[StBernard] News Release (Region 6): Louisiana Receives Economic Recovery Funding from U.S. EPA

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana Receives Economic Recovery Funding from U.S. EPA to Reduce Diesel
Emissions, Create Jobs 

  

(Dallas, Texas - April 10, 2009) - In a move that stands to create jobs,
boost local economies, reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and
the environment for the people in the State of Louisiana, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $1.73 million to the
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ).  The funding can be
used to support clean diesel projects and loan programs to address the natio
n's existing fleet of over 11 million diesel engines.   

  

"This is how we create new, green jobs while we protect human health and the
environment," said EPA Acting Region 6 Administrator Lawrence E. Starfield.
"The Recovery Act will put Louisiana to work by improving water
infrastructure, cleaning up and redeveloping Superfund and Brownfields
sites, and developing clean diesel technologies that bolster the state's
economy. These projects not only create and protect jobs, but cut costs and
increase demand for materials, goods and services across th e state." 

  

The funds provided by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of
2009 will go to LDEQ to fund projects that reduce diesel emissions from
on-road and off-road equipment through idle reduction technologies, engine
upgrades and replacements, and cleaner fuels. 

  

In addition to helping to create and retain jobs, the clean diesel projects
would reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory
ailments, lost work days, and many other health impacts every year.  It's
estimated that the health benefits from diesel emissions reductions outweigh
the costs by a ratio of up to 13-to-1. 

  

Under ARRA's State clean diesel funding program, $88.2 million is divided
equally through a noncompetitive allocation process, meaning that all 50
states and the District of Columbia will receive $1.73 million. 

  

States, local governments, non-profits and tribal agencies can also compete
for a portion of $206 million under ARRA's National clean diesel funding
program. 

  

President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 on
February 17, 2009 and has directed that the Recovery Act be implemented with
unprecedented transparency and accountability.  To that end, the American
people can see how every dollar is being invested at Recovery.gov.


  

For information on EPA's implementation of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009 in Louisiana, visit
http://www.epa.gov/region6/eparecovery/index.htm. 

  

For information about EPA's clean diesel initiatives, visit
http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel. 

  

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