Diesel School Bus Becomes First to Receive Pollution Control Retrofit in Puerto Rico

Improving Air Quality for School Children

Santa Fe, NM – May 30, 2007 – Exhaust from diesel school buses can be dangerous to the health of children. Puerto Rico has decided it’s time to do something about it.

In May, the country unveiled its first school bus retrofitted with emissions control technology to reduce toxic diesel emissions and improve air quality for Puerto Rican school children.

According to an article published in the journal Population Research and Policy Review, “Puerto Rican children are more likely to have asthma than children in any other racial/ethnic group in the United States.” As noted in a study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the University of California at Berkeley School of Public Health, and the Coalition for Clean Air, riding a diesel school bus may increase the risk of cancer and aggravate respiratory problems in children. Recently E/The Environmental Magazine reported diesel emissions are classified by the EPA as a “likely carcinogen”, with dangers of breathing diesel exhaust ranging from respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis to lung cancer and heart disease. In Puerto Rico, this health threat is especially true for children already impacted by asthma.

The retrofitted diesel school bus was presented during a ceremony in San Juan at the Polytechnic University on May 11th. Alan J. Steinberg, Regional Administrator of the EPA, discussed the benefits of providing air pollution control equipment for aging vehicles. “Pollution from school buses has health implications for everyone, especially asthmatic children. By developing local capacity and promoting the Clean School Bus program in Puerto Rico, where more kids suffer from asthma than anywhere else in the U.S., we are progressively reducing diesel pollution to make that familiar black puff of smoke a relic of the past.”

Air pollution control products and services to retrofit the bus were provided by emissions control manufacturer, CleanAIR Systems, Inc., working in conjunction with emissions reduction consultant, Emisstar. The retrofitted bus is the start of a national initiative aimed at cleaning up school buses throughout the country as a joint effort between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Puerto Rico Clean School Bus USA Workgroup.

Launched in 2003 by the EPA, Clean School Bus USA is a voluntary partnership with the goal of reducing children’s exposure to diesel exhaust through the reduction of unnecessary bus idling, providing funding to retrofit buses with emissions control technology, and replacing older buses with less-polluting models. The majority of Puerto Rican school buses were built prior to 2004. They generate a significant amount of pollutants such as fine particulate matter and can release up to six times more pollution than buses built after 2004. CleanAIR Systems provided the program with an ASSURE DOC (diesel oxidation converter) which will cut school bus emissions of particulate matter by at least 20%, hydrocarbons by 50% and carbon monoxide by at least 60%. The CleanAIR ASSURE DOC can be used with either diesel or biodiesel fuels.

“We’re glad we were able to make a difference in Puerto Rico when it came to cleaning up their school buses,” said Ralph Wintersberger, CleanAIR Sales Engineer. “Emisstar brought this to our attention and jointly our two companies worked with the EPA to get this program off the ground.”

“Emisstar is pleased to lend our expertise to this exciting and important first step in improving the health and well-being of school children in Puerto Rico,” added Glenn Goldstein, Emisstar Principal.

Puerto Rico has also joined the Northeast Diesel Collaborative, allowing it to compete for future EPA grant money in order to purchase air pollution control equipment to retrofit the rest of their bus fleet.

About CleanAIR Systems:
CleanAIR Systems is a technology-based corporation manufacturing emissions control systems with worldwide distribution. Their products are designed to control air pollution such as diesel particulate matter and NOx, for on- and off-road vehicles, as well as stationary machinery and power generation. Visit CleanAIR Systems online at http://www.cleanairsys.com/.

“Green” – The New Revolution in Industry

Three members of the steering committee for the Energy Future Coalition recently sent a long commentary to online environmental news source, Grist. Their dissertation presents the view that the recent rise in environmentalism, clean technologies and concern for global warming should be seen as an economic boon rather than a corporate bust that would “invigorate our economy with new ideas, new industries, and new jobs.”

Within their essay they quote venture capitalist, John Doerr (whose company invested early in Google, Amazon and Sun Microsystems) as calling clean energy “the largest economic opportunity of the 21st century.”

To bring about a change, five rules are proposed that, according to the authors would “reduce emissions, give consumers new choices, launch new businesses, and accelerate the profitable transition to new energy technologies.” They are:
1. Put a price on carbon.
2. Set carbon efficiency standards for vehicles.
3. Make energy efficiency the business of utilities.
4. Modernize the electric power grid to be more efficient and better deliver clean energy.
5. Increase government support for clean energy.

In conclusion, “with one strategic leap, we can wipe out two of the biggest threats to our children’s well-being while creating the high-tech industries that will employ them in the future.”

