project period not to exceed five years, if extended by TCEQ during the project period and does not require cash matching funds.
This contract requires the City to provide air pollution services performed within the jurisdiction of the City of Houston Air Pollution Control Program, including ambient air monitoring for criteria pollutants and particulates and generating required reports. The work reports and invoices for reimbursement are forwarded to TCEQ on a monthly basis. This contract revenue is intended to reimburse the City for costs incurred in operating the monitoring stations and collecting air quality data. The results of monitored data are available for public viewing at the EPA and TCEQ websites.
The data collected is used to determine local compliance with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), track air quality trends, provide information when investigating industrial upset episodes and is used by TCEQ for modeling to identify needed ozone control strategies. The data is also used to provide the public with timely ozone advisories and Air Quality Index Information.
Fiscal Note
Funding for this item is included in the FY2022 Adopted Budget. Therefore, no Fiscal Note is required as stated in the Financial Policy.
Fiscal Note
No Fiscal Note is required on grant items.
__________________________________
Stephen L. Williams, M.Ed., M.P.A.
Director, Houston Health Department