Federal officials today said $100 million in stimulus money will be made available through the Denver office of the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce air pollution, improve drinking-water quality, clean up hazardous spills and other environmental projects.
Among the projects that state officials say they have in mind:
About $455,000 for a program to retrofit diesel truck fleets with external power sources that would allow idling truckers to run air conditioners and heaters with less pollution. These efforts would cut 23 tons of pollution, said Sarah Anderson, spokeswoman for the Regional Air Quality Council.
Another $7.3 million is earmarked for “clean diesel” projects around the state.
A $1.73 million share will go to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. No details were available on how those funds would be spent.
EPA officials would oversee much of the spending. The money to be invested in Colorado is part of the federal stimulus money meant to generate economic activity under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Millions are expected to be available for improving drinking water and wastewater infrastructure; cleaning up industrial wastelands and uncompleted Superfund sites, and patching leaking underground storage tanks.
The EPA’s acting regional administrator, Carol Rushin, is expected to announce the entire spending package this afternoon.
