EPA to hold diesel conference

ATLANTA (Sept. 16, 2014) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is joining a consortium of federal, state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations and industry for the Southeast Diesel Collaborative (SEDC) Ninth Annual Partners Meeting in Atlanta, Sept. 23-24.

The SEDC, organized in early 2006 by EPA Region 4, also will host a preconference workshop on Sep. 22 focusing on successful communication and outreach strategies. The conference will be held at the Buckhead Doubletree Hotel, 3342 Peachtree Rd NE, in Atlanta.

The goal of the collaborative, according to the EPA, is to improve air quality and public health by reducing emissions from existing

diesel engines. The conference—on the theme “Communicating Change: Clean Diesel in the Community”—will focus on reducing diesel emissions. Topics include strategies employed in rural and urban communities; projects and funding; outreach and collaboration; renewable and alternative fueling for diesel engines; reducing emissions at industrial and shipping centers; and up-and-coming technologies.

The SEDC is a public-private partnership comprising stakeholders from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, the agency said.

This year's winners of the SEDC Annual Leadership awards will be announced and recognized on Sept. 23 during the conference.

More information about the free conference and registration is available on the SEDC's website.

The SEDC is part of the EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign, a program combining regulatory measures with voluntary initiatives to reduce the pollution emitted from diesel engines across the country.