The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has issued an open invitation to interested individuals to attend one of two public informational webinars on Florida’s Diesel Emission Mitigation Program to be held on Thursday, April 19, 2018, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Thursday, April 26, 2018, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  This program stems from the United States government’s settlement with Volkswagen resolving claims that it violated the Clean Air Act by selling diesel vehicles that violated the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mobile source emission standards. Both webinars will consist of a presentation describing the mitigation planning process and an opportunity for question and answers. The webinar content will be identical to the content that Department representatives presented at five recent in-person public meetings held during the weeks of March 19 and March 26. All presentation materials used at the in-person meetings and webinars will be posted to the Department’s website in the coming weeks. Persons planning to attend either webinar should submit an RSVP through the webinar links below, through links provided on the Department’s website, via e-mail to the Department at VWMitigation@floridadep.gov, or by contacting John Paul Fraites at (850) 717-9021. Interested individuals also have the opportunity to complete a related online Diesel Emissions Mitigation Program Public Survey. This survey opened on March 13, 2018, and will close on May 12, 2018. The Department will use responses obtained through this survey in developing Florida’s State Beneficiary Mitigation Plan. Individuals interested in submitting general comments on Florida’s approach to developing the State Beneficiary Mitigation Plan may also e-mail those comments to VWMitigation@floridadep.gov. At this time, the Department is focused exclusively on the development of Florida’s State Beneficiary Mitigation Plan. The Department is not soliciting funding requests or proposals for any specific diesel emissions mitigation project. For more information about Florida’s Diesel Emission Mitigation Program, please visit: https://floridadep.gov/air/air-director/content/volkswagen-settlement-florida-mitigation-fund.  Additional information on the webinars, and links to register, can be found below:
Thursday, April 19, 2018, 3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Webinar Link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2748578248773725443

Thursday, April 26, 2018, 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Webinar Link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3609662979089806595