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Integration of local air quality monitoring with NICAS predictive model

1:35:30

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4 min

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Cari Olson from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene discusses how NICAS (New York City Community Air Survey) integrates with local air quality monitoring efforts and its predictive model.

NICAS focuses on quality control and understanding the effectiveness of their model across the city
They work with partners on local level monitoring to better understand specific areas of concern
A working group of community-based organizations uses low-cost sensors for localized monitoring
NICAS has a monitor specifically in Sunset Park to capture data relevant to the indirect source rule
They are working with community partners in Red Hook and other neighborhoods on air quality monitoring
Council Member Avilés expresses interest in following up about comprehensive integration of various monitoring efforts

Alexa Avilés

1:35:30

Well done, Commissioner.

1:35:33

Now, in terms of the for NICAS and the predictive model that's used, obviously, in your testimony you note that the predictive model with the current usage can really help us drill down and that we know the sources and places.

1:35:53

Does and maybe this is for the NICAS crew, but does NICAS offer the opportunity for local air quality air quality monitoring efforts to integrate to see if they're to see if that predictive model does in fact take into account kind of more localized conditions.

Cari Olson

1:36:20

Great.

1:36:21

Do I need to Sworn in.

1:36:22

Sorry.

UNKNOWN

1:36:31

All right.

1:36:32

Please raise your right hand.

1:36:34

Do you affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before this committee and respond honestly to council member questions?

1:36:40

I do.

1:36:40

Thank you.

1:36:41

You may begin.

Cari Olson

1:36:42

Thanks.

1:36:43

Carrie Olson with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

1:36:47

Thank you for the question.

1:36:49

We so first of all, we have really focused with NICAS on quality control and making sure understand the effectiveness of our model in understanding specific areas across the city.

1:37:05

And then in addition, we work closely with partners on local level monitoring and thinking about how that can be used in conjunction with our city level and neighborhood level information in order to better understand specific areas.

1:37:25

So we have a small working group of community based organizations that get together regularly and think about very localized monitoring with low cost sensors in order to better understand the areas that are of particular concern for specific communities.

1:37:42

So we're always interested in thinking about how our understanding of the larger sources, and the most important ones for the variation between neighborhoods, how that looks at a neighborhood level by working with others.

Alexa Avilés

1:37:56

So does any of those communities I know you mentioned Brooklyn.

1:38:02

They seem to be distributed.

1:38:04

There's about five, I think.

Gloria Boyce-Charles

1:38:05

Yeah.

Alexa Avilés

1:38:08

Are any of those in Brooklyn include Red Hook or Sunset Park?

Cari Olson

1:38:13

Yeah.

1:38:13

So we so a couple of things.

1:38:15

So we have a monitor, a night cast monitor specifically in Sunset Park.

1:38:20

That's one of the specifically cited monitors that is designed in order to capture the very type of neighborhood that we're discussing that would be impacted by indirect source rule.

1:38:34

And then in addition, we are working with community partners in Red Hook specifically, as well as other neighborhoods across the city on air quality monitoring.

1:38:45

Okay.

1:38:46

And I

Alexa Avilés

1:38:48

know we tried to schedule a time to really look at the model, we'll definitely do that.

1:38:56

I think in particular because Red Hook is so unique, not only with the cluster of last mile facilities, but it also has a cruise terminal and it's also the BQE cuts it off.

1:39:09

Like, it is completely surrounded by environmental burdens, not only in the air, but in the soil as well.

1:39:17

So it is particularly unique.

1:39:19

So I'd like to follow-up with you all about how we also integrate because there is a lot of local air monitoring going on.

1:39:26

But it it is not clear to me that there has been a more comprehensive connection.

1:39:34

Because even DOT is also putting air air air monitors, and it's not clear who's looking at that data and if there isn't a comprehensive look at it.

1:39:44

So love to follow-up with you about it.

Cari Olson

1:39:47

Yeah.

1:39:47

Look forward to that.

1:39:49

I think we actually have managed to find another time in our schedule to meet with you and your team next week.

1:39:54

So very much look forward to talking more.

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Balancing data collection with active mitigation efforts