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The Port Commission of The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) has approved nearly $4 million for Bayport Container Terminal projects as well as a Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grant request to help private industry with funding for diesel engine air emission reduction measures.

As part of the economic stimulus package signed into federal law in February, approximately $300 million has been made available for Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) grants through EPA regions nationwide.

DERA grants focus on promoting economic recovery, reducing diesel emissions in all types of diesel-powered modes of transportation, including ships, tugboats, ferries, trucks and trains and preserving and creating jobs.

The program works to achieve these goals by providing funding assistance for engine repowers, equipment replacement, and retrofit technologies, with the aim of reducing air emission from diesel engines. Each grant application is expected to show not only air emission benefits for the region, but also job retention or creation for the region, since all monies received through these grants must be expended no later than September 2010.

Also during the meeting, Chairman James T. Edmonds announced that the efforts of the bipartisan Texas congressional delegation resulted in the designation of $98.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for infrastructure projects at the Houston Ship Channel (HSC).

The stimulus funding serves as one of the largest-ever single allocations of federal monies to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct, operate and maintain the HSC. PHA hopes to secure the remaining $140 million needed through increased FY2010 and FY2011 appropriations.