To read the complete essay, go to Grist: Soapbox.

See the Source:
Energy Future Coalition

Find out:
About selective catalytic reduction for coal-fired power plants to reduce NOx emissions.

California Proposal Would Clean Up Heavy Equipment.

California air quality regulators are currently hearing testimony concerning a proposal requiring off-road diesel equipment to be retrofitted with emissions control technology or replace them with newer, cleaner engines. This sweeping ruling would force construction companies, airports and ski resorts to drastically reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter and NOx by as soon as 2010 to comply with new air quality regulations.

“This by far is the largest diesel rule ever undertaken,” stated Natural Resources Defense Council scientist, Diane Bailey. “Nobody writes air pollution on the death certificate, but the fact is it is responsible for thousands of deaths in California.”

There are an estimated 180,000 diesel off-road vehicles in California that would fall under the proposed ruling.

See the Source:
Press Telegram

Find out:
About diesel particulate filters for off-road equipment

Keep on Truckin’- B20 vs. Diesel in the Two Million Mile Haul

The Two Million Mile Haul is the first major study in a real-world setting comparing the performance of B20 biodiesel (a mixture of 20% soy biodiesel and 80% diesel) with diesel on long haul trucks on an over-the-road test covering 2 million miles. To date the test has completed 350,000 miles of its goal with favorable results and only minor issues.

Observations so far have shown:

• Cleaner engine oil
  
  
• Positive impact on engine wear
  
  
• Decreased maintenance due to increased lubricity
  
  
• No cold weather issues – even with temperatures in the teens and single digits

Organizations and companies participating in the study include:
- Caterpillar
- Decker Truck Line
- The National Biodiesel Board
- Iowa Central Community College
- Soy Power Biodiesel
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Iowa Soybean Association

Dale Decker, Industry & Government Relations Director for Decker Truck Line explains “What we’ve observed so far is great performance in the particularly cold winter we just experienced, and reduced maintenance and engine wear benefits that equal or outweigh the slightly higher cost of the biodiesel blend.”

Final conclusions and assessments concerning mileage and fuel efficiency will not be available until the 2 million mile mark has been reach.

See the Source:
2 Million Mile Haul

Find out:
How diesel particulate filters work to decrease particulate pollution from diesel and biodiesel fuels.

diesel emissions

City Air Pollution More Deadly than Living near Chernobyl Radiation

Scientists conducting a study at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Great Britain have calculated and compared the mortality rates between populations living near Chernobyl’s radioactive zone and those living in London.

Researchers found that approximately 16,000 people were killed by radiation after the Chernobyl explosion, with survivors having a 1 percent higher risk of premature death. In comparison, residents of London experience a 2.8 percent increased risk of early death from heart and lung disease related to exposure to air pollution. The UK’s Royal Commissions on Environmental Pollution estimates that 24,000 deaths a year in Britain are caused by air pollution.

The study was published in the “BMC Public Health” journal.

See the Source:
NewsTarget

air pollution

Tulsa Becomes 500th City to Sign U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

On May 15th, Tulsa, Oklahoma signed-on as the 500th city to voluntarily commit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2012 to 7% below 1990 levels, by signing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

Globally, cities produce as much as 78 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. As of today, there are 514 cities who have signed the agreement, accounting for 20 percent of the U.S. population or 65 million Americans in 50 states.

The Mayors Climate Protection Agreement came into being when Seattle’s Mayor, Greg Nickels decided cities should take the lead in adhering to the goals of the Kyoto Protocol, even though the Federal Government refused to ratify the international treaty, taking action against climate change and global warming.

“The real leaders on global warming solutions in our country are to be found in the city halls, not in Washington, DC,” explained Glen Brand, Cool Cities Campaign Director for the Sierra Club. “Mayors like Seattle's Greg Nickels, Salt Lake City's Rocky Anderson, and Minneapolis' R.T. Rybak are showing that clean energy solutions are feasible, cost-effective and politically popular. It’s time for our leaders in Washington to follow the extraordinary lead of over 500 cities.”

