Utah Moms for Clean Air has been asked to participate in the Clean School Bus USA campaign sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Clean School Bus USA Program provides us with a great opportunity to make difference in our air quality by reducing the amount of air pollution created by school buses. By adopting better idling practices, retrofitting buses with modern emission control technology, using cleaner fuels, and replacing older school buses, Clean School Bus USA hopes to put tomorrow’s cleaner buses on the road today.
Diesel engines are one of the largest sources of fine particulate matter and also produce ozone-forming nitrogen oxides and toxic air pollutants. When inhaled, pollutants in diesel exhaust cause lung damage and aggravate existing conditions like asthma and environmental allergies. Diesel exhaust is also thought to be a likely human carcinogen. Children are more sensitive to the harmful effects of diesel exhaust because they breathe 50 percent more air per pound of body weight than do adults. Even more concerning are the health risks posed to our children riding on diesel school buses – they are exposed to up to ten times more toxic air pollutants than levels found in ambient air. There are approximately 450,000 school buses on the road nationwide and 390,000 of those buses are diesel. With more than 24 million children in the United States riding a bus to and from school everyday, there is an enormous burden of disease posed by the existing school bus fleet.
Tighter standards for new buses have already taken effect, however these standards don’t apply to existing buses. School buses can be in operation for 20 to 30 years, and without special action, it will take many years before new buses meeting the new pollution limits dominate our school bus fleet. The good news is that today’s buses can take advantage of cleaner technologies and fuels. Oxidation catalysts and particulate matter filters are two retrofit technologies that can help reduce diesel particulate matter. Both devices are housed in the exhaust system where they break down the pollutants in the exhaust. Oxidation catalysts are widely available and commonly used retrofit technologies. They are relatively simple, low cost devices that can be installed in almost all buses and require very little maintenance. They typically cost between $1,000 and $2,000 and reduce particulate matter emissions by 20 to 30 percent. Reductions may be even higher if used together with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. Particulate matter filters provide even greater particulate matter reductions. Filters are a more complex technology than catalysts and generally are most appropriate for 1995 and newer buses. Filters typically cost between $5,000 and $10,000 and require the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The combination of ultra-low sulfur diesel and particulate matter filter technology reduces particulate matter emissions by 60 to 90 percent. By understanding the current school bus fleet in Utah, we will be able to apply the most appropriate technology to help clean up our air and protect our children’s health.
About one third of all diesel buses now in service were built before 1990. These buses are excellent candidates for replacement as they pollute as much as six times more than new buses. Utah is fortunate enough to have an excellent role model in the Jordan School District, who under the guidance of transportation director, James Hinckle, has improved their school bus fleet to include 10 percent compressed natural gas vehicles. Much of the work done in this district was with the assistance of grants obtained from Clean School Bus USA.
Since its inception in 2003, Clean School Bus USA has awarded $5 to 7 million annually to help local school districts upgrade their bus fleets. Clean School Bus USA is a public-private environmental partnership and as such matching funds must be provided by grant recipients, with a typical rate of 5%. If our grant application is successful, we can expect an award of up to $500,000, which means we will need to provide matching funds of up to $25,000. This will likely be provided, in part, by participating school districts, but Utah Moms for Clean Air would like to see this grant money stretched even further by providing a greater percentage of matching funds. Please join us in protecting our children’s health by cleaning up Utah’s school bus fleet!
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