The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the names of 76 school districts across the nation that were randomly selected to receive a share of $3 million in federal grants to reimburse them for replacing older diesel-powered school buses.
Thirty states in all are represented in the 2014 School Bus Replacement Funding Program lottery, with Missouri boasting the most winning school districts at 10.
Other big winners were Iowa (seven districts), Kansas (six), California and Nebraska (five), and Ohio and Oklahoma (four).
Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin all had multiple districts win awards.
School bus contractor Rolling V in South Fallsburg, New York, is receiving $60,000 to assist with the purchase of four new buses. The company serves New York’s Catskills region.
EPA said the selected districts must complete the following steps to receive reimbursement:
- Submit a purchase order to EPA within 90 days of the selection letter.
- Take delivery of the new vehicle within nine months of the date of the selection letter.
- Scrap the old buses according to the program requirements.
- Submit the payment request form, scrappage proof, invoice for the new bus and the bill of lading to EPA within nine months of the date of the selection letter.
If selected applicants fail to complete the rebate reimbursement requirements, they will forfeit all rebate funds and the reserved funds will be offered to the next eligible applicant on the Applicant Wait List.
The number of school districts announced for the 2014 School Bus Replacement Funding Opportunity increased by more than 2.5 times over the 28 districts who received funds in 2012. The replacements will target nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and air toxics emitted by older diesel engines.
The EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act is authorized through fiscal year 2016.
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