Region 4 Clean School Bus Program

National Information

The goal of Clean School Bus USA is to reduce both children's exposure to diesel exhaust and the amount of air pollution created by diesel school buses.

Region-wide Efforts

Region 4 EPA is working with states to:

Encourage purchasing of new buses that meet EPA's new standards ahead of schedule.
Develop or expand state testing programs for diesel vehicles.
Promote the use of Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) ahead of its scheduled introduction in 2006.
Be a research partner in the study of heavy-duty diesel vehicle activity factors.
Implement additional retrofit projects.

2004 Clean School Bus USA Grant Recipients

Georgia Department of Natural Resources - Environmental Protection Division - Atlanta, GA

Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources will develop a statewide Adopt-A-School Bus program. Initially, the program will provide four participating school districts with funding and technical support to retrofit school buses and use clean fuels (e.g., ultra low sulfur fuel). They will also develop extensive outreach materials. Early adoption of ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel is a key part of a regional air pollution control strategy. The four school districts will serve as demonstration showcases for emission reduction strategies for school buses. They will also serve as resource centers for other school systems wishing to implement these strategies. The early introduction of ULSD for purposes of this project is expected to help generate sufficient demand for the fuel so that it will become more ecomonical, and therefore will be utilized more broadly in the area. The combination of particulate filters and ULSD will help not only to reduce particulate emissions but also the emissions of ozone precursors such as Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC). The Atlanta area has been recently reclassified as a severe ozone non-attainment area under the one hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and is also non-attainment for the eight hour ozone NAAQS.

Moss Point Public Schools - Moss Point MS

The Moss Point Public Schools will equip its entire fleet of 31 buses with diesel oxidation catalysts and implement anti-idling policies. The Moss Point School System has a large percentage of older buses that serve sensitive populations. These buses will remain in the fleet for a number of years before being replaced with cleaner, low emitting buses. Additionally, the school system will develop and implement an anti-idling policy to reduce emissions from school buses while they are parked at schools.

Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County - Tampa, FL

The Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County (EPC) and Hillsborough County Schools will install approximately 170 diesel oxidation catalysts on buses in the Tampa, Florida area. Emphasis will be placed on retrofitting buses that serve sensitive populations. The EPC will also work with the schools to develop other innovative strategies to reduce pollution from buses, such as anti-idling and bus replacement programs. The area is also investigating clean fuels to reduce emissions from buses.

June 4, 2004: Chattanooga To Retrofit School Buses With A Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Grant

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Air Pollution Control Bureau (CHCAPCB) and First Student, Inc., a local private school bus contractor, have established a public/private partnership to retrofit approximately 83 buses with diesel oxidation catalysts. Buses selected for retrofitting will be utilized on routes that service sensitive populations. Additionally, the CHCAPCB is working to develop other innovative strategies to reduce emissions from school buses, such as anti-idling policies and cleaner fuels.

2003 Clean School Bus USA Grant Recipients

Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency - Asheville, NC

One of the proposals selected for funding from EPA’s Clean School Bus USA program is a project in the Asheville, North Carolina area. Building on the successful implementation of school bus retrofit program in Buncombe County, North Carolina, the Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency (WNCRAQA) will establish a subgrant program to expand a pilot retrofit project and help four primarily rural counties surrounding Asheville. Buncombe, Haywood, Madison, and Transylvania Counties, will install diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) in 321 buses. This area is part of the scenic Smokey Mountains and a critical area for reducing particulate matter emissions and preserving clear vistas.

Columbus Municipal School District - Columbus, MS

The project submitted by the Columbus Municipal School District has also been selected for funding as part of EPA’s Clean School Bus USA grant competition. This project will be a demonstration of emission reductions achieved by the installation and operation of diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) in a small urban bus fleet. The Columbus School District will retrofit 47 of their fleet of 59 buses.

Previous Efforts

Alabama

(Retrofit) Birmingham: With the assistance of a grant from EPA, the Birmingham school district has installed diesel oxidation catalysts on approximately 60 buses. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management is administering the grant. They are conducting a bus-driver survey to gather information on any impacts the catalysts may have on performance and/or maintenance.

Georgia

(Retrofit) Atlanta: The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), assisted with an EPA grant, has installed 68 diesel oxidation catalysts on Clayton County school buses. In addition, the Georgia EPD is negotiating with seven other metro Atlanta school systems to install diesel oxidation catalysts. Funding for those retrofits will come from various other sources.

North Carolina

(Retrofit) Asheville: The Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency has put out a request for proposals to retrofit Buncombe County school buses. Assistance is being provided through an EPA grant.
(Retrofit) Charlotte: The Mecklenberg County Air Quality agency and the Charlotte-Mecklenberg School System have formed a partnership to retrofit selected buses with diesel oxidation catalysts. EPA has provided a grant and a request for proposal is being prepared.

Contact Information

More regional information is available from Dale Aspy, (404) 562-9041, Alan Powell, (404) 562-9045, or Kelly Sheckler, (404) 562-9222.