The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $1,254,919 in Diesel Emission Reduction Act funding to federally recognized tribes in Washington to reduce harmful emissions from stationary diesel generators and marine vessels.
The funds will go to engine replacement projects for the Quinault Indian Nation, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and the Lummi Indian Business Council.
“The Biden Administration continues to work with Tribal nations across the country to replace or upgrade older, higher polluting diesel engines, making important progress in reducing pollution and advancing environmental justice across the country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan in a written statement. “With an unprecedented $5 billion investment in low- and zero-emission school buses from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law coming soon for communities across the country, this is only the beginning.”
The Quinault Indian Nation received $510,508 to replace marine engines operating on two tribal fishing vessels. This comes after a multi-phase project with previous EPA funding awarded to the Tribe in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
These engines will be used within and around the Quinault Indian Reservation in Grays Harbor County.
Since 2008, the program has awarded nearly 700 grants across the U.S. in 600 communities. Many of these projects fund cleaner diesel engines in “economically disadvantaged communities whose residents suffer from higher-than-average rates of asthma, heart and lung disease,” according to a news release from the agency.
These projects have reduced emissions from more than 66,000 engines.
To learn more, visit http://www.westcoastcollaborative.org.
