WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency has announced its 2009/2010 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program and school districts have little time to their I’s dotted and their T’s crossed. The Dec. 8 deadline on gives districts two months to submit a request for proposals.

For fiscal year 2009/2010, the total funding is estimated at approximately $64 million, which includes all non-tribal and tribal awards. The School Bus Replacement portion of the funding will go to replacing buses that meet EPA’s 2010 emissions levels for heavy-duty highway vehicles for up to 50 percent of the cost. But EPA’s 2007 emission compliant buses will not be left out and will be covered for up to 25 percent of the cost.

The recent funding announcement gives districts a small window of time to research eligibility, put together an application and submit it, as was the case with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. When ARRA funding was announced last February, which included $300 million in clean diesel funds, applicant also only had about two months to get everything in by the April 28 deadline.

"School districts, other government agencies and other eligible applicants, particularly those that applies this summer and did not receive grants, should be able to get their applications in the period of time being provided," said Gabe Rozsa, director of BKSH & Associates, a Washington, D.C.-based firm that provides government relations services. "Also, there is likely to be another round following on the heels of this one when the FY10 funding becomes available – that should be in a few months." 

Vehicles that are being replaced must be junked or returned to the OEM for remanufacturing "to a certified cleaner emission standard." School districts must also provide evidence of the disposal — i.e. engine serial number and vehicle identification number — as part of the final assistance agreement report submitted to EPA. But, any replacements that is part of normal turnover or purchases that are meant to expand the fleet are not covered by the funding.