The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality is announcing that limited funding is available to replace older school buses with new buses that have certified cleaner burning engines. This funding is made possible by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s State Clean Diesel Grant program.

Schools across the state are being informed of this opportunity. Any Nebraska public or private school district/independent school system that offers primary or secondary education is eligible for this funding opportunity. Eligible recipients may receive $19,800 but no more than 25% of the total cost of the newer, cleaner bus powered by a 2013 or newer EPA or CARB certified engine. NDEQ expects to award four reimbursements in 2014; previous school bus rebate recipients are not eligible to apply for a rebate under this program.

The application deadline is November 21, 2014. If the number of eligible applications received exceeds the amount of funds available, NDEQ will conduct a drawing on Dec. 4, 2014 to determine the rebate recipients.

Over 45,000 Nebraska school children ride in school buses annually; at least one-half of those buses are older than 10 years. Many of these children are exposed to a disproportionate amount of diesel exhaust which can place them at greater risk for the harmful effects of the pollutants in the exhaust.

The applications can be found by going to NDEQ’s web site, https://dee.nebraska.gov/home and Selecting Publications/Air Quality, “2014 Clean Diesel School Bus Rebate Application and Instructions.” The direct web address is http://deq.ne.gov/publica.nsf/pages/12-003.