DECEMBER 2018 • FOGHORN 37 NEWSWIRE EPA Awards $4.7 Million to Curb Diesel Pollution in Mid-Atlantic Region Some PVA members operating in the Mid-Atlantic Region will receive government funding aimed at reducing engine emissions. On November 13, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced funding for clean diesel projects totaling $4.7 million to reduce air pollution from aging diesel engines in the Mid-Atlantic region. The funding will go to the Maryland Environmental Service (MES), the Mid- Atlantic Regional Air Management Association, (MARAMA) and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (WashCOG). “Taking steps to reduce emissions from older diesel engines rates among some of the most cost-effective measures we can take to improve the air we all breathe,” said EPA Regional Administrator Cosmo Servidio. “These grants are prioritizing clean diesel ac- tivities to areas that have complex air quality challenges in the Mid-Atlantic region, so they can help reduce health and environmental harm from diesel emissions.” EPA’s Clean Diesel Program provides support for projects that protect human health and improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions from diesel engines. This program includes grants and rebates funded under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA). Maryland Environmental Service (MES) EPA will provide $2.5 million to the port of Baltimore to assist MES in its efforts to reduce diesel emissions and exposure at the port. This project will replace or repower cargo handling equipment and drayage trucks, as well as marine engines on the pleasure vessel, The Spirit of Baltimore, which will improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions by 37 tons of PM, 398 tons of NOx, 165 tons of CO, and 724 tons of CO2, as well as saving 64,450 gallons of fuel. Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (WashCOG) EPA will provide WashCOG with $882,000 to partially fund the repower- ing of four diesel propulsion engines and four auxiliary engines on two marine passenger vessels operated by Entertainment Cruises. These vessels are currently operating on the Potomac River in Washington, DC and sur- rounding communities in Maryland and Virginia. The retrofits will result in reductions of 418 tons of NOx, and 10 tons of PM.  n