By Valerie Volcovici

WASHINGTON (Reuters), – Wednesday’s announcement by the U.S. government reveals a program to surprise polluters at petrochemical facilities and other facilities. This is part of a Biden administration effort to protect communities nearby, often poor and home minority population.

Michael Regan, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, ordered inspections unannounced at any facility that is suspected to be out of conformity with water and air regulations.

A new initiative called the Pollution Accountability Team (POLLUTION ACTIVITY TEAM) will help strengthen environmental regulation enforcement at the local level. It combines ground- and air monitoring technologies with in-person inspections.

Regan said in November that he visited the polluted areas of southern states and recommended new federal policies.

“Residents have suffered far too long and local, state, and federal agencies have to do better,” he said.

Regan instructed the agencies offices in April to focus their efforts on combating environmental injustices, strengthening enforcement against polluters, engaging and investing with pollution-burdened areas, and other actions.

Recent grants of $20 million were announced by the agency to assist communities in monitoring their air pollution levels. The agency also suggested new measures to determine how certain pollutants could affect communities near border facilities.

Regan was in certain areas that the agency will launch initiatives. One example is the Pollution Accountability Team, who will start a pilot program to monitor the air in Louisiana’s “cancer Alley”, which houses many petrochemical and petrochemical factories.