The goal of the Collaborative is to leverage significant federal funds to reduce emissions from the most polluting diesel sources in the most affected communities. The Collaborative seeks to significantly improve air quality and public health by targeting the highest polluting engines with the most cost effective control strategies. DERA 2014: Hawaii Refuse Hauler Retrofits The West Coast Collaborative (VVCC) is pleased to announce the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) Clean Air Branch's (CAB's) receipt of a United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) State Clean Diesel Program grant to retrofit heavy-duty diesel refuse haulers, This project will be implemented using $78,000 in DERA grant funding. What is the project? Retrofit 3 Class 8a (33,001-60,000 lbs) refuse haulers with certified diesel particulate filters (DPFs), Why is this project important? HDOH CAB will partner with the City & County of Honolulu's Facility Maintenance and Automotive Equipment Services Divisions whose fleets operate in close proximity to areas of Oahu with high population density, This project will reduce human health risk from toxic pollutants by reducing exposure to heavy-duty diesel truck exhaust in the communities where the fleets operate. What are the environmental benefits? Over the remaining lifetime of the 3 affected engines, these upgrades will reduce emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by 0,6 tons, hydrocarbons (HC) by 0,5 tons and carbon monoxide (CO) by 2,4 tons. Additionally, the reduction of PM2.5 emissions will reduce black carbon (BC), which influences climate by directly absorbing light, reducing the reflectivity of albedo through deposition, and interacting with clouds, How was this project funded? The WCC provided $78,000 in DERA grant funds to enable the implementation of this project on the Island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii, Who were the partners on this project? The project will be led by HDOH CAB, the governing clean air agency in the State of Hawaii, which received the DERA grant award through the VVCC. HDOH CAB will then distribute the DERA grant funds to the City & County of Honolulu, which operates the project fleet. HDOH CAB will be responsible for data monitoring and reporting for the project. What is the West Coast Collaborative? The WCC is an ambitious partnership between leaders from federal, state, local and tribal governments, the private sector, and environmental groups committed to reducing diesel emissions along the West Coast, Partners come from all over Western North America, including: Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, Canada, Mexico and the Pacific Islands, The Collaborative is part of the US EPA National Clean Diesel Campaign (www, epa.gov/cieandiesel). How can I find out more information? For more information about this project, please contact John Mikulin at US EPA (mikulin.iohn@epa.gov / 415-972-3956), For more information on the WCC, please visit our website at www.westcoastcollaborative.org ------- |