Poor air quality — one of Douglas County’s top health challenges — can be addressed with grant funding available to reduce diesel emissions.

However, businesses need to act quickly to be eligible.

The deadline to apply for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act- Kansas Diesel Grant Program is June 30. Organizations that operate public and private diesel fleets based in Kansas are eligible for the $1.73 million program. Funding can assist with clean diesel projects such as engine idling and retrofit technologies, engine and vehicle replacement.

Air quality was one of Douglas County’s top health challenges mentioned in a recently released report by the Kansas Health Institute.

The funding also comes at a time when Douglas County risks being named an area of non-attainment by the EPA. Non-attainment means that an area does not meet minimum air-quality standards regarding its ozone levels. As a result, gas stations in a non-attainment area potentially can be forced to sell higher grade and more expensive fuel and restrictions can also be placed on industry.

For more information on the grant and how to apply, go to the health department Web site or call the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department’s Environmental Health program at 843-3060.