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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio EPA and the Dayton Public Schools announced efforts to reduce school bus emissions Monday.

The U.S. and Ohio EPA are providing $330,375 to DPS to assist in replacing 15 old diesel school buses with new, clean diesel buses. This contribution is about 25% of the total cost.

“The Dayton Public School District is thankful for this partnership because of the health benefits it will bring to our students and to the entire Dayton community,” said Dayton Public Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli.

The funding comes from a combination of $55,050 in a U.S. EPA Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant to Ohio EPA, and $275,325 as Ohio’s match from the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust Fund settlement. The school district will pay $991,125 for its 75% share of the cost of the new buses.  

This project will reduce annual emissions by almost three tons every year, reducing exposure to nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and carbon monoxide.

“This grant helps to ensure that more children and everyone in the Dayton area will have better, healthier air to breathe and enjoy,” Ohio EPA Director Laurie A. Stevenson said.  

Children are more susceptible to air pollution than healthy adults because their respiratory systems are still developing and they have faster breathing rates. Asthma, which affects 6.3 million American school children, is the most common long-term childhood disease in America, making newer, cleaner buses an urgent priority. 

“EPA is proud to partner with Ohio EPA and Dayton Public Schools to provide funding for cleaner school buses that will help to protect children from the harmful effects of diesel pollution,” said EPA Region 5 Administrator Cathy Stepp. “Protecting children’s health is one of EPA’s most important responsibilities, so it’s exciting to be celebrating this project in Dayton that will help so many students breathe easier.”

For more information about clean diesel and DERA funding: https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel

For more information about children’s health: https://www.epa.gov/children