CHICAGO — EPA Region 5 has awarded approximately $2.5 million to the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) to replace older school buses and install emission controls on others.

The funds are provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. Under this funding competition, EPA Region 5 received 81 grant applications. The awards were chosen to maximize economic impact — particularly job creation — and emissions reductions.

NSTA will provide for replacement of 98 older school buses in the fleets serving school districts in Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine and Waukesha counties in Wisconsin, the addition of diesel particulate filters to 62 buses in Racine County, and the installation of 26 fuel-operated heaters on buses serving four school districts in Wright County, Minn.

The school bus contractors involved in the project are Dousman Transport, Riteway Bus Service, Durham School Services and M&M Bus Service. Cost-sharing contributions from those NSTA members will bring the total cost to more than $7.75 million.

The project is expected to preserve or create 119 jobs and to reduce pollution in the affected areas by 455 tons.

The Recovery Act allotted the National Clean Diesel Campaign a total of $300 million, of which the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program received $156 million to fund competitive grants across the nation.