The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded grants to the River Valley Local Schools and Seneca East Local Schools districts in order to help reduce school bus emissions.
The two districts will use the grants to purchase equipment that will decrease the amount of pollutants released from the diesel exhaust of a bus. The Ohio EPA awarded the River Valley district $51,808 to install emission control equipment on three buses and idle reduction equipment on 17 buses.
“Let me tell you that River Valley is very excited to have received this grant. We are planning on installing diesel oxidation catalysts in our older buses, and block pre-heaters in our newer buses,” said Lois Bowdre, transportation supervisor at the district.
Seneca East Local Schools received $6,670 for emission control equipment on four buses.
“We are very excited to be the winner of this grant. With children being our number-one priority, this grant will help us protect our students from the harmful pollutants found in diesel exhaust. Overall, it’s a win-win situation for everyone that rides a school bus,” said Tammy Feasel, the district’s transportation supervisor.
According to the Ohio EPA, the implementation of new equipment at these districts is expected to eliminate 40 pounds of fine particle (soot) pollution, 302 pounds of carbon monoxide, 794 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 64 pounds of hydrocarbons. The organization said in a statement that fine particles can aggravate conditions like asthma and bronchitis, especially in children, as their respiratory systems are still developing.
The grants are funded with civil penalties paid to the Ohio EPA for violations of the state’s environmental protection laws and through a federal grant from the U.S. EPA under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act. The Ohio EPA started the Clean Diesel School Bus Fund nine years ago to encourage school districts to use pollution control equipment on diesel buses, reduce idling and use cleaner fuels. Over that time, it has awarded a total of $8.3 million in grant funding to districts throughout the state.
Applicants in areas that do not meet federal air quality standards for fine particulates are given priority for the grants. The next application deadline is Oct. 15, 2015. Click here for additional information.
