Environment

HB 4194 establishes community air monitoring programs in West Virginia for communities downwind from facilities that emit air pollution. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to install fenceline monitors near polluting facilities, provide technical assistance and funding (if available) for community-led monitoring, and accept real-time air quality data submitted by residents. The DEP must evaluate all submitted data using specific criteria like equipment calibration, location details, and analysis methods before deciding whether to conduct follow-up monitoring. This bill directly affects residents living near industrial facilities by granting them greater access to real-time pollution data and enabling community involvement in air quality oversight.