Ohio EPA is inviting public comment on a draft plan to invest $75 million over the next 10 years to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from transportation. Funding will come from dollars allocated to Ohio from the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust Fund. Three regional public information sessions are scheduled for January 2018 to explain how the plan was developed and to answer questions. Sessions will be held at the following times and locations:

In 2016, the United States and California sued Volkswagen and associated companies, alleging that VW installed defeat devices on certain vehicles (model years 2009-2016). The devices activated during emissions testing made vehicles appear compliant with the law, when in fact, during on-road operation, the vehicles emitted nine to 40 times the allowable amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a harmful air pollutant. A settlement filed with the federal court allocated funds to states based on the number of vehicles with the defeat devices that were registered in each state. The trust agreement requires each state to develop a planexplaining how funding will be allocated among 10 allowable uses that can reduce NOx emissions and offset damages. Eligible projects include replacement or engine repowers of the following: aging diesel trucks, school/shuttle/transit buses, ferries/tugboats; switcher locomotives, airport ground support equipment, and forklifts and cargo handling equipment in ports.  Funds may also be used to install shorepower for ocean-going vessels in Great Lakes ports, and charging or fueling units for light duty zero emission vehicles.

Ohio EPA has posted the draft beneficiary mitigation plan on the Office of Environmental Education web page, and will accept written comments on the plan through 5 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2018. Comments may be emailed to [email protected]. (Please include “VW Comment” in the subject line.)  Written comments may also be mailed to Carolyn Watkins, Ohio EPA-OEE, P.O. Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049, or hand delivered to Ohio EPA headquarters, 50 W. Town Street, Suite 700, Columbus, OH 43215.