west coast collaborative r\ pnii ^ pubic-private partnership to reduce diesel emissions www.westcoastcollaborative.org The West Coast Collaborative is a public-private partnership focused on reducing diesel emissions throughout western North America and the U.S. Pacific Islands. The Collaborative seeks to significantly improve air quality and public health by providing assistance to upgrade high-polluting diesel engines, vehicles and equipment with cost- effective emission control technologies. Replacing School Buses & Trucks in Arizona 9 V $ Where: Maricopa County, AZ Grantee: Maricopa County Air Quality Department Replacing: 7 Diesel School Buses 9 Diesel Trucks Funding: $525,392 U.S. EPA's DERA $350,261 Matched $1,745,500 Cost-share Emission Reductions:* 1.55 tons of PM2.5 17.7 short tons of N0X 5.37 tons of CO 1.77 tons of HC What is the Collaborative? The West Coast Collaborative is a partnership among leaders from federal, tribal, state, and local governments, the private sector and environmental and community groups in EPA Regions 9 and 10. The West Coast Collaborative is pleased to announce the Maricopa County Air Quality Department's (MCAQD's) receipt of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) State Grant to replace legacy diesel school buses and heavy-duty trucks in Arizona. This project will be implemented using $525,392 in DERA grant funding combined with $350,261 in matching funds and $1,745,550 in cost- share funds from participating fleets. What is this Project? This project will replace: 1) six legacy diesel school buses with model year 2021+ alternative fuel buses; 2) one legacy diesel school bus with model year 2021+ battery-electric bus; and 3) nine Class 6-8 legacy diesel trucks with model year 2021+ diesel trucks. The older, replaced vehicles will be removed from service and permanently destroyed. Why is this Project Important? Exposure to diesel exhaust is associated with decreased lung function and can also exacerbate the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. By partnering with school bus and trucking fleet operators to replace high- emitting, legacy heavy-duty diesel vehicles with modern clean diesel and alternative fuel technologies, this project reduces human exposure to diesel emissions and therefore negative health effects associated with diesel exposure. Expected unquantifiable benefits of the project include increased awareness of the need to improve air quality, particularly among Arizona. Who are the project Partners? The project will be led by MCAQD, a local agency whose mission is to provide clean air to Maricopa County residents and visitors. MCAQD received the DERA grant award through the WCC and will distribute the grant funds to participating fleet operators: Yuma Union High School District, Madison School District, Sysco Foods, and White Water II, LLC. MCAQD will be responsible for data monitoring and reporting for the project. *Estimated air emission reductions overthe remaining lifetimes of these engines For more information about this project, contact Esperanza Perez at U.S. EPA (perez.esperanza@epa.gov / 415-972-3261) For more information on the WCC, please visit www.westcoastcollaborative.org ------- |