Emporia Public Schools is among close to 20 districts in Kansas receiving federal funds to replace diesel buses.
USD 253 is getting $40,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency. That money will replace two buses, according to the EPA, and will provide new buses that will reduce diesel emissions.
EPA has set up standards to make newer diesel engines more than 90 percent cleaner than older models, but a lot of the older buses are still on the road. The older buses have materials like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter in their exhaust, which can aggravate asthma or lung damage and cause significant health issues.
