The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program announces a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) [ 200KB PDF ] with the State of California Air Resources Board (ARB) for the Coordination and Reciprocity in Diesel Retrofit Device Verification. This MOA establishes reciprocity in verifications of hardware or device-based retrofits, and further establishes EPA's and ARB's commitment to cooperate on the evaluation of retrofit technologies. This agreement commits EPA and ARB to work toward accepting particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) verification levels assigned by the other's verification programs. Additionally, as retrofit manufacturers initiate and conduct in-use testing, EPA and ARB agreed to coordinate this testing so data generated may satisfy the requirements of each program. This MOA is intended to expedite the verification and introduction of innovative emission reduction technologies. Additionally, this MOA should reduce the effort needed for retrofit technology manufacturers to complete verification. In the near future EPA and ARB will provide guidance on how this agreement will be implemented.
May, 2004
Diesel Retrofits to Benefit Sensitive Populations – Grant Competition
EPA's Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program is now accepting grant applications to assist in implementing projects that demonstrate the innovative usage of EPA verified pollution control equipment in reducing emissions from diesel fleets, including nonroad fleets, that affect sensitive populations – such as children, the elderly, and the chronically ill – who are more susceptible to the effects of diesel exhaust.
Applications will be accepted from state, local, multi-state, and tribal agencies, and non-profit organizations. The total estimated funding for this project is up to $1,500,000. EPA anticipates award of ten to fifteen cooperative agreements, each ranging from $100,000 to $150,000, resulting from this announcement.
EPA requests notification of intent to apply by May 28, 2004.
Complete applications must be submitted and received no later than July 2, 2004.
April, 2004
Diesel Retrofit Conference 2004 Announced
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Diesel Technology Forum, and the Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association are joining together to present Tomorrow's Technology for Today's Engines, Retrofit Conference 2004, this June 3-4 in Washington, D.C.
This unique event will bring together senior government officials and leaders in the diesel engine, fuels and emissions control industry to highlight past successes and identify future opportunities for expanding the EPA's Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program.
This conference is at the Marriott at Metro Center. Registration is free. To find out more information and to register, go to www.cleanfleetsusa.net/index.html 
December, 2003
2003 Diesel Retrofit Grants Awarded
In order to facilitate wider adoption of retrofit strategies, EPA’s Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program offered funding through a competitive process earlier this year. A total of 39 applications were submitted to the Agency, totaling over $3.2 million in funding requests. EPA awarded 5 grants and 1 interagency agreement for a total of $558,100. Each award ranges from $64,000 to $100,000, and these award winners are contributing a total of $220,000 in matching funds. These projects will demonstrate EPA-verified retrofit technologies and cleaner fuels -- diesel oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filters, ultra-low sulfur diesel, and biodiesel -- on a variety of existing on-highway and nonroad diesel engines.
