The Allegheny County Health Department is inviting local school districts to apply for funding to retrofit diesel school buses with devices that not only cut external tailpipe emissions but also the air pollution that seeps inside where children are exposed while riding a bus.

“Retrofitting is the key to curbing emissions from pre-2007 diesel school buses which will remain on the road for many years to come,” said County Health Director Dr. Bruce W. Dixon. “The improved air quality would be especially beneficial to children, who are more sensitive to pollution and may be exposed on board a bus for long periods of time.”

Grants are available from the Allegheny County Clean Air Fund to cover 75 percent of retrofit costs, which can range from $1,000 to $10,000 per bus for various types of tailpipe retrofits and from $400 to $700 per bus for crankcase filters that reduce pollution which gets inside a bus.

The retrofit program is open to all public school districts in the county that operate their own fleet or use a school bus contractor. Districts with a large number of lower-income students qualify for full funding and will not be required to pay 25 percent of their retrofit costs.

A total of $500,000 is available for distribution to school districts that successfully apply for grants.

Applications and information about the program may be obtained by visiting the Health Department’s website or by calling Steve Noorbakhsh at 412-578-8180 or Jayme Graham at 412-578-8129.

School districts that intend to apply for a grant should submit a letter of interest by March 15, and must complete and return their grant application by July 15.

1/12/2007