BOSTON – The U.S. EPA is providing grant funding to a number of State agencies in Massachusetts, including the State’s Department of Transportation (MassDOT).

The EPA is providing $373,750 to the Massachusetts Department of Environment (MassDEP) for diesel particulate filters on heavy-duty wheeled loaders owned and operated by MassDOT. According to the EPA, this will reduce particulate matter by 0.18 tons per year, volatile organic compounds (VOC) (a precursor to ozone), by 0.21 tons per year, and carbon monoxide (CO) by .75 tons per year. The retrofitted equipment will reduce emissions on or near roadways spanning several communities across the state, the EPA stated.

“This grant will allow MassDEP and MassDOT to continue our successful collaboration to significantly reduce diesel emissions from the state fleet. The grant will clean the air that we breathe and improve the environment in our communities,” said MassDEP Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell. “I want to thank the EPA for this important funding and for its support of our diesel emission reduction efforts.”

Grant funding for other projects in Massachusetts include money for the Massachusetts Port Authority, which is using a $500,000 EPA grant for a Clean Truck initiative that will allow for the replacement of 20 trucks operating at the Conley Container Terminal in the Port of Boston, which are 15-25 years old, with vehicles that comply with 2007 emissions standards.