EPA Awarded Grant to Manitowoc Public School District to Cut Diesel Emissions from School Buses

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has awarded a $37,271 grant to the Manitowoc Public School District in Manitowoc, Wis., for a project to cut diesel emissions from the district's school buses.

EPA said the grant will be used to install idling reduction equipment on 14 school buses. The buses already have diesel emission reduction equipment and burn low-sulfur diesel fuel. In addition, the buses will be getting crankcase filtration systems funded by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

"The Manitowoc Public School District project is one of many EPA projects nationwide to upgrade buses so students can breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives," said Acting Regional Administrator Bharat Mathur. "Breathing diesel exhaust is not good for anyone, especially children."

The grant is part of EPA's Clean School Bus USA program. The goal of the program is to reduce children's exposure to diesel exhaust and the amount of air pollution created by diesel school buses. School buses are the safest way for children to get to school. However, pollution from diesel vehicles has health implications for everyone.