Air Quality Bureau
New Mexico to Use $1.73 Million from EPA for Reducing Diesel Emissions and Sustaining/Creating Jobs
Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funding: State Clean Diesel Grant Program
Putting people to work to clean the air
The New Mexico Environment Department is pleased to announce the recipients of the ARRA/DERA State Clean Diesel Grant Program, whose funding is provided through a one-time Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (“DERA”) federal grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”) of 2009. The NMED will award a total of $1,570,710 to replace, re-power, and retrofit diesel engines, and install auxiliary power units on heavy-duty on- and off-road diesel-fueled vehicles in New Mexico. These projects will create or preserve jobs, boost local economies, reduce diesel emissions and protect human health and the environment.
The projects will significantly reduce particular matter, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide emissions which can help reduce premature deaths, asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, as well as reduce lost work days. Additional benefits include significant fuel savings and associated operational costs.
The recipients of the ARRA/DERA funding and their projects are as follows:
- Capone Enterprises/All American Waste Removal - $200,000. All American Waste Removal will replace one existing refuse hauler with one that meets the 2010 emissions standards for on-road, heavy-duty diesel-fueled trucks.
- City of Albuquerque - $642,699. The City of Albuquerque will use funds to retrofit city-owned vehicles with diesel oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filters, and closed crank case ventilation systems, fuel operated heaters, and auxiliary power units.
- East/West Transport - $10,153. East/West Transport will install one auxiliary power unit.
- San Miguel County - $515,858. San Miguel County will replace three county-owned vehicles with trucks that meet the 2010 emissions standards for on-road, heavy-duty diesel-fueled trucks.
- Taos County - $202,000. Taos County will replace one existing county-owned truck with one that meets the 2010 emissions standards for on-road, heavy-duty diesel-fueled trucks.
For your assistance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a web-based diesel emission quantifier on their website at http://cfpub.epa.gov/quantifier/view/index.cfm.
If you are interested in reducing diesel emissions in your fleet and want to propose a project under this program, please contact Project Manager Rita Bates at 505-476-4304 or email at rita.bates@state.nm.us.
Priorities - Where Will the Funds Be Spent?
To realize the greatest public health benefit, the Environment Department will focus on projects in those areas with high populations and compromised air quality. The City of Albuquerque has committed a portion of the City's diesel fleet to repower. We are working to finalize commitments with other cities and towns. Please check back frequently to find out which other communities will benefit from this funding.
Another goal of the program is to promote the creation and/or preservation of jobs and aiding economic recovery. The implementation of these projects will benefit the stabilization and growth of both the local and national economy by:
- Increasing demand for products on a local and national scale.
- Using vendors based in the areas where the projects will be implemented.
- Using local technical staff trained in the installations and maintenance of the retrofit equipment. This aids in job retention and creates new positions to meet the additional work load.
- Increasing demand for products and services will increase economic stability within the local communities.
What Is a Retrofit?
Typically, a diesel retrofit involves the installation of an emission control device to reduce emissions from engine exhaust and the installation of equipment to reduce engine idling.
Why Retrofit?
Installing retrofit equipment has significant public health benefits. The installation of diesel emission reduction equipment will have immediate and lasting results in protecting New Mexico residents, children, and other sensitive populations from harmful emissions including fine particles, ozone and air toxics that can exacerbate asthma and other respiratory symptoms.
Measured benefits from reducing diesel exhaust emissions include:
- Fewer incidences and reduced severity of illnesses such as asthma and other chronic respiratory illness
- Fewer lost school days and work days
- Fewer hospital visits due to respiratory illness
- Reduced cancer risks for occupational levels of exposure and from ordinary outdoor air exposure
Eligible Projects
The New Mexico program will use grant funds for clean diesel projects on public or private fleets using retrofit technologies that are EPA verified or verified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), including:
- Diesel oxidation catalysts
- Flow-through filters
- Closed crankcase ventilation systems
25% PM reduction
50% HC reduction
30% CO reduction
50% PM reduction
75% HC reduction
75% CO reduction
- Idle reduction technologies that are EPA-verified. Including:
- Early replacement and repower with certified engine configurations
Diesel-fired engine heaters
Auxiliary power units
Current Clean Diesel Projects in New Mexico
In New Mexico, grant funds administered through the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act for FY08 are being used for the implementation of a retrofit project for the Farmington New Mexico School District’s school bus fleet. NMED is partnering with the school district to install 55 diesel oxidation catalysts and closed crankcase ventilation systems on the fleet.
How to Apply
If you are interested in reducing diesel emissions in your fleet and want to propose a project under this program, please contact Project Manager Rita Bates at 505-476-4304 or email at rita.bates@state.nm.us. NMED will evaluate the costs and benefits of the project and prioritize it among others under consideration. The NMED will handle all procurement as well as project management and oversight.
Links
For more information on the grant program, clean diesel programs and health effects of emissions from diesel engines, click on the following links.
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