EPA TO MAKE AVAILABLE $9 MILLION FOR DERA PROGRAM

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $9 million in grant funding for clean diesel projects to reduce diesel pollution and emissions exposure from the nation’s existing fleet of diesel engines. The funding, which comes from EPA’s Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA), will target the most cost- effective projects and fleets operating in areas designated as poor air quality areas. Diesel engines emit air pollutants such as NOx and PM that are linked to a range of serious health problems including asthma, lung and heart disease, other respiratory ailments and even premature death. Under this funding, EPA anticipates awarding between 10 and 20 assistance agreements. Eligible projects include vehicle and engine replacement, in addition to the installation of exhaust control and idle reduction devices. Projects may include school buses, transit buses, heavy-duty diesel trucks, marine engines, locomotives and other diesel engines. Since the start of the DERA program in 2008, EPA has awarded over 600 DERA grants across the U.S. and reduced more than 250,000 tons of NOx and more than 14,000 tons of PM. EPA estimates that clean diesel funding generates up to $13 of public health benefit for every $1 spent on diesel projects.

The closing date for receipt of proposals is June 17, 2014. More information and to access the Request for Proposals and other documents: http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/prgnational.htm. More information on EPA’s National Clean Diesel campaign: http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.