Report PDF - US Environmental Protection Agency

Chapter 2
Introduction
Purpose
The EPA OIG conducted this review to determine whether TDOT complied
with the requirements, and terms and conditions of Cooperative Agreement
No. 95425709, and all related laws and regulations.
Our objectives were to determine whether TDOT:
Followed all applicable laws, regulations, and terms and conditions of
the cooperative agreement in the procurement of contracts for TSE
facilities.
Monitored the performance of the contracts to ensure compliance with
all applicable laws, regulations, and terms and conditions that flowed
down from the cooperative agreement, including related Recovery Act
requirements.
Achieved the objectives of the cooperative agreement and accurately
reported them to EPA.
Background
Congress signed the DERA into law in August 2005, under Title VII, Subtitle G
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and authorized up to $200 million per year
from fiscal year (FY) 2007 through FY 2011 ($1 billion total) for EPA to fund
programs to achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions. Congress
appropriated a total of $169.2 million for EPA under the DERA for FYs 2008
through 2010. Congress appropriated an additional $300 million to EPA in
FY 2009 for DERA grants under the Recovery Act.
Health Affects Related to Diesel Emissions
Diesel emissions account for 6.3 million tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and
305,000 tons of particulate matter in the national mobile emissions inventory
(2004). 1 The emissions are from a variety of on-road and non-road vehicles, such
as those used for freight, ports, transit, construction, agriculture and energy
production.
According to EPA, reducing emissions from diesel engines is one of the most
important air-quality challenges facing the United States. These emissions
1 Data obtained from EPA’s RFA No. EPA-ARRA-OAR-OTAQ-09-06, the ARRA Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Funding for the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, issued in 2009.
13-R-0321 5