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EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced on Monday a new
initiative to further measure levels of toxic air pollution near many schools
across the country for better protection. Jackson said her agency and its state
partners will prioritize and monitor schools for more extensive air quality
analysis, looking closely at schools located near large industries and in urban
areas.
"I'm a mother first, and like all parents, I want to be sure my children are breathing healthy air at school," said Jackson. "Questions have been raised about air quality around some U.S. schools, and those questions merit investigation. EPA will work quickly to make assessments and take swift action where necessary. Our job is to protect the American public where they live, work and play – and that certainly includes protecting schoolchildren where they learn."
The agency anticipates monitoring at some schools will begin within the next 30 days. The monitoring will be conducted primarily by state and local governments. Some states have already begun monitoring. In a press release, the agency said it will work quickly to deploy monitors and share its results.
Jackson noted the action is particularly critical in some low-income areas, which are sometimes disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation. Recent media reports have raised critical questions about air quality outside schools near large industrial facilities. At Administrator Jackson's confirmation hearings, she was asked about this issue by Congress and pledged to take swift action to investigate and remediate if necessary any potential high-risk exposure for our nation's school children.
"I'm a mother first, and like all parents, I want to be sure my children are breathing healthy air at school," said Jackson. "Questions have been raised about air quality around some U.S. schools, and those questions merit investigation. EPA will work quickly to make assessments and take swift action where necessary. Our job is to protect the American public where they live, work and play – and that certainly includes protecting schoolchildren where they learn."
The agency anticipates monitoring at some schools will begin within the next 30 days. The monitoring will be conducted primarily by state and local governments. Some states have already begun monitoring. In a press release, the agency said it will work quickly to deploy monitors and share its results.
Jackson noted the action is particularly critical in some low-income areas, which are sometimes disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation. Recent media reports have raised critical questions about air quality outside schools near large industrial facilities. At Administrator Jackson's confirmation hearings, she was asked about this issue by Congress and pledged to take swift action to investigate and remediate if necessary any potential high-risk exposure for our nation's school children.
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