Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Program
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Background
The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Program funds grants that aim to protect human health and improve air quality through the reduction of harmful emissions from diesel engines. DERA enables the EPA to offer funding to accelerate the upgrade and turnover of the nation’s legacy diesel engine fleet. Eligible activities include the retrofit or replacement of existing diesel engines, vehicles, and equipment with the EPA and California Air Resources Board certified engine configurations and verified retrofit and idle reduction technologies. The DERA program promotes an array of diesel emissions strategies by working with manufacturers, fleet operators, air quality professionals, environmental and community organizations and state and local officials to address the varying emissions reductions in areas receiving disproportionate impacts from diesel fleets to provide an environment where all people enjoy the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards.
As the program focuses on reducing air pollution from diesel emissions, applicants can also consider measures to anticipate, prepare for and avoid adverse impacts of climate change that will ensure sustainability of the program’s investments. For example, assessing project vulnerability to climate impacts can be incorporated into project planning, such as siting decisions and operational plans. Measures taken to avoid damages could include protecting fleets and equipment from impacts such as flooding and sea level rise and protecting infrastructure from storm damage.
Eligibility
Who is generally eligible to apply?
DERA has three grant funding opportunities, including the DERA State Grant program, the DERA National Grant program, and the DERA Tribal and Territory Grant program.
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DERA State Grant Program: Eligibility to apply for and receive funds under the DERA State Grant Program is limited to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the territories: U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
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DERA National Grant Program: Eligible applicants include a regional, state (including the District of Columbia), or local agency, Tribal agency, or port authority, which has jurisdiction over transportation or air quality. School districts, municipalities, metropolitan planning organizations, cities and counties are all generally eligible entities under this assistance agreement program to the extent that they fall within this definition. Eligible applicants also include a nonprofit organization or institution that (1) represents or provides pollution reduction or educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets or (2) has, as its principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality.
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DERA Tribal and Territory Grant Program: Applications are accepted from federally recognized Tribal governments (or intertribal consortia), Alaska Native Villages, or government agencies of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which have jurisdiction over transportation or air quality.
For specific details on DERA program eligibilities, applicant requirements and sub-award requirements, visit the DERA Program website.
How can projects funded by this program incorporate adaptation and resilience considerations?
The DERA Program supports a wide range of projects prioritizing emissions reductions from older diesel engines and also includes climate change adaptation and project sustainability as part of the competitive grant programs eligibility criteria. Priority for funding is given to applications which demonstrate the ability to protect grant-funded investments from severe weather events. Under this criterion, the EPA will evaluate applications based on the quality and extent to which the project assesses and implements the climate change adaptation considerations to help ensure that the project achieves its expected outcomes even as the climate changes.
Available Technical Assistance
For questions about the DERA program, reach out to the DERA Helpline.