The goal of the West Coast 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.
DERA 2020: School Bus &
Truck Replacements in
Arizona
The West Coast Collaborative (WCC) is pleased to
announce the Maricopa County Air Quality Department's
(MCAQD's) receipt of a United States Environmental
Protection Agency (US 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 $520,724 in DERA grant funding
combined with $347,149 in state matching funds, and
$1,474,335 in cost-share funds from participating fleets.
What is the Project?
This project will replace 12 heavy-duty legacy diesel vehicles
including: six (6) school buses, one (1) Class 6, one (1) Class 7
and four (4) Class 8 short-haul trucks. Replacement vehicles
include 5 alternative fuel school buses: three (3) propane and
two (2) battery-electric. The older, replaced vehicles will be
removed from service and permanently destroyed.
Why is this project important?
This project's primary objective is to improve the environmental
health by partnering with school bus and trucking fleet
operators to replace high-emitting, heavy-duty legacy diesel
vehicles with modern clean diesel and alternative fuel
technologies. Exposure to diesel exhaust has been associated
with decreased lung function and retarded lung development
and can also exacerbate the symptoms of asthma, bronchitis
and pneumonia. This project will reduce human exposure to
diesel emissions as well as the negative health effects
associated with exposure. Expected unquantifiable benefits of
the project include increased awareness of the need to
improve air quality, particularly among Arizona residents and
others concerned with health and welfare.
What are the Environmental Benefits?
Over the remaining lifetime of the 12 affected engines, these
upgrades are estimated to reduce emissions of fine particulate
matter (PM2.5) by 1.1 tons, oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 12.8
tons, hydrocarbons (HC) by 1.3 tons, carbon monoxide (CO)
by 3.7 tons, and carbon dioxide (CO2) by 613 tons. The project
will also conserve over 54,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
Additionally, the reduction of PM2.5 emissions will also reduce
black carbon (BC), which influences climate by directly
absorbing light, reducing the reflectivity ("albedo") of snow and
ice through deposition and interacting with clouds.
Who are the Partners on this project?
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: Avondale Elementary School District, Cartwright
School District, Phoenix Union High School District, Sysco
Food Service, White Water LLC, Yuma Elementary School
District, and Yuma Union High School District. MCAQD will be
responsible for data monitoring and reporting for the project.
What is the Collaborative?
The WCC is an ambitious partnership between leaders from
federal, state, local and tribal government, the private sector,
academia, and environmental groups committed to reducing
diesel emissions along the West Coast. Partners come from all
over Western North America, including Alaska, Arizona,
California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, the
Pacific Islands, Canada and Mexico. The WCC is facilitated by
the US EPA DERA Program, https://www.epa.gov/dera
How can I find out more Information?
For more information on this project, please contact John
Mikulin at US EPA (mikulin.iohn@epa.qov I 415-972-3956).
For more information on the WCC, please visit our website.
www.westcoastcollaborative.org
------- |