TAMPA, Fla. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it would be donating 225,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to state and local governments where the equipment is in short supply due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“EPA is working hard to support our nation’s first responders as they risk their own safety to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a press release. “After searching our inventory of personal protective equipment, we identified excess supplies and sent them to those on the frontlines of this fight. At EPA we are here to help in any way we can and I encourage everyone else to do the same.”

According to a press release, the EPA is developing a plan for the rapid distribution of the PPE in the coming days.

The EPA says it has a supply of PPE as parts of its emergency response functions. That includes situations like responding to chemical, oil, radiological, biological, and hazardous incidents.

According to the release, the agency has determined how much PPE it would need for essential functions, and the donation is its excess.

This story was originally published by WFTS in Tampa.