[StBernard] U.S. EPA's Region 6 Awards $2.9 Million in Recovery Funding to

[Westley Annis]

U.S. EPA's Region 6 Awards $2.9 Million in Recovery Funding to 

Railroad Research Foundation to Reduce Diesel Emissions and Create Jobs 

  

(Dallas, Texas - July 15, 2009)  In a move that stands to create jobs, boost
local economies, reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the
environment for people in the Baton Rouge area, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency has awarded $2,927,496 to the Railroad Research Foundation
to upgrade several locomotive engines. This clean diesel project will create
jobs while protecting air quality in the Baton Rouge area. 

  

"Cleaner diesel means cleaner air," said EPA Acting Regional Administrator
Lawrence E. Starfield. "With help from the Recovery Act, EPA is funding more
clean diesel projects, so people in Louisiana can live longer, healthier
lives." 

  

The funds are provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Under this
funding competition, EPA Region 6 alone received over 60 grant applications
requesting more than $180 million to help fund clean diesel emissions
projects. The award announced today was chosen to both maximize economic
impact and emissions reductions.  

  

The project will improve rail operations in Baton Rouge, save fuel, and
significantly reduce emissions. 

  

In addition to helping to create and retain jobs, the clean diesel project
would help to reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory
ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.  

  

The Recovery Act allotted the National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) a total
of $300 million, of which the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance
Program received $156 million to fund competitive grants across the nation.
The Recovery Act also included $20 million for the National Clean Diesel
Emerging Technology Program grants and $30 million for the SmartWay Clean
Diesel Finance Program grants. 

  

In addition, under the Act's State Clean Diesel Grant program, a total of
$88.2 million has been provided to States for clean diesel projects through
a noncompetitive allocation process. 

  

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on
February 17, 2009 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with
unprecedented transparency and accountability. To that end, the American
people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov. 

  

For information on EPA's implementation of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Louisiana, visit: http://www.epa.gov/recovery 

  

For information about EPA's clean diesel initiatives, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel 

  

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