Ohio’s Clean Diesel School Bus Retrofit Grant Program

1. Ohio’s Clean Diesel School Bus Retrofit Grant Program Winner of a 2008 Leadership Award from the

2. Why retrofit school buses? • Reduce children’s exposure to diesel exhaust from school buses • Reduce the amount of air pollution created by diesel school buses

3. Diesel Exhaust and Health • Diesel exhaust contains small particles known as fine particulate matter. • Fine particles can lodge in the lungs and aggravate conditions such as asthma and bronchitis • US EPA has determined that diesel exhaust is a likely human carcinogen.

5. Diesel Exhaust and Children • Children are more susceptible to air pollution than adults because their respiratory systems are still developing, and they breathe at a faster rate • See Clean School Bus USA http://www.epa.gov/otaq/schoolbus/humanhealth.htm

6. Information on Health Effects • U.S. EPA’s Health Assessment Document for Diesel Exhaust http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplay.cfm?deid=29060 • University of Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study http://eh.uc.edu/ccaaps/

7. Why School Buses? • 1.3 million Ohio children ride school buses • Children’s school bus commute potentially exposes them to significantly higher concentrations of pollutants than what is measured in the community’s outdoor air.

8. Why School Buses? • Statistics show that school buses are the safest way to transport children. • Ohio EPA wants to help ensure that school buses are also the cleanest way to transport children

9. Why “Middle-Aged” School Buses? • Control technologies are already installed on newer buses (model years 2007 on) • Buses of years 1994-2006 are likely to be on the road for many more years • USEPA required refiners to switch to ULSD fuel to reduce air pollution, and because some retrofit technologies require it.

10. Program Goals • Retrofit existing school buses with devices that reduce pollution • Reduce school bus idling • Provide assistance funding to Ohio school districts for successful approaches to reducing bus pollution

11. Please note: • This is a voluntary program.

12. Ohio’s Clean Diesel School Bus Fund • Over $1 million available for grants in September 2009 • School districts may apply for up to $300,000, and apply again in another cycle for another grant.

13. Funded from polluter penalties collected by Ohio EPA enforcement efforts ($600,000 per year), US EPA grant under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (~$300,000 per year), and stimulus funds (~$755,000 in spring 2009, ~$995,000 in fall 2009)

14. Results so far… • Since the program began in 2006, Ohio’s Clean Diesel School Bus Fund provided $3.3 million to retrofit 1,105school buses, and removed more than 16 ½ tons of pollutants from the air. • 49 school districts received grants

15. Who May Receive Grants? • Ohio School Districts • Applications will be accepted from school districts that propose to sub-contract with commercial school bus companies that provide their student transportation service, to retrofit buses owned by those companies. Retrofitted buses must be maintained in the fleet for 3 years.

16. MR/DD Programs • Ohio EPA is seeking legislative authority that will make school buses operated by MR/DD programs also eligible for retrofitting with these grants. This is in a proposed amendment to the state budget bill that must be approved by June 30, 2009.

17. Grant Application Deadlines* • September 1, 2009 • March 1, 2010 • September 1, 2010 • March 1, 2011 *if the Ohio General Assembly approves continuation of the program in the state budget process

18. Grant Sizes • $5,000 - $300,000 • Applicants are free to select less expensive catalysts for more buses, or more expensive filters for fewer buses. Applications will be considered based on overall reductions achieved.

19. Priority Grant Recipients • School districts located in counties designated by US EPA as non-attainment for fine particulate national ambient air quality standards • School districts that have an anti-idling policy or employ other measures that reduce air pollution from the district’s school bus fleet.

21. Grant Requirements • School districts must provide at least a 5% match, either in-kind or from other funding sources. Matches that fund additional retrofits are encouraged. • Installations/retrofits must be completed within one year. (Time extensions may be approved for good cause.)

22. Buses Eligible for Retrofits • Diesel-powered • Gross vehicle rating of 19,500 pounds or more (Types C & D) • Driven at least 5,000 miles per year • Model year 1994-2006 only

23. Technology Options • Ohio EPA will only fund equipment (specific make and model) on the USEPA or CARB verified technology lists. Ohio EPA is not able to verify other technologies. • Ohio EPA will consider proposals to fund the equipment needed to clean filters, and other verified air pollution control equipment. (Note that pre-heaters won’t score as well as retrofits.)

24. Technology Options • US EPA Verified Technologies www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/verif-list.htm • California Air Resources Board Verified Technologies www.arb.ca.gov/diesel/verdev/verdev.htm

25. Technology Options • Ohio EPA strongly encourages school districts to consider combining closed crankcase systems with the other technologies, to most efficiently reduce the blow-by emissions that can come up into the cabin of the bus

26. Fuel Options • Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) is required for some filter technologies. It is now the universally available diesel fuel since October 2006. • Biodiesel if compatible with equipment • Emulsified Diesel if compatible with equipment

27. Technologies selected so far • Most Ohio school districts have selected diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs), diesel particulate filters (DPFs), and closed crankcase filtration technologies (CCFTs)

28. Finding Vendors • See US EPA’s list of verified technologies www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/verif-list.htm • See US EPA’s list of retrofit contacts www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/contacts.htm

29. Unified Bid Opportunity • Ohio Department of Administrative Services has posted a state contract # OT901708 for installed retrofit equipment that school districts may access through June, 2009. (It is optional, not mandatory to use these vendors). • Online at http://procure.ohio.gov/proc/viewContractsAwards.asp?contractID=8697 • Ohio EPA will ask ODAS to seek bids for another state term contract for vendors for July 2009-June 2011. • Contact: Russell Perry 614-644-6743 russell.perry@das.state.oh.us

30. Factors Ohio EPA will consider in awarding grants • Anticipated level of PM 2.5 emission reductions, particularly in-cabin reductions • Demonstrated pollution reduction efforts, such as anti-idling programs in place • Anticipated level of reduction of other air pollutants such as CO and HC • Air quality (Level of non-attainment)

31. Factors Ohio EPA will consider in awarding grants • The applicant’s ability to carry out the proposed retrofits and maintain the equipment • Strength of match provided by applicant • Number of miles traveled by the affected buses • Geographic balance of grants awarded across Ohio

32. Grant Application • Application, can be downloaded online at www.epa.state.oh.us/oeef/html/schoolbus.html • Paper, faxed or e-mailed applications can be accepted, but we need an original signature copy by the deadline • Call if you don’t receive confirmation in 2 business days

33. Other Funding $ources • US EPA Clean School Bus Grants www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/ • Ohio Department of Development’s Diesel Emission Reduction Grants http://development.ohio.gov/diesel-emissions/ • List of additional grant sources www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/funding.htm

34. Publicizing Your Program • Order free copies of “The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up” from US EPA www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/msb-book.htm

35. For more information • www.epa.state.oh.us/oeef/html/schoolbus.html • On diesel bus retrofitting and air quality standards, John Paulian, Division of Air Pollution Control, 614-644-4832 • On the grant program, Carolyn Watkins, Office of Environmental Education, oeef@epa.state.oh.us or 614-644-2873