Slide 1

Ohios Clean Diesel School Bus Retrofit Grant Program Winner of a 2008 Leadership Award from the Slide 2 Program Goals Reduce student and driver exposure to the harmful pollutants in diesel exhaust Reduce school bus idling to save fuel and reduce emissions Improve local air quality Provide financial assistance to Ohio school districts for successful approaches to reducing bus pollution Slide 3 Why School Buses? 1.3 million Ohio children ride school buses. School bus commutes potentially expose children to significantly higher concentrations of pollutants than what is measured in the communitys outdoor air. Children are more susceptible to air pollution than adults because their respiratory systems are still developing and they breathe at a faster rate. Slide 4 Diesel Exhaust and Health Diesel exhaust contains small particles known as fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Fine particles can lodge in the lungs and aggravate conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. U.S. EPA has determined that diesel exhaust is a likely human carcinogen. Slide 5 Slide 6 Information on Health Effects U.S. EPAs Health Assessment Document for Diesel Exhaust http://cfpub.epa.gov/nc ea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm ?deid=29060 http://cfpub.epa.gov/nc ea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm ?deid=29060 University of Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study http://eh.uc.edu/ccaaps/ http://eh.uc.edu/ccaaps/ Slide 7 Who May Receive Grants? Ohio public school districts County boards of developmental disabilities School districts that sub- contract with commercial school bus companies for student transportation, to retrofit buses owned by those companies Slide 8 Priority Grant Recipients School districts located in counties designated by U.S. EPA as non- attainment for fine particulate national air quality standards School districts that have an anti-idling policy or employ other measures that reduce air pollution from the districts school bus fleet Slide 9 Funding Sources Penalties collected by Ohio EPA for pollution violations ($150,000 per year) U.S. EPA grants under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act ($200,000 per year) Slide 10 Grant Requirements Applicants must provide at least a 5% match, either in-kind or from other funding sources. Matches that fund additional retrofits are encouraged. Installations/retrofits must be completed within one year. Time extensions may be approved for good cause. Slide 11 Factors Ohio EPA Will Consider in Awarding Grants Anticipated level of PM2.5 emission reductions, particularly in-cabin reductions Demonstrated pollution reduction efforts, such as anti-idling programs in place Anticipated level of reduction of other air pollutants such as CO and HC Local air quality (level of non-attainment) Slide 12 Grant Application Deadlines March 1 October 15 Slide 13 Buses Eligible for Retrofits Diesel-powered, Types C & D Gross vehicle rating of 19,500 pounds or more Driven at least 5,000 miles per year Emission controls may be installed on buses of model years 1996-2006 only. Pre-heaters may be installed on buses of any model year. Buses must remain in service for 4 years. Slide 14 Verified Technology Ohio EPA will only fund equipment (specific make and model year) verified by U.S. EPA or the California Air Resources Board. Ohio EPA is not able to verify other technologies. Ohio EPA will consider requests to fund filter cleaning equipment. Slide 15 Technology Options Diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) Closed crankcase ventilation systems (CCVs) Direct-fired heaters (pre-heaters) Slide 16 Submitting an Application Application can be downloaded online at http://epa.ohio.gov/oee/EnvironmentalEducation.aspx under the Clean School Bus Grants tab. http://epa.ohio.gov/oee/EnvironmentalEducation.aspx Paper, faxed or emailed applications can be accepted, but we need an original signature copy by the deadline. Call if you dont receive confirmation within one business day of submitting your application. Slide 17 Results So Far Since the program began in 2006, Ohio EPAs Clean Diesel School Bus Fund provided more than $8.1 million to retrofit 2,557 school buses with pollution controls, installed idle reduction equipment onto another 948 buses, and removed more than 100 tons of pollutants from the air. Slide 18 166 School Districts Received Grants Slide 19 Other Funding $ources U.S. EPA Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel/grants/index.html www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel/grants/index.html Ohio EPA Diesel Emission Reduction Grants for replacement buses and alternative fuels http://epa.ohio.gov/oee/EnvironmentalEducation.aspx http://epa.ohio.gov/oee/EnvironmentalEducation.aspx U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center www.afdc.energy.gov/www.afdc.energy.gov/ List of additional grant sources www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/grantfund.htm www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/grantfund.htm Slide 20 Publicizing Your Program Order free copies of The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up in English or Spanish from U.S. EPA www.epa.gov/cleansch oolbus/msb-book.htm www.epa.gov/cleansch oolbus/msb-book.htm Slide 21 For more information Click the Clean School Bus Grants tab here: http://epa.ohio.gov/oee/EnvironmentalEducation.aspx http://epa.ohio.gov/oee/EnvironmentalEducation.aspx Regarding diesel bus retrofit technology and air quality standards, contact John Paulian, Division of Air Pollution Control, at john.paulian@epa.ohio.gov or (614) 644-4832john.paulian@epa.ohio.gov Regarding the grant program, contact Kristopher Weiss, Office of Environmental Education, at kristopher.weiss@epa.ohio.gov or (614) 644-3769 kristopher.weiss@epa.ohio.gov Regarding the U.S. EPA Clean School Bus Program: www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/sector-programs/csb- overview.htm www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/sector-programs/csb- overview.htm