42 USC 16138 - EPA authority to accept diesel emissions reduction Supplemental Environmental Projects

Collapse to view only § 16138. EPA authority to accept diesel emissions reduction Supplemental Environmental Projects

§ 16131. Definitions
§ 16132. National grant, rebate, and loan programs
§ 16133. State grant, rebate, and loan programs
§ 16134. Evaluation and report
§ 16135. Outreach and incentives
§ 16136. Effect of part
§ 16137. Authorization of appropriations
§ 16138. EPA authority to accept diesel emissions reduction Supplemental Environmental Projects
§ 16139. Settlement agreement provisions

§ 16131. DefinitionsIn this part:

(1) Administrator

(2) Certified engine configurationThe term “certified engine configuration” means a new, rebuilt, or remanufactured engine configuration—

(A) that has been certified or verified by—

(i) the Administrator; or

(ii) the California Air Resources Board;

(B) that meets or is rebuilt or remanufactured to a more stringent set of engine emission standards, as determined by the Administrator; and

(C) in the case of a certified engine configuration involving the replacement of an existing engine or vehicle, an engine configuration that replaced an engine that was—

(i) removed from the vehicle; and

(ii) returned to the supplier for remanufacturing to a more stringent set of engine emissions standards or for scrappage.

(3) Eligible entityThe term “eligible entity” means—

(A) a regional, State, local, or tribal agency or port authority with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality;

(B) a nonprofit organization or institution that—

(i) represents or provides pollution reduction or educational services to persons or organizations that own or operate diesel fleets; or

(ii) has, as its principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality; and

(i) is the owner of record of a diesel vehicle or fleet operated pursuant to a contract, license, or lease with a Federal department or agency or an entity described in subparagraph (A); and

(ii) meets such timely and appropriate requirements as the Administrator may establish for vehicle use and for notice to and approval by the Federal department or agency or entity described in subparagraph (A) with respect to which the owner has entered into a contract, license, or lease as described in clause (i).

(4) Emerging technology

(5) Fleet

(6) Heavy-duty truck

(7) Medium-duty truck

(8) State

(9) Verified technologyThe term “verified technology” means a pollution control technology, including a retrofit technology or auxiliary power unit, that has been verified by—

(A) the Administrator; or

(B) the California Air Resources Board.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 791, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 838; Pub. L. 110–255, § 3(a), June 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2423; Pub. L. 111–364, § 2(a), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4056.)

§ 16132. National grant, rebate, and loan programs

(a) In generalThe Administrator shall use 70 percent of the funds made available to carry out this part for each fiscal year to provide grants, rebates, or low-cost revolving loans, as determined by the Administrator, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities, including through contracts entered into under subsection (e) of this section, to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions in terms of—

(1) pollution produced; and

(2) diesel emissions exposure, particularly from fleets operating in areas designated by the Administrator as poor air quality areas.

(b) Distribution

(1) In general

(2) Engine configurations and technologies

(A) Certified engine configurations and verified technologiesThe Administrator shall provide not less than 95 percent of funds available for a fiscal year under this section to eligible entities for projects using—

(i) a certified engine configuration; or

(ii) a verified technology.

(B) Emerging technologies

(i) In general

(ii) Application and test plan

(1) Expedited process

(A) In general

(B) RequirementsIn developing the expedited process under subparagraph (A), the Administrator—

(i) shall take into consideration the special circumstances affecting small fleet owners; and

(ii) to avoid duplicative procedures, may require applicants to include in an application under this section the results of a competitive bidding process for equipment and installation.

(2) Eligibility

(A) Grants

(B) Rebates and low-cost loansTo be eligible to receive a rebate or a low-cost loan under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application in accordance with such guidance as the Administrator may establish—

(i) to the Administrator; or

(ii) to an entity that has entered into a contract under subsection (e).

(3) InclusionsAn application under this subsection shall include—

(A) a description of the air quality of the area served by the eligible entity;

(B) the quantity of air pollution produced by the diesel fleets in the area served by the eligible entity;

(i) any certified engine configuration, verified technology, or emerging technology to be used or funded by the eligible entity; and

(ii) the means by which the project will achieve a significant reduction in diesel emissions;

(D) an evaluation (using methodology approved by the Administrator or the National Academy of Sciences) of the quantifiable and unquantifiable benefits of the emissions reductions of the proposed project;

(E) an estimate of the cost of the proposed project;

(F) a description of the age and expected lifetime control of the equipment used or funded by the eligible entity;

(G) in the case of an application relating to nonroad engines or vehicles, a description of the diesel fuel available in the areas to be served by the eligible entity, including the sulfur span of the fuel; and

(H) provisions for the monitoring and verification of the project.

