Rocky Mountain Clean Diesel Collaborative
ATTENTION! Clean Diesel Funding Available! Applications due April 28, 2009!Conference Call for potential Region 8 applicants on Tuesday March 31 2009 from 2-3pm Mountain Time. To listen to the conference playback over the phone or via the Internet, refer to the following instructions:
Playback by Phone
1. To access the conference specified above, dial the phone number shown below according to your locale.
US/Canada - 888-899-7904
2. At the prompt, enter the Playback ID (090080090) followed by the pound sign (#).
3. The playback will begin.
The following keypad commands are available during the conference playback:
3 Fast forward 30 seconds
7 Rewind 30 seconds
# Pause/Resume playback
* Exit playback
Playback via the Internet
1. To access the conference, click on the link below or paste the entire URL into your browser:
http://www2.teleconferencingcenter.com/moderator/presentation/Playback?id=10492dff-39e3-4a0a-8f7d-90f1ee53ec1d.rpm
2. At the prompt, enter Rebecca Russo and russo.rebecca@epa.gov
3. Click "Submit". The playback will begin.
All questions must be directed in writing to cleandiesel@epa.gov.
Please see Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Funding below
for details.
On this page:
- Upcoming Events
- Mission
- Current Partners
- Members
- Goals
- Benefits
- RMCDC News
- Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Funding Information
- Other Funding
- Examples of announcements from past grant competitions
- National Clean Diesel Campaign Initiative Fact Sheets
Reducing emissions from diesel engines is one of the most important air quality challenges facing the country. Even with more stringent heavy-duty highway engine standards set to take effect over the next decade, over the next twenty years millions of diesel engines already in use will continue to emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, both of which contribute to serious public health problems. These problems are manifested by thousands of instances of premature mortality, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks, millions of lost work days, and numerous other health impacts.
The Rocky Mountain Clean Diesel Collaborative, the local arm of the National Clean Diesel Campaign is a partnership of federal, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, the private sector, and environmental groups in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. The Collaborative was established in November 2006 and is part of a national campaign to reduce diesel emissions.
Weekly conference calls regarding FY09 DERA Funding
These calls started Wednesday, February 25 from 2 - 3pm MDT. Call-in #: 866-299-3188; access code: 303-312-6757. The last of these calls will be held on March 25.
Mission:
Reduce diesel emissions through voluntary efforts to improve air quality and protect human health by promoting grants, leveraging additional funding and offering technical assistance and education to interested parties in Region 8.
Current Partners:
A Collaborative partner is any public or private organization striving to reduce diesel emissions through innovative strategies in diesel technology, renewable fuels and energy efficiency.
- Federal Partners: U.S. EPA Region 8, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Colorado Division; Federal Transit Authority (FTA).
- Colorado Partners: Denver Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC), Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE), Denver Department of Environmental Health, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Clean Cities Denver.
- Utah Partners: Utah Department of Air Quality; Clean Cities Salt Lake City.
![School bus](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090509212956im_/http://www.epa.gov/region8/images/schoolbus.jpg)
A member is any public or private organization or person who wishes to be involved with and/or informed about RMCDC projects. Members will receive periodic updates from RMCDC and information related to clean diesel practices.
- Upgrade/retrofit existing diesel engines with improved emission control technologies
- Replace oldest engines/vehicles with newer, less polluting engines/vehicles
- Convert fleets to cleaner burning fuels and/or biofuels
- Encourage policies and practices to reduce unnecessary idling
- Assist with clean diesel projects by promoting grants and leveraging additional funding
Reducing diesel emissions has significant public health benefits. Diesel exhaust contributes to unhealthy levels of fine particles, ozone ("brown cloud") and air toxics. Fine particles have been associated with increased adverse respiratory symptoms, such as asthma, an increased risk of premature death, and numerous other health impacts. Encouraging cleaner diesel practices reduces fuel consumption and excess engine wear, both of which save money.
