The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will begin a vehicle-based air quality survey in Erie and Niagara counties starting July 7, the agencies announced Tuesday.
The initiative aims to gather detailed data on localized air pollution levels in Western New York communities, especially in areas that may be disproportionately affected by environmental and health burdens.
Specially equipped vehicles will drive set routes throughout the counties to measure pollutants in real time. Officials say the data will help guide public health strategies and strengthen state and federal environmental protections.
The vehicle-based method allows for a more precise understanding of air quality variations at the neighborhood level—an approach that DEC and EPA say is critical to ensuring environmental justice…