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Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Diesel Working Group honored for Diesel Emissions Reduction Projects

Release Date: 03/07/2007
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov

(ATLANTA – March 7, 2007) During the Southeast Diesel Collaborative Funding Forum Workshop in Nashville, Tennessee, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Diesel Working Group with a National Leadership Recognition Award. This award honors Tennessee for developing the first non-road construction program and first diesel locomotive program in the nation to be funded in the U.S. Department of Transportation Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding system. The award also recognizes Tennessee for its leadership in developing a statewide collaborative approach to reducing diesel engine emissions.

“EPA applauds the efforts of the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Diesel Working Group for their efforts to improve air quality and protect public health.” said Jimmy Palmer, EPA Regional Administrator in Atlanta. “Emissions from diesel engines are a serious public health threat and environmental challenge, as well as a priority for EPA.”

The two Tennessee pilot programs involve the retrofit of heavy-duty diesel-powered construction equipment and diesel vehicles to be used in state road construction projects in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment areas and in adjacent ozone nonattainment areas and developing strategies to reduce diesel locomotive emissions.

Reducing emissions from diesel engines is one of the most important air quality challenges facing the country with non-road construction equipment contributing significantly to local air quality issues. There are more than 2 million pieces of construction equipment in the United States, each emitting more than highway vehicles. For example, a typical bulldozer engine can emit as much PM2.5 as 500 new cars. Non-road diesel retrofit projects are a cost-effective way to improve air quality and protect public health.

The Southeast Diesel Collaborative is part of EPA’s National Clean Diesel Campaign, a program combining regulatory measures with voluntary initiatives to reduce the pollution emitted from diesel engines across the country. Visit the Southeast Diesel Collaborative website at www.southeastdieselorg and the National Clean Diesel Campaign at www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.