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U.S. EPA Region 7 Awards $1 Million in Recovery Funding to Johnson County, Kan., to Reduce Diesel Emissions, Create Jobs

Release Date: 07/15/2009
Contact Information: David Bryan, 913-551-7433, bryan.david@epa.gov


Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., July 15, 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 Kansas City area, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $1 million to Johnson County for the county-wide reduction of diesel emissions. This clean diesel project will create jobs while protecting the air quality of the five-county geographical air shed area.

The funds are provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Under this funding competition, EPA Region 7 alone received 34 grant applications requesting almost $92.2 million to help fund clean diesel emissions projects. The award announced today was chosen to both maximize economic impact and emissions reductions.

"These Clean Diesel grants provide an excellent opportunity to upgrade diesel fleets while improving local air quality," said William Rice, Acting Regional Administrator. "They also allow local businesses needed work, thus increasing regional economic stability."

Johnson County, Kan., requested federal funds to conduct a countywide project, with its 11 public and private partners to replace or repower 176 pieces of equipment. A variety of emission reduction technologies will be implemented on the fleets of the partners. Not only will these technologies reduce harmful diesel emissions, but the project will serve as a model for others that are considering any of the included technologies. The partners will be able to share knowledge of the technologies and “lessons learned” during the process to encourage other fleets to consider engine improvements.

In addition to helping to create and retain jobs, the clean diesel projects would reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.

The Recovery Act allotted the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) a total of $300 million, of which the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program received $156 million to fund competitive grants across the nation. The Recovery Act also included $20 million for the National Clean Diesel Emerging Technology Program grants and $30 million for the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program grants.

In addition, under the Recovery Act’s State Clean Diesel Grant program, a total of $88.2 million has been provided to states for clean diesel projects through a noncompetitive allocation process.

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 http://www.recovery.gov.

For information on EPA’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Region 7, visit: https://www.epa.gov/recovery.