(4) PriorityIn providing a grant, rebate, or loan under this section, the Administrator shall give highest priority to proposed projects that, as determined by the Administrator—

(A) maximize public health benefits;

(B) are the most cost-effective;

(i) with the highest population density;

(ii) that are poor air quality areas, including areas identified by the Administrator as—(I) in nonattainment or maintenance of national ambient air quality standards for a criteria pollutant;(II) Federal Class I areas; or(III) areas with toxic air pollutant concerns;

(iii) that receive a disproportionate quantity of air pollution from diesel fleets, including truckstops, ports, rail yards, terminals, construction sites, schools, and distribution centers; or

(iv) that use a community-based multistakeholder collaborative process to reduce toxic emissions;

(D) include a certified engine configuration, verified technology, or emerging technology that has a long expected useful life;

(E) will maximize the useful life of any certified engine configuration, verified technology, or emerging technology used or funded by the eligible entity; and

(F) conserve diesel fuel.

(d) Use of funds

(1) In generalAn eligible entity may use a grant, rebate, or loan provided under this section to fund the costs of—

(A) a retrofit technology (including any incremental costs of a repowered or new diesel engine) that significantly reduces emissions through development and implementation of a certified engine configuration, verified technology, or emerging technology for—

(i) a bus;

(ii) a medium-duty truck or a heavy-duty truck;

(iii) a marine engine;

(iv) a locomotive; or

(v) a nonroad engine or vehicle used in—(I) construction;(II) handling of cargo (including at a port or airport);(III) agriculture;(IV) mining; or(V) energy production; or

(B) programs or projects to reduce long-duration idling using verified technology involving a vehicle or equipment described in subparagraph (A).

(2) Regulatory programs

(A) In general

(B) Mandated

(e) Contract programs

(1) Authority

(2) Eligible contractorsThe Administrator may enter into a contract under this subsection with a for-profit or nonprofit entity that has the capacity—

(A) to sell diesel vehicles or equipment to, or to arrange financing for, individuals or entities that own a diesel vehicle or fleet; or

(B) to upgrade diesel vehicles or equipment with verified or Environmental Protection Agency-certified engines or technologies, or to arrange financing for such upgrades.

(f) Public notificationNot later than 60 days after the date of the award of a grant, rebate, or loan, the Administrator shall publish on the website of the Environmental Protection Agency—

(1) for rebates and loans provided to the owner of a diesel vehicle or fleet, the total number and dollar amount of rebates or loans provided, as well as a breakdown of the technologies funded through the rebates or loans; and

(2) for other rebates and loans, and for grants, a description of each application for which the grant, rebate, or loan is provided.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 792, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 839; Pub. L. 111–364, § 2(b), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4056.)

§ 16133. State grant, rebate, and loan programs

(a) In general

(b) ApplicationsThe Administrator shall—

(1) provide to States guidance for use in applying for grant, rebate, or loan funds under this section, including information regarding—

(A) the process and forms for applications;

(B) permissible uses of funds received; and

(C) the cost-effectiveness of various emission reduction technologies eligible to be carried out using funds provided under this section; and

(2) establish, for applications described in paragraph (1)—

(A) an annual deadline for submission of the applications;

(B) a process by which the Administrator shall approve or disapprove each application; and

(C) a streamlined process by which a State may renew an application described in paragraph (1) for subsequent fiscal years.

(1) In general

(2) Allocation

(A) In general

(B) Certain territories

(i) In general

(ii) Exception

(C) ReallocationIf any State does not qualify for an allocation under this paragraph, the share of funds otherwise allocated for that State under this paragraph shall be reallocated to each remaining qualified State in an amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying—

(i) the proportion that the population of the State bears to the population of all States described in paragraph (1); by

(ii) the amount otherwise allocatable to the nonqualifying State under this paragraph.

(3) State matching incentive

(A) In general

(B) RequirementsA State—

(i) may not use funds received under this part to pay a matching share required under this subsection; and

(ii) shall not be required to provide a matching share for any additional amount received under subparagraph (A).

(4) Unclaimed funds

(d) Administration

(1) In general

(2) Apportionment of funds

(3) Use of fundsA grant, rebate, or loan provided under this section shall be used for a project relating to—

(A) a certified engine configuration; or

(B) a verified technology.

(4) Priority

(5) Public notificationNot later than 60 days after the date of the award of a grant, rebate, or loan by a State, the State shall publish on the Web site of the State—

(A) for rebates, grants, and loans provided to the owner of a diesel vehicle or fleet, the total number and dollar amount of rebates, grants, or loans provided, as well as a breakdown of the technologies funded through the rebates, grants, or loans; and

(B) for other rebates, grants, and loans, a description of each application for which the grant, rebate, or loan is provided.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 793, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 841; Pub. L. 110–255, § 3(b), June 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2424; Pub. L. 111–364, § 2(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4059.)

§ 16134. Evaluation and report

(a) In general

(b) Inclusions

The report shall include a description of—

(1) the total number of grant applications received;

(2) each grant, rebate, or loan made under this part, including the amount of the grant, rebate, or loan;

(3) each project for which a grant, rebate, or loan is provided under this part, including the criteria used to select the grant, rebate, or loan recipients;

(4) the actual and estimated air quality and diesel fuel conservation benefits, cost-effectiveness, and cost-benefits of the grant, rebate, and loan programs under this part;

(5) the problems encountered by projects for which a grant, rebate, or loan is provided under this part;

(6) any other information the Administrator considers to be appropriate; and

(7) in the last report sent to Congress before January 1, 2016, an analysis of the need to continue the program, including an assessment of the size of the vehicle and engine fleet that could provide benefits from being retrofit under this program and a description of the number and types of applications that were not granted in the preceding year.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 794, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 843; Pub. L. 111–364, § 2(d), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4060.)

§ 16135. Outreach and incentives

(a) Definition of eligible technology

In this section, the term “eligible technology” means—

(1) a verified technology; or

(2) an emerging technology.

(b) Technology transfer program

(1) In general

The Administrator shall establish a program under which the Administrator—

(A) informs stakeholders of the benefits of eligible technologies; and

(B) develops nonfinancial incentives to promote the use of eligible technologies.

(2) Eligible stakeholders

Eligible stakeholders under this section include—

(A) equipment owners and operators;

(B) emission and pollution control technology manufacturers;

(D) State and local officials responsible for air quality management;

(E) community organizations; and

(F) public health, educational, and environmental organizations.

(d) International markets

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 795, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 843.)

§ 16136. Effect of part

Nothing in this part affects any authority under the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) in existence on the day before August 8, 2005.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 796, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 844.)

§ 16137. Authorization of appropriations

(a) In general

(b) Management and oversight

(Pub. L. 109–58, title VII, § 797, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 844; Pub. L. 111–364, § 2(e), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4060; Pub. L. 116–260, div. S, § 101, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2243.)

§ 16138. EPA authority to accept diesel emissions reduction Supplemental Environmental Projects

The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (hereinafter, the “Agency”) may accept (notwithstanding sections 3302 and 1301 of title 31) diesel emissions reduction Supplemental Environmental Projects if the projects, as part of a settlement of any alleged violations of environmental law—

(1) protect human health or the environment;

(2) are related to the underlying alleged violations;

(3) do not constitute activities that the defendant would otherwise be legally required to perform; and

(4) do not provide funds for the staff of the Agency or for contractors to carry out the Agency’s internal operations.

(Pub. L. 110–255, § 1, June 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2423.)

§ 16139. Settlement agreement provisions

In any settlement agreement regarding alleged violations of environmental law in which a defendant agrees to perform a diesel emissions reduction Supplemental Environmental Project, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall require the defendant to include in the settlement documents a certification under penalty of law that the defendant would have agreed to perform a comparably valued, alternative project other than a diesel emissions reduction Supplemental Environmental Project if the Administrator were precluded by law from accepting a diesel emission reduction Supplemental Environmental Project. A failure by the Administrator to include this language in such a settlement agreement shall not create a cause of action against the United States under the Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.] or any other law or create a basis for overturning a settlement agreement entered into by the United States.

(Pub. L. 110–255, § 2, June 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 2423.)