FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2009
DHEC announces recipients of grants to reduce diesel emissions
COLUMBIA – Grant funding has been awarded for projects to reduce diesel emissions in South Carolina, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced today.
“Reducing diesel emissions is one of the most important air quality challenges we face in South Carolina,” said Myra Reece, chief of DHEC’s Bureau of Air Quality. “It is critical to protect the environment, but even more important to preserve the health of our citizens.”
DHEC is awarding nine grants totaling more than $246,000 under the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program.
“We congratulate Greenville County, Anderson County, Blythewood High School, the University of South Carolina, Moran Towing of Charleston and four locations of Hanson Aggregates, who will use the funds for projects that include retrofit technologies, engine re-powers, cleaner fuel use, and education about the importance of reducing diesel emissions,” Reece said.
These diesel emission reduction projects were made possible by a grant DHEC received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Diesel Program. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 allocated DERA funding to improve public health and air quality through diesel emission reductions.
For information on current and future DERA grant opportunities, please visit DHEC’s Web site at: http://www.scdhec.gov/DERA.
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For public inquiries:
Adam Page – (803) 898-1423
E-mail – pageac@dhec.sc.gov
For media inquiries:
Clair Boatwright – (803) 898-4461
E-mail – boatwrc@dhec.sc.gov
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