See the source:
Stopglobalwarming.org
Seattle.Gov - US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

The Facts on School Buses and Diesel Emissions

• 24 million children are exposed to diesel fumes each day as they ride the bus to school
  
  
• Diesel exhaust includes fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons
  
  
• Diesel emissions are classified by the EPA as “likely carcinogen”
  
  
• 70 percent of cancer risk from air pollution is attributed to diesel emissions
  
  
• Children are more affected by diesel exhaust than adults
  
  
• There are approximately 390,000 diesel school buses on the road every day in the USA
  
  
• Children are affect more by diesel exhaust when sitting at the rear of the bus where diesel emissions accumulate
  
  
• Retrofitting older buses with emissions control technology can cut emissions by 85%
  

See the Source:
EPA Clean School Bus USA
Northeast Diesel Collaborative
National Resources Defense Council

Find out:
How to decrease diesel emissions using diesel particulate filters and diesel oxidation converters.

diesel pollution
particulate matter

Governor Richardson Challenges Bush Response to Global Warming

Richardson to unveil a bold new energy plan which will revolutionize America's fight against global warming and for energy independence at speech to the New American Foundation on Thursday, May 17th in Washington, DC

SANTA FE, NM – May 15, 2007 -- Governor Bill Richardson today challenged President Bush's response to the Supreme Court ruling requiring federal agencies to regulate vehicle emissions.

"The 'debate' on global warming is over and the Supreme Court has ordered this administration to stop dragging its feet and act," stated Governor Richardson. "My state joined twelve other states to challenge the Bush Administration to enforce the Clean Air Act and fought them all the way to the Supreme Court--and won. President Bush's decision to drag out the vehicle emission rulemaking process over the next two years rebuffs the Supreme Court's ruling and rejects the reality and urgency of global warming.

"This is a timid action, when America and the world needs bold action. My approach to solving our energy and global warming problem is market-based. I would use the engine of the market to drive bold and quick innovation. Our top priorities need to be focusing on a sharp reduction in oil demand, creating dramatic energy efficiencies, reducing greenhouse gases and restoring America as a leader in technology and science."

As Energy Secretary, he pushed for aggressive energy efficiency standards, conservation in the midst of the California electricity crisis, a national renewable portfolio standard, and development of alternative vehicles.

As Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson has initiated mandates requiring utilities to meet renewable energy requirements, supported generous solar tax incentives, eliminated sales taxes on hybrid vehicles, and set aggressive targets to reduce global warming pollution. New Mexico is on track to exceed the Kyoto Protocols and has become the Clean Energy State.

"Our next President must sharply reduce American demand for fossil fuels that add to greenhouse gas concentrations," said Richardson. "By doing so, the U.S. will reclaim its ability to participate in - and lead - international agreements to slow, stop, and reverse climate change trends. The United States cannot lead the world, and will not have the support of the world's people, unless it gets its energy addiction under control, and joins the world effort to take real steps reducing global warming pollution.

"We have no choice, but to make a change and fast. At peak, we now import 65% of our oil. We send about $300 billion in petrodollars to foreign countries every year. Our economy is half as energy-efficient as Japan's or Western Europe's. With 5% of the world's population, we account for 25% of global warming pollution.

In a speech to the New American Foundation Thursday morning at 10:00 am at the Washington Hilton, Monroe Room, 1919 Connecticut Avenue in Washington, DC Governor Richardson will unveil his comprehensive plan for energy and reducing global warming. The Governor's aggressive proposals directly address critical issues facing the United States- vehicle fuel efficiency, fuels made from renewable resources, green building standards, greenhouse gas emissions, and shifting the economy from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

"Baby steps and incremental measures won't work. We need to act boldly, and act now. We need a "man-on-the-moon effort"- a strong national commitment to get it done," said Richardson. "President Kennedy exhorted the nation to put a man on the moon within ten years, not 20 or 30. The nation responded to that call. We can do the same with energy and global warming.

"So what we need today is a ten-year plan to reduce our dependence on oil by 50%, and a ten-year plan to reduce our global warming pollution by at least 20%. As President, I will implement a bold plan that meets these goals and ushers in a new era of energy independence and security for the United States."

See the Source:
Nhpols.com – Campaigns & Elections

climate change
global-warming
current issues

Cleaning Up Emissions with New CleanAIR Filter/Silencer

Leading emissions control manufacturer, CleanAIR Systems introduces a new addition to their line of diesel particulate filter products, the PERMIT Filter/Silencer, designed to reduce exhaust emissions from prime power and emergency generators. Facilities using gensets for power generation are already familiar with silencers installed to lessen engine noise. With the enforcement of stringent pollution regulations, generator owners also need emissions control technology along with sound attenuation to meet demanding air quality laws. The PERMIT Filter/Silencer incorporating CleanAIR’s CARB verified PERMIT Filter, meets both requirements.

Available for all stationary engine sizes, CleanAIR’s PERMIT Filter/Silencer is installed on the exhaust of a generator, eliminating visible black smoke, diesel odor and noise while the engine is running. Emissions of particulate matter are substantially reduced by more than 85% and emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons by up to 99%.

“Keeping our customer in mind, we designed our PERