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EPA Retrofit Guidance Will Help States Calculate Air Quality Benefits

Release Date: 06/13/2006
Contact Information: John Millett, (202) 564-4355 / millett.john@epa.gov

(6/13/06) EPA has issued guidance to states on how retrofit projects can be used in state plans to meet federal air quality standards and conformity determinations.

Diesel retrofit technologies can reduce pollution from the existing diesel engine fleet by up to 50 percent for nitrogen oxides and up to 90 percent for both particulate matter and volatile organic compounds.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) mandated EPA to develop the guidance. Further, the president's FY07 budget request includes $49.5 million to support EPAct's Diesel Emissions Reduction provision.

The guidance also complements last year's Transportation Act (SAFETEA-LU). For the first time, the Act directs states and metropolitan planning organizations to give priority funding to diesel retrofits and other cost-effective mobile strategies under the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program.

Information about "Diesel Retrofits: Quantifying and Using Their Benefits in SIPs and Conformity – Guidance for State and Local Air and Transportation Agencies": epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/transconf/policy.htm