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$1.7 Million Available for New Clean Diesel Projects in Northeast; EPA seeking proposals until July 31

Release Date: 06/08/2007
Contact Information: David Deegan (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – June 8, 2007) - EPA is making nearly $1.7 million available for clean diesel projects under the 2007 Northeast Diesel Collaborative Emissions Reductions Grant Program. Project applications are being accepted under two national clean diesel programs: Clean School Bus USA and the Voluntary Diesel Retrofit program.

Projects may include a variety of diesel emissions reductions solutions such as add-on pollution control technology, engine or vehicle replacement, idle reduction technologies or strategies, and/or cleaner fuel use. All projects must benefit the air quality in the geographic areas that include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, the U.S. Virgin Islands and/or Vermont; and Tribal lands belonging to the federally recognized Indian tribes in these regions. The deadline for applying is July 31, 2007.

“Diesel exhaust contributes significantly to air pollution, especially in urban areas. The fine particles in diesel exhaust pose serious health concerns, including aggravating asthma and other respiratory symptoms,” said Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “This new EPA funding will help northeastern communities to enjoy cleaner, healthier air. EPA and the Northeast Diesel Collaborative are working to make that black puff of smoke a relic of times past.”

Funding under EPA’s Clean School Bus USA program supports projects that assist school districts in their efforts to reduce pollution from diesel-powered school buses. EPA is accepting applications for Clean School Bus USA projects from state and local governments, school districts, local and federally recognized Indian Tribal governments and non-profit organizations.

Funding under the Voluntary Diesel Retrofit program supports projects that demonstrate innovative pollution reduction retrofit technologies or strategies for on road and off road vehicles and equipment, such as those used in marine vessels and ports, construction, locomotives and rail, or heavy-duty on-road operations. EPA is accepting applications for the Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program from states and local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribes, international organizations, public and private universities and colleges, hospitals and other public or private non-profit institutions.

The Northeast Diesel Collaborative (NEDC) was established in 2005 by regions 1 and 2 of the U.S. EPA, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) and the states and territories of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Today, the collaborative combines the expertise of public and private partners in a coordinated regional initiative to reduce diesel emissions and improve public health in the eight northeastern states as well as Puerto Rico. Projects funded under the 2007 NEDC Emissions Reductions Grant Program will expand regional efforts to reduce public exposure to diesel pollution.

More information:

Download the NEDC Emissions Reduction RFP (epa.gov/region02/grants/nedc_rfp_final_060707.pdf)

EPA’s Voluntary Diesel Retrofit program (epa.gov/cleandiesel/index.htm#voluntary)

Northeast Diesel Collaborative (northeastdiesel.org)

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