3745-49-51 Permitted uses, eligibility, and prioritization.

(A) With monies credited to the Clean Diesel School Bus Fund pursuant to 3704.144 of the Revised Code, the director may:

(1) Make grants to Ohio school districts for the purpose of adding approved control equipment on diesel school buses;

(2) Make grants to Ohio school districts for maintaining approved control equipment on diesel school buses and to offset the additional cost of using ultra low sulphur diesel fuel if ultra low diesel fuel is not reasonably available in a particular geographic region; and

(3) Pay costs incurred by the Ohio EPA related to administering the grant program.

(B) Eligible school buses

(1) To be eligible for funding under section 3704.114 of the Revised Code, the bus to be retrofitted must:

(a) Have a diesel engine;

(b) Have a gross vehicle rating of 19,500 pounds or more;

(d) Be driven not less than 5000 miles per year; and

(e) Employ only approved control equipment.

(2) Buses privately owned but used exclusively to transport Ohio school children pursuant to an agreement with an Ohio school district are eligible for retrofitting so long as the bus remains in service with an Ohio school district for the useful life of the approved control equipment. Under such circumstances, the grant applicant shall be the school district.

(1) In awarding grants the director shall give higher priority to school districts that serve counties designated by US EPA as nonattainment areas for the “NAAQS” for fine particulates. The director may give higher priority for school districts that serve counties that are designated by US EPA as a nonattainment area for other “NAAQS”.

(2) In awarding grants, the director may give higher priority to those school districts that employ additional environmental measures, such as anti-idling programs, to reduce air pollution from their school bus fleets.

Effective: 02/01/2006

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 02/01/2011

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 3704.144

Rule Amplifies: 3704.144