American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Retrofitting Construction Equipment in California Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funding for the National Clean Diesel Grant Program, the U.S. EPA provided the California Department of Transportation with $951,431 in funding to reduce emissions from construction equipment. What is the Purpose of this Project? The EPA has selected the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for $951,431 in funding to install diesel particulate filters (DPF) on 46 Caltrans-owned construction equipment, specifically rubber tire loaders. The proposed DPFs are expected to reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions by at least 85 percent, producing significant health benefits. Why is this project important for air quality? California is the most populated state in the nation. Due to its population density and geography, the state has many poor air quality areas. This project will affect an extensive area in California including at least eight counties. Many of these counties are in non- attainment for particulate matter and/or ozone, causing significant health risks to the residents living there. This project will retrofit construction equipment with DPFs, which significantly reduce particulate matter—a pollutant with particularly high health risks. By retrofitting this equipment, this project will help protect public health, and will contribute to improving overall air quality in the state of California. How does this project relate to the Recovery Act Funding Priorities? -» Job Preservation and Creation This project will create or preserve manufacturing jobs. -» Assist Those Most Impacted by Current Economic Condition This project will assist moderate and low income workers who have been negatively impacted by the current economic conditions. -» Increase Economic Efficiency By contributing to retrofit purchases, this project could help reduce future per unit costs of DPFs. In addition, investing in diesel emission reductions will provide a health benefit that outweighs the costs. How do I find out more about ARRA? For more information regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, please visit the Recovery Homepage www.recoverv.gov. and www.epa.gov/otaq/eparecoverv/ What Is the West Coast Collaborative and How Do I Find Out More? The West Coast Collaborative is a partnership between leaders from federal, state, and local government, the private sector, and environmental groups committed to reducing diesel emissions along the West Coast. The West Coast Collaborative is part of the National Clean Diesel Campaign: www.epa.gov/cleandiesel For more information about the California Department of Transportation, please visitwww.dot.ca.gov/ ------- |