New York Receives Economic Recovery Funding from U.S. EPA to Reduce Diesel Emissions, Create Jobs

(New York, N.Y.) In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment for the people in the State of New York, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $1.73 million to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation. The funding can be used to support clean diesel projects and loan programs to address the nation’s existing fleet of over 11 million diesel engines.

“These grants, coupled with money being given out competitively, will allow us to get New Yorkers back to work while reducing one of the most prevalent sources of pollution in the country - diesel exhaust," said EPA Acting Region 2 Administrator George Pavlou. “The Recovery Act will help bolster New York's economy and improve air quality for everyone."

The funds provided by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 will go to the state's program to retrofit vehicles that are owned by four eligible regional transportation authorities.

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

Under ARRA’s State clean diesel funding program, $88.2 million is divided equally through a noncompetitive allocation process, meaning that all 50 states and the District of Columbia will receive $1.73 million.

States, local governments, non-profits and tribal agencies can also compete for a portion of $206 million under ARRA’s National clean diesel funding program.

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 New York, visit http://www.epa.gov/recovery

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