-
To become an RMCDC partner or member, please contact:
Rebecca Russo, U.S. EPA Region 8 at 303-312-6757 or russo.rebecca@epa.gov
![Idling](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090509212956im_/http://www.epa.gov/region8/images/idling.jpg)
EPA is pleased to announce the winners from the FY08 grant season.
Regional Air Quality Council - $455,645
The RAQC is partnering with owners and operators of over-the-road, off-road and on-road diesel vehicles. They will retrofit these vehicles with 40 APU's, 25 idle reduction timers and 40 DOC/CCF combinations. They will also complete 5 engine repowers and use ULSD.
Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment - $400,000
The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment will purchase engine pre-heaters, diesel oxidation catalysts and closed crank-case filtration units for 98 school buses throughout the state.
Utah Department of Environmental Quality - $400,000
The Utah Department of Qir Quality will retrofit 190 school buses with diesel oxidation catalysts and closed crankcase ventilation units.
Sioux Falls School District - $300,000
Sioux Falls, through a partnership with School Bus Inc., will purchase 6-7 new school buses.
City and County of Denver - $200,000
The City and County of Denver will install fuel operated hydraulic and cab heaters on 31 refuse vehicles, fuel operated cab heaters will be installed on 17 refuse vehicles and on 6 snow removal vehicles.
Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Funding Information
FY 2009 NCDC Funding Opportunities Coming Soon
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law on February 17, 2009, includes $300 million to support Clean Diesel activities. This funding will be offered this year in addition to EPA's FY 2009 National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program Appropriations. There will be separate competitive announcements issued for the ARRA Funding for National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program and the FY 2009 National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program Appropriation funds. The National Clean Diesel Campaign's priority will be to award ARRA funding first, followed by 2009 fiscal year appropriations.
The competitive announcements for the ARRA Funding for National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program will be available in mid March 2009. Visit this web site for updates and competition schedule information. Competitive announcements for ARRA funding will also be listed at www.recovery.gov as they become available.
Please note that ARRA Funding for National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program will have an expedited competition schedule and that applicants must comply with ARRA provisions. We expect a 40-day application period for all competitive announcements. The application must contain the following forms in addition to the proposal work plan and budget narrative detail: Standard Form 424 (PDF) (2 pp, 110K), Standard Form 424A (PDF) (4 pp, 187K), Standard Form 424B (PDF) (2 pp, 37K), Standard Form LLL (PDF) (2 pp, 45K), EPA Form 4700-4 (PDF) (2 pp, 22K), and EPA Form 5700-54 (Word) (2 pp, 28K).
Prospective grant applicants should begin preparations now for the upcoming competitions by completing the following steps prior to the competition announcements:
-
Assess diesel fleets and identify eligible vehicles.
Establish eligible partnerships.
Prepare fleet and proposal descriptions.
Evaluate public health benefits, costs effectiveness, and emission reductions of the proposed project. See the Diesel Emission Quantifier.
Review prior NCDC competitive announcements.
General Information
Funding for the National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program is authorized by Title VII, Subtitle G (Sections 791 to 797) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, signed August 8, 2005 (EPAct 2005) and is the normal yearly funding separate from the ARRA funding described above. This authorization enables EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign to offer awards to eligible organizations and entities on a competitive basis. This funding is used to create clean diesel programs that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions that improve air quality and protect public health.
Under the National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program, priority implementation projects are those that accomplish the following:
-
Maximize public health benefits
Are the most cost effective
Serve areas with highest population density; that are in poor air quality areas, including
- nonattainment and maintenance areas, Federal Class I Areas
- areas with toxic pollutant concerns
- areas receiving a disproportionate quantity of air pollution from diesel fleets including truck stops, ports, rail yards, terminals and distribution centers
- areas that use a community-based multi-stakeholder collaborative process to reduce toxics emissions
Maximize the useful life of any certified engine configuration, verified technology, or emerging technology
Conserve diesel fuel
Use diesel fuel with a sulfur content of less than or equal to 15 ppm (for nonroad engines)
Recovery Act Clean Diesel Programs
The National Clean Diesel Campaign portion of the Recovery Act funding is divided into four programs.- The Recovery Act Funding for the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program will receive approximately $156 million. This funding will be awarded on a competitive basis to support diesel emission reduction programs.
- The Request For Application (RFA) (PDF, 43 pp, 260K) for the Recovery Act Funding for the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program is now available.
- The Recovery Act Funding for the National Clean Diesel Emerging Technology Program will receive approximately $20 million. This funding will support the use, development and commercialization of emerging technologies that reduce emissions from diesel engines.
- The Request For Application (RFA) (PDF, 30 pp, 200K) for the Recovery Act Funding for the National Clean Diesel Emerging Technology is now available.
- The Recovery Act Funding for the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program will receive approximately $30 million. This funding will support the creation of national, state or local innovative clean diesel financing programs.
- The Request For Application (RFA) (PDF, 41 pp, 230K) for the Recovery Act Funding for the SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program is now available.
- The Recovery Act Funding for the State Clean Diesel Grant Program will receive approximately $88 million. This funding will be available to support clean diesel grant and loan programs administered by states and the District of Columbia.
This Recovery Act funding will be offered this year in addition to any EPA FY 2009 National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program appropriations. There will be separate competitive announcements issued for the Recovery Act funding and for the FY 2009 National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program Appropriation funds.
DERA Grant Programs
1. National Component
Recovery Act funding will have an expedited competition schedule and applicants must comply with Recovery Act provisions. We anticipate a 40-day application period for the Clean Diesel Program competitive announcements (the Emerging Technology Program will be open 47 days).
a. National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program
- The National Request for Applications (RFA) is due to be published on March 17 and will close on April 27. Region 8 anticipates granting 4-6 grants between the amounts of $100,000 and $3M.
We are going to have weekly calls to talk about your issues, questions, etc. Please bring all of your questions to those meetings as we will have a difficult time answering all of your calls and e-mails individually. The meetings will be held each Wednesday afternoon from 2pm to 3pm (MDT) starting on Wednesday, February 25, through Wednesday, March 11. The call-in number will be 866-299-3188, access code: 303-312-6757.
Other Information for you:
The Grants & Funding page has language regarding the Stimulus funding and potential grant competition opportunities.
We also have a new resource called "Tips for a Successful Diesel Retrofit Project: DOCs, DPFs, & CCVs"
FY08 Grantees:
b. Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Program
The National Request for Applications (RFA) is due to be published on March 17 and will close on April 27.
FY2008 Fact Sheet PDF (2 pp, 65K)
FY2008 RFP
c. SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program
FY09 information will be coming soon!
2. State Component:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law on February 17, 2009 includes $300 million to support Clean Diesel activities. This funding will be offered this year in addition to EPA's FY 2009 National Diesel Emissions Reduction Program Appropriations.
70% of DERA funds are provided for national competitive grants and 30% are allocated to States electing to participate in the program. If all 50 States and the District of Columbia elect to participate, each would receive approximately $1.7M. Also, approximately 15% of the funds will be available for States to cover administrative costs (personnel, travel, etc.).
We highly advise starting your paperwork NOW. SF 424 and 424a are standard forms that do not change. You can access them here.
For more information on any of these grant programs, please go to www.epa.gov/cleandiesel
You may also visit these pages for more information on other Regional Collaboratives:
National Clean Diesel Campaign Initiative Fact Sheets
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Clean School Bus USA Fact Sheet PDF (1 pg, 40K) |
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SmartWay Transport Partnership Fact Sheet PDF (1 pg, 42K) |
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Clean Agriculture USA Fact Sheet PDF (1 pg, 39K) |
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Clean Construction USA Fact Sheet PDF (1 pg, 39K) |