You Hold the Key to a Healthier Ride!

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You Hold the Key to a Healthier Ride!

• Realities of Clean School Bus USA
• Paula Krall
• EPA Region III School Summit
• April 7, 2005

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Clean School Bus USA What is the Concern?

• School buses provide safe, convenient
  transportation to 24 million children most of
  the buses are diesel powered.
• Awareness in communities is increasing regarding
  the link between childrens exposure to exhaust
  from diesel school buses and health issues.
• The good news - technology, fuels and practices
  exist to make school buses cleaner for healthier
  kids and communities.

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Clean School Bus USA is

• A partnership of public and private sector
  leaders
• Launched in April 2003 to provide the cleanest
  possible transportation for this generation of
  school children by
• Reducing school bus idling reinforcing smart
  driving practices
• Retrofitting buses with modern pollution control
  technology
• Replacing the oldest buses with new, cleaner
  buses
• Our Goal modernize 100 of the nations fleet by
  2010
• Benefits healthier kids and communities

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Learn the Three Rs

• Reduce Idling and Reinforce Smart Driving
  Practices
• Retrofit Buses
• Replace Buses

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Reduce Idling Reinforce Smart Driving Practices

• Reduce Idling
• Train drivers with EPAs new anti-idle video
• Power flashing lights with the battery, not the
  engine
• In cold weather, warm the engine using block
  heaters and provide a room inside the school
  where drivers can wait
• In warm weather, provide air conditioned waiting
  room for drivers

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Reduce Idling Reinforce Smart Driving Practices

• Reinforce Smart Driving Practices
• Establish anti-caravanning policies
• Dont follow closely behind other diesel vehicles
  especially if there is visible smoke
• Ensure good maintenance of fleet
• Plan routes to reduce diesel exhaust exposure

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Retrofit

• A retrofit can be
• any change to an engine system above and beyond
  what is required by EPA regulations that improves
  the engines emission performance
• Catalyst or filter
• Engine upgrade
• Early engine replacement
• Use of cleaner fuels
• Idling control equipment
• Combination of above
• EPAs Retrofit web site maintains a list of
  manufacturers and verified technology

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Replacement Options

• Cleaner Diesel, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and
  Propane offer very low emissions
• In addition, replacement buses offer new safety
  features
• Replacement engines are also an option

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Region 3 Salutes Successful Fleets

• 2003 5 million budgeted-17 chosen
• General McLane School District-Edinboro, PA
• Awarded 60,000
• Retrofit 40 buses with diesel oxidation catalysts
• North Allegheny School District-Pittsburgh, PA
• Awarded 125,000
• Retrofit 84 buses with diesel oxidation catalysts
  
• 2004 5 million budgeted-20
  chosen
• Upper Darby School District-Upper Darby, PA
• Awarded 485,000
• Retrofit 58 buses with diesel particulate filters
  
• Operate entire fleet on ultra-low sulfur diesel
  

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On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!Clean School Bus USA
Grants

• 7.5 million to EPA for CSB grants in 2005.
• RFP under development- post mid-April with
  application due May/June (45 days after posting).
  
• s intended for projects that demonstrate a
  variety of approaches to reduce school bus
  emissions through retrofit or replacement

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Clean School Bus USA Grants

• Eligibility is for school districts.
• School Districts CAN contract with private
  fleets, but school district must be grant
  applicant.
• FY06 Presidents budget 10milllion for Clean
  School Bus program

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Retrofit and Idling Funding Opportunities

• 2.6 million Small Businesses- Announced by HQ on
  March 9 to fund 34 small companies in six key
  environmental areas.
• 69,900-Newark, De to retrofit and low cost small
  industrial boiler flue gas purification
  technology
• 5 million Idling Reduction
• 500,000 small business, 95 of project cost
  (i.e., small trucking companies etc.
• 1.5 million for OEM facilities to install APUs
• 3 million for new areas-large projects at ports,
  borders and TSE.

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Additional Funding Opportunities

• CARE- is community-driven and uses a multi-media
  approach to identify and reduce all sources of
  toxics.
• FY 2005- 1.5 million nationally in CARE grants.
  An RFP to go out in Spring of 2005.

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Additional Funding Opportunities

• FY-2005-06 Innovations Grants- 250,000
• In its 3rd round- aimed at strengthen innovation
  partnerships with States. 3 key themes
• EMS and permitting relationship
• Environmental Results Programs model applications
  to improve compliance and performance across
  business sectors
• Seek build state support for EPAs National
  Environmental Performance Track Program.
• April 24, 2005- Response pre-proposal budget
• Selections June 2005

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What Can School Districts Do Now?

• Notify EPA of your interest now by providing your
  contact information.
• Describe the kind of program you would like to
  implement.
• Talk to verified technology vendors about the
  technology that might be right for your fleet.
• Visit www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/retroverifiedlist.
  htm

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You Can Prepare by . .

• Checking the Clean School Bus USA web site at
  http//www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus and federal
  grants website at http//www.grants/gov.
• Assessing your fleets by compiling records of
  vehicle and engine models ages annual mileage,
  etc.
• Identifying local resources that could be used to
  satisfy matching fund requirements such as local
  or state funding and/or private sector
  contributions.

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Take Action Now

• Reduce your fleets, school buses (including
  nonroad equipment), etc. idling time to a
  minimum.
• Train drivers to avoid caravanning.
• Put the newest, cleanest buses in your fleet on
  the most active routes.
• Check the web site regularly for information and
  ideas.

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EPAs National Clean Diesel Campaign

• Call or email your questions
• Paula Krall, CSB, U.S. EPA, Region 3,
  215-814-2067, krall.paula_at_epa.gov.
• Kelly Sheckler, Voluntary programs/Energy, U.S.
  EPA, Region 3, [phone], sheckler.kelly_at_epa.
  gov

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Together. . . we can get it done!
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Important Web Sites

• EPAs Clean School Bus USA http//www.epa.gov/clea
  nschoolbus
• EPAs Clean School Bus USA Demonstration Projects
  http//www.epa.gov/otaq/schoolbus/demo_projects.ht
  m
• EPA verified technologies http//www.epa.gov/otaq/
  retrofit/retroverifiedlist.htm
• EPA Grant Information http//www.epa.gov/otaq/scho
  olbus/funding.htm
• http//www.grants/gov