09/24/2009
source - MTA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MTA Awarded Federal Stimulus Funds
to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

$522,000 allotted to replace Obsolete Fire Suppressant

(BALTIMORE, MD) September 24, 2009 — The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will receive $522,000 in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to upgrade its fire suppression systems. The upgrade will eliminate the use of an obsolete chemical, Halon 1301, that is harmful to the environment. The chemical has been used as a fire suppressant in areas where water would damage electronic equipment. With special ARRA grant funds, MTA will remove and destroy five metric tons of Halon 1301 that, if released to the atmosphere, would be the equivalent of nearly 7,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
 
“Governor Martin O’Malley is committed to improving the environment and protecting our citizens,” said Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley. “By taking this step, MTA is eliminating a potential environmental hazard. It will ensure that tons of Halon 1301 gas stored at MTA facilities will be properly disposed of and never be released into the environment.” 

At the time the chemical Halon 1301 was installed in 24 locations throughout the MTA system it was considered a state-of-the-art means to extinguish fires around electronic equipment that would otherwise be destroyed by water. Halon 1301 has since been characterized as a “high global warming potential greenhouse gas,” and its manufacture and importation was banned in 1994. The continued use of existing Halon 1301 is permitted. However, MTA has identified elimination of the gas as part of an initiative to reduce agency greenhouse gas emissions. The Halon 1301 will be destroyed and replaced with an approved gas. The project also includes the replacement of pipes and valves. 

“Eliminating sources of greenhouse gases in our operations is a high priority for MTA, and this additional funding is an excellent opportunity to advance this goal while stimulating the economy,” said MTA Administrator Paul J. Wiedefeld. “We appreciate the support the President’s stimulus program received from Maryland’s Congressional delegation.”

The MTA project is funded by the $100 million Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction program that was included in the ARRA legislation passed by Congress earlier this year. The greenhouse gas funding is in addition to the $135 million already received by the State of Maryland for transit projects. Earlier this month, Governor O’Malley announced that healthy competition for ARRA funded contracts had produced a savings of $30 million that would be turned right around and invested in additional highway and transit projects. As a result, MTA is able to move forward with an additional $17 million worth of improvements to its existing transit systems. 

More information on Maryland’s utilization of ARRA funding to address the state’s transportation needs can be found at www.marylandtransportation.com and click on the American flag icon. More information on how the State of Maryland is tracking American Recovery and Reinvestment funds can be found at http://statestat.maryland.gov/recovery.asp. 

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