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U.S. EPA Expedites Economic Recovery Funding to Georgia Ports Authority 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 the State of Georgia, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $164,964 to the Georgia Ports Authority to retrofit cargo handling equipment that will provide long term emission reductions. This clean diesel project will create jobs while protecting Georgia’s air quality.

“This grant is a great investment in environmental protection and will provide long-term economic benefits for Georgia,” 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. The Georgia Ports Authority will retrofit approximately 47 cargo handling equipment units providing sustainable emission reductions for approximately 20-25 years. These retrofitted units, operated on ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, will reduce emissions by approximately 13.7 tons or 34% over the 15 month grant period.

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 Georgia, visit: https://www.epa.gov/recovery

For information about EPA’s clean diesel initiatives, visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel
For information about the Georgia Ports Authority, visit: http://www.gaports.com/