December 18, 2006

Masachusetts Diesel Pollution Solution Coalition Applauds State Clean Up of School and Transit Buses
A Significant First Step Towards Reducing Health Risks from Diesel Emissions

(Boston, MA) – Today environmental advocates and community activists applauded the state’s announcement that it would pay $22.5 million to retrofit every public school bus and transit bus in the state with pollution control devices. The Massachusetts Diesel Pollution Solution Coalition (DPS) is comprised of more than a dozen groups such as Environment Northeast, Alternatives for Community & Environment (Roxbury), Chelsea Green Space, Clean Water Action, Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition, Greater Four Corners (Dorchester), Lawrence Environmental Action Group, Masspirg, NOAH (East Boston), and North East Outreach Network (Springfield). Coalition members hailed the state’s announcement as a significant first step towards a comprehensive diesel reduction strategy. The Coalition’s goal is to reduce fine particle emissions by 75% from priority fleets by 2010.

“This is an absolute homerun for our kids’ health and the air we all breathe. The Diesel Pollution Solution Coalition applauds this as a great first step to maximize health benefits by retrofitting diesel fleets statewide,” said Sam Krasnow, Policy Advocate & Attorney for Environment Northeast.

The DPS Coalition works to reduce the burden on Massachusetts resident each year from diesel pollution which consists of tiny soot particles that lodge deep within the lung and are transmitted into the bloodstream. “Diesel pollution alone is responsible for more than 9,900 asthma attacks, 60,000 work loss days and 450 premature deaths each year in the Commonwealth,” said Lee Ketelsen, New England Director of Clean Water Action.

The DPS Coalition has called for a comprehensive state Diesel Plan that will achieve 75% diesel particulate matter (PM) reductions in priority fleets by 2010 and maximize public health benefits from overall PM. “This announcement shows that the state is serious about addressing one of the most devastating pollution problems facing low income communities and communities of color. We now need to address the emissions from the construction vehicles, commuter rail trains, and garbage trucks that continue to plague overburdened urban populations where we’ve seen asthma rates skyrocket,” said Penn Loh, Executive Director of ACE.

The Boston area has the third health highest risk from diesel pollution in the country and Massachusetts has the highest health risk from diesel soot in New England. The major sources of diesel pollution are right near our homes and businesses and include not only school buses and transit buses, but construction and industrial equipment, trucks, locomotives, and marine vessels. Pollution control equipment and cleaner fuels can reduce deadly fine particle pollution by up to 90%. “Massachusetts should establish an aggressive statewide plan and a retrofit fund to dramatically reduce pollution from existing diesel engines,” said Frank Gorke, Advocate at Masspirg.

Learn more at:
www.env-ne.org/Diesel%20Emissions.htm