ALBANY, N.Y. -- The DEC will conduct a study on the air quality in the Ezra Prentice neighborhood after South End homeowners voiced concerns.
In the past, residents in Ezra Prentice neighborhood have said they were concerned about the air quality because of the high number of crude oil trains that go through the area.
A mobile command center is now in place to test the air for various chemicals and gasses. The device will remain in the neighborhood for an entire year.
Workers will walk around with units in backpacks to map out where certain gases or chemicals are picked up.
State and local officials say this is a win for the neighborhood.
"Marrying that data from those backpacks into this stationary monitoring device, is providing this really comprehensive approach to air monitoring," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos
"What you see behind me is the delivery on a promise," said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. "What you see behind me is a committment is getting down to a true understanding of what's happening to air quality here."
The testing will take place for the whole year, but the DEC will also monitor the air quality minute by minute. If there's a spike at certain times, the DE-C can respond to the area to find out what's causing that reading.