All News Releases By Date

 

E-media Kit: EPA Administrator Announces Millions of “Green” Recovery Act Dollars To Clean Southern California Air

Release Date: 10/01/2009
Contact Information: Mary Simms, 415/947-4270, [email protected] or Nahal Mogharabi, 415/947-4307, [email protected]

Obama Appointee and EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson at forefront of efforts to protect human health and the environment

LOS ANGELES -- In a move that stands to create jobs, boost local economies, and protect human health and the environment, U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced $26.5 million in funding for diesel emission reduction projects in Southern California under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This infusion of money will help the region finance projects to reduce diesel emissions, protecting public health and the environment across the region. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and other elected officials and state officials joined Administrator Jackson at Port Long Beach.

“Upgrading hundreds of vehicles and machinery to clean diesel technology will help create and save jobs and reduce the health and environmental costs of dirty diesel emissions. The 16 million residents of the South Coast can breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Putting green innovation, sustainable technology, and clean energy into action at these ports – our gateways to the global economy – will also send a powerful signal to the world that we can ensure our economic strength at the same time we protect our health and our environment.”

Pollution from dirty diesel engines remains one of the most significant health risks in California and has resulted in more than 2,000 hospitalizations, as well as more than 50,000 cases of asthma and lower respiratory symptoms each year. Children, the elderly, and community members living near major diesel sources are especially susceptible to air pollution.

These funds are being used to replace, repower and update diesel engines in school buses, heavy-duty trucks, locomotives, construction vehicles, and cargo handling equipment in the Southern California air basin, which includes Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties.

In addition to Jackson and Schwarzenegger, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and other local, state, and federal elected officials were on hand to celebrate the announcement at the Port of Long Beach.

“California is once again proving that what is right for the environment is also good for the economy,” said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “This funding will further California’s progress in cleaning our air while also supporting and creating green jobs, pumping up local economies and helping to protect the health of Californians.”

"I am proud to be here today with EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and Governor Schwarzenegger to announce these grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These resources will further support innovation, emission reduction and job creation in Los Angeles, specifically at the Port where we've already demonstrated that initiatives to clean the air, like the historic Clean Truck Program, work,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “We need to continue to take every opportunity to remove equipment reliant on dirty diesel. This isn't just about the quality of air, it's about the quality of life for all Angelenos and residents of Southern California so they do not get sick from diesel pollution. This funding will help Los Angeles further its role as a leader in sustainable, clean technology."

“Long Beach is proud to receive over $4 million in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds from the EPA’s National Clean Diesel Program to reduce emissions related to cargo-handling equipment and harbor craft,” said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. “Through our Green Port Policy and Clean Air Action Plan these funds will significantly help the Port meet its aggressive air quality improvement goals.”

Through partnerships with the California Air Resources Board, CalTrans, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles, these clean diesel projects will create jobs, boost local economies, and protect human health and the environment.

The awarded funds will eliminate approximately 26 tons of particulate matter, 453 tons of nitrogen oxides, and 920 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year from over 650 on- and off-road vehicles operating in the South Coast air basin.

Grant funding to the ports will include engine upgrades for more than 140 pieces of equipment, such as harbor craft and cargo handling equipment. The Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles are responsible for nearly 40 percent of containerized foods that flow in and out of the U.S. each year.

The more than $26 million will go to projects throughout the state including:

South Coast Air Quality Management District

§ $4 million for research on emerging clean heavy-duty truck technologies in Southern California.

Port of Long Beach

§ $4,008,250 to implement a large-scale diesel emission reduction project involving equipment replacements, engine repowers, and/or engine retrofits for approximately 112 pieces of cargo handling equipment, including rubber-tired gantry cranes, and two harbor craft currently in operation at the port.

Port of Los Angeles

§ $1,991,750 to replace, repower, and/or retrofit approximately 27 pieces of equipment currently in operation at the port including harbor crafts. The emission reductions achieved from this project will improve air quality and health in the surrounding areas.

California Air Resources Board (CARB)

§ $8,888,888 to repower a minimum of eight switch yard locomotives that operate in the South Coast Air Basin with new nonroad engines. The affected locomotives are owned and operate in the Southern California region. CARB was also awarded $1,730,000 in April to provide grants to school districts to retrofit school buses, including those that operate in Southern California.

California Department of Transportation

§ $951,431 to reduce emissions from construction equipment including crawler tractors, excavators, forklifts, graders, rollers, rubber tire loaders, surfacing equipment, sweepers, scrubbers, tractors, loaders, and backhoes.

As the first African-American head of the EPA, Administrator Jackson has made it a priority to focus on vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, and low-income communities that are particularly susceptible to environmental and health threats. She – along with more than 17,000 EPA professionals across the nation – is working to usher in a green economy, remove dangerous pollution from our air, land and water, and renew public trust in EPA’s work.

To date, more than $7 billion has been allotted to the EPA for environmental projects and to promote green jobs under the Recovery Act. President Obama 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 and for EPA specific projects visit Epa.gov/recovery.

For more information on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, please visit the EPA’s Web site at: https://www.epa.gov/recovery/

Fact sheets:

• Repowering Switch Yard Locomotives in Southern California
• Retrofitting Construction Equipment in California
• California School Bus Retrofits
• Reducing Diesel Emissions at the Port of Los Angeles
• Reducing Diesel Emissions at the Port of Long Beach
• Retrofit Heavy-Duty Trucks Powered by Exhaust Gas Recirculation with Johnson Matthey's Selective Reduction Technology
• Retrofit Heavy-Duty Trucks Powered by Non-Exhaust Gas Recirculation Engines with Johnson Matthey's Selective Catalytic Reduction Technology
• Summary: Grants in the South Coast Air Basin

Click a thumbnail to see the high resolution photo