During its Jan. 30 meeting, San Antonio City Council voted to accept grants from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

What you need to know

According to city documents, the ordinance authorizes the acceptance of $214,897 from the TCEQ for San Antonio Metropolitan Health District’s Public Center for Environmental Health's local air monitoring efforts for a period beginning Sept. 1, 2025, to Aug. 31, 2026, as well as $347,208 from DHS for the city’s participation in the Whole Air Program from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026.

TCEQ Air Monitoring Grant provides:
  • Support for the operation, maintenance and validation of air monitors
  • Supports the operation of continuous air monitoring
DHS Whole Air Program grant provides:
  • Support for air monitoring field operations and sample collection activities
The ordinance also authorizes Metro Health to finalize programmatic funding for the maintenance and delivery of essential public health services within the department. Additionally, the action allows Metro Health to create a program budget to add four grant funded, full-time positions.

Put in perspective


According to city documents, Metro Health’s PCEH was formed to protect the environment for San Antonians. Because air quality has a potential health impact, air monitoring and follow-up measures are designed to address and identify important public health efforts.

The TCEQ has contracted with PCEH to manage local air monitoring efforts.

PCEH duties:
  • Operates, maintains and validates data from air particulate matter monitors
  • Operates continuous air monitoring stations that measure ozone, nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxide
  • Monitors associated meteorological parameters
The PCEH program receives roughly 52% of its total budget through contract and grant awards in both direct funding and federal pass-through funding. Since 2007, City Council has routinely authorized Metro Health to submit grant applications and renewals. Metro Health has participated in the Air Monitoring Program—through a contract with TCEQ—for 14 years. Additionally, DHS has invited Metro Health to submit an application for direct funding through the Whole Air Program, which has been awarded each year.