News Releases from Region 03

EPA Awards $215,000 to Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association to Reduce Air Pollution

Contact: David Sternberg 215-814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov

EPA Awards $215,000 to Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association to Reduce Air Pollution

PHILADELPHIA (April 10, 2018) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is awarding funds in the amount of $215,125 to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association (MARAMA) to promote regional cooperation, coordination, and assistance in reducing regional air pollution.

“All Americans are entitled to breathe clean air and pollution doesn’t recognize state boundaries,” said EPA Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. “By taking a regional cooperative approach to protecting air quality, MARAMA helps all of us in the Mid-Atlantic states to breathe easier.”

MARAMA is an association of ten state and local government air pollution control agencies.  The ten MARAMA member air pollution control agencies represent the States of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia, Philadelphia, and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. 

MARAMA executive director, Julie McDill, remarked that the funding plays a big role in providing the best possible training, education and collaboration opportunities for its member organizations.  She said, “MARAMA strives to help its state members collaborate on projects and share information because it is an important component of improving air quality.  It’s amazing what can be accomplished when people come together with a common goal and work together to come up with solutions that improve air quality for all.”  

MARAMA’s mission is to strengthen the skills and capabilities of member agencies and help them work together to prevent and reduce air pollution impacts in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

MARAMA’s activities help members implement the requirements of the Clean Air Act more effectively and economically through technical training, regional studies of air pollution issues, and cooperation and information sharing among member agencies.

Since 1992, MARAMA has received continuing primary support for air pollution control activities from its member agencies through a base grant with EPA.  Their current grant cycle began in 2015 and goes until 2020.  The total grant over the five-year span is projected to be $4,091,985.