The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas
Parent Teacher Association announced today that they will work
together to distribute funding to clean the air and protect school
children from harmful particulate matter by retrofitting school
buses. The funding will come from a portion of penalties assessed
by the commission that is used to support Supplemental
Environmental Projects.
"I am delighted that the PTA is joining us to administer funds
to clean up school bus fleets in Texas," said TCEQ Commissioner
Larry R. Soward. "Working with such a strong partner gives each of
our organizations a greater positive impact on the air quality of
the state and the health of our school children."
Through SEP funding, Texas school districts can install
pollution control devices on diesel school buses. These devices
reduce particulate matter emissions that can aggravate respiratory
problems, asthma and allergies in children who ride the buses.
Funding may also be available to replace buses model year 1991 or
older with 2007 or newer models resulting in a reduction in
particulate matter emissions of up to 90 percent or more.
"Drivers, students, passengers and teachers are all subject to
harmful diesel exhaust emissions from school buses on our
roadways," said Kyle Ward, Texas PTA executive director. "We look
forward to distributing funds to school districts to reduce these
problems through the use of cleaner technology."
Individual projects are funded based on qualifying enforcement
actions taken by the commission. The amount of funding the PTA can
receive is up to a maximum of $5 million per year, and the number
of locations and projects may vary.
For information on Texas PTA, contact Stacy
Glover—512-476-6769.
