ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) will again apply for federal grant money on behalf of its members through the EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) program.

The DERA program provides funds for retrofits such as diesel particulate filters, idle reduction equipment such as direct-fuel heaters, and replacement buses. Since 2003, NSTA has secured more than $4.7 million in federal funds for these clean diesel efforts for its members.

NSTA said that for fiscal year 2011, the EPA has released $50 million in grant funding. For grant winners, the EPA will fund the total cost of retrofits, 50 to 100 percent of idle reduction equipment, and 25 percent of the cost of a replacement bus that meets the 2010 emission standards.

Contractors that are interested in applying for grant funds should review the checklist on which technologies are covered. Contractors that want to participate must be NSTA members and submit the following information to NSTA:

• The location of the fleet(s) to be equipped or replaced
• Whether the contractor wants retrofits, idle reduction heaters or new buses
• How many of each is desired
• For replacement buses, the approximate cost of the bus

This information should be e-mailed to Robin Leeds (robinleeds@comcast.net) no later than Nov. 29.

Contractors that aren’t already NSTA members can go here to learn how to join and the benefits of membership.

The association said that it will do its best to accommodate all members who want assistance, but success is not guaranteed. For more information, call the NSTA central office at (800) 222-6782.