What's New List Serve Post Display

Please consider the following Air Resources Board press release
announcing the board's approval of a strategy to dispense some
of proposition 1B's funds.  You can also review the release
here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr052208c.htm .
Thank You
Dimitri Stanich
ARB/PIO 

Release 08-49
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2008
	  	  	
Patricia Rey
(916) 799-5587
www.arb.ca.gov

ARB approves the distribution of $221 million of Proposition 1B
funding

Projects estimated to reduce nearly 30,000 tons of pollution

FRESNO - The Air Resources Board approved today the final list
of diesel emission reduction projects to be funded by the first
installment of $221 million out of the $1 billion from
voter-endorsed Proposition 1B.

ARB voted to distribute $221 million among California's four
trade corridors based on the funding targets adopted last
February. The allocation will place $122 million for the Los
Angeles/Inland Empire; $55 million for the Central Valley; $31
million for the Bay Area; and $13 million for the San
Diego/Border region.

The dissemination by categories would result in a total of:

    * $198.4 million to upgrade over 8,200 trucks with cleaner
equipment and engines
    * $16.5 million for 18 new locomotives
    * $2.5 million for shore electric power for cargo ships
docking at the Port of San Diego
    * $4.3 million for 17 freight-related harbor craft 

"This is a grand move toward our ultimate goal of cleaning up
the air," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "With regulations
in place and funding for early compliance, California is on its
way to significantly reduce the number of people affected by
diesel soot."

Having identified diesel particulate matter as a toxic air
contaminant in 1998 due to its potential to cause cancer and
other respiratory problems, ARB has put in place stringent
regulations to curve the health risk to Californians and to
further the state's progress towards meeting air quality goals.

Over their life, the projects to be funded are estimated to
reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 26,900 tons and particulate
matter by 1,800 tons. ARB and the local agencies administering
the monies will focus on projects that quickly reduce emissions
and achieve benefits throughout the state, such as directing 94
percent of the total to cleaner trucks and locomotives that may
travel within multiple corridors.

The awards to eligible local agencies and projects were made
official at today's public hearing in Fresno. Earlier this year,
the ARB released $25 million in early grants to five air
districts to upgrade 1,000 trucks and install shore-based
electrical power at two ship berths.

For more information, please visit
http://www.arb.ca.gov/gmbond.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.



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