MARC Recieves Grants to Improve Air Quality
Posted By J.T. on August 12, 2009
Gov. Jay Nixon announced that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a couple subgrants to fund and protect air quality in the Kansas City area.
The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) was awarded $412,441 on Aug. 7 to help reduce diesel emissions and protect air quality by implementing the state’s clean diesel program.
From the press release:
Counties eligible for funding in the Kansas City area will include: Platte, Clay, Ray, Jackson, Cass, Clinton and Buchanan. Examples of eligible public fleets include school districts, city or state-owned vehicles/equipment and school buses or refuse haulers that have a contract with a school district or city. Public fleets will have less stringent matching requirements. Eligible private fleets include, but are not limited to, construction equipment, over-the-road trucks and delivery trucks.
Gov. Nixon also announced that $45,960 was awarded to MARC to fund air quality planning endeavors through June 30, 2010. A portion of that will be used to fund the Regional Air Quality Public Education Program. This program serves to educate Kansas City area residents about protecting air quality and has been instrumental in developing and maintaining the Regional Clean Air Action Plan which promotes voluntary measures that citizens can take everyday to reduce their effect on air quality.
From another press release:
In addition, this funding allows MARC to provide area media outlets with information about the Air Quality Index and the eight-hour SkyCast formula to inform Kansas City area residents about increased ozone levels and poor air quality. Because of violations of the 1997 eight-hour ozone standard, the area is currently controlled by an Ozone Maintenance Plan. The plan contains contingency measures to reduce ozone precursors of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides. If violations continue, additional measures to reduce pollution will be required.
At this time it is unclear how much of that money will come to Cass County.
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