The goal of the Collaborative is to leverage federal funds to strategically reduce emissions from the most polluting diesel sources in impacted communities. The Collaborative seeks to improve air quality and public health by targeting the highest polluting engines with the most cost effective control strategies. State DERA 2020: Idaho Department of Environmental Quality - DEQ's Diesel Emission Reduction Program Under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) a $495,669 grant with Fiscal Year 2020 State DERA funding. The grant will be used to reduce diesel emissions with a rebate program implemented by DEQ under the DERA emission reduction solution of vehicle replacements. DEQ will implement their VW Settlement Vehicle Replacement Program (VRP) and FY20 State DERA grant funding to Include the replacement of up to 30 school bus replacements in Franklin and Shoshone Counties. The FY20 project will be implemented with a voluntary cost share of $330,446 and $2,205,000 in funds from Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality - VW Settlement Vehicle Replacement Program for a total project cost of $3,031,115. What is the Project? The Idaho Dept. of Environmental Quality will work in project target areas that are currently designated as non-attainment for PM2.5 in (Franklin and Shoshone Counties), and areas that DEQ has identified as areas of concern, including Ada, Benewah, Canyon, and Lemhi counties. Why is this Project Important? The grant will focus on school bus replacements working with school districts that have expressed interest in purchasing new school buses through this grant program and have identified school buses which they would not otherwise be able to replace without the funds from this grant program. What are the Estimated Environmental Benefits? Idaho Department of Environmental Quality anticipate significant reductions in diesel emissions based on EPA's verified emission lifetime reduction estimations, using the Diesel Emission Quantifier. The FY2020 vehicle replacements will reduce pollution of NOx by 23,69 tons, PM2.5 by 1,83 tons, hydrocarbons by 4.94 tons, carbon monoxide by 11,02 tons, and carbon dioxide by 1,188 tons, along with a reduction in fuel usage by 105,000 gallons over the lifetime of the vehicles serviced. How is this Project Funded? The West Coast Collaborative is a partnership between leaders from federal, tribal, state, and local government, the private sector, and environmental groups committed to reducing diesel emissions along the West Coast and is part of the National Clean Diesel Campaign: www.epa.gov/cleandiesel Where can I find more information? For more information on the West Coast Collaborative, please visit our website at: www.westcoastcollaborative.orc:. For more information about this project, please contact Lucita Valiere at valiere.lucita@epa.gov. ------- |