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U.S. EPA Expedites Economic Recovery Funding to Miami-Dade Transit to Reduce Diesel Emissions, Create Jobs

Release Date: 07/06/2009
Contact Information: Kara Belle, (404) 562-8322, belle.kara@epa.gov

(ATLANTA – July 6, 2009) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment for people of Miami-Dade County, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $731,850 to Miami-Dade Transit to purchase new hybrid diesel transit buses and scrap old, high polluting buses. This clean diesel project will create jobs while protecting Miami-Dade County’s air quality.

“This grant is a great investment in environmental protection and will provide long-term economic benefits for Florida,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA Acting Administrator in Atlanta. “This funding will go a long way in helping to bolster the economy and protect public health and the environment by creating green jobs that improve air quality.”

To speed distribution of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act), EPA is funding proposals from last year’s National Clean Diesel Campaign grant competition. Miami-Dade Transit will use the $731,850 to purchase five new diesel transit buses with hybrid drives which will provide emissions reductions and improved fuel efficiency over the buses’ expected 15 year lifetime. This will allow the Miami-Dade Transit to scrap 14 old, high polluting buses. This project will reduce air pollutants by more than 8.8 tons/year of air pollution.

In addition to helping to create and retain jobs, this clean diesel project will reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.
EPA will award the remaining Recovery Act clean diesel grants in the coming months.

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on February 17, 2009 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.

For information on EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Florida, visit: https://www.epa.gov/recovery

For information about EPA’s clean diesel initiatives, visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel
For information about Miami-Dade Transit, visit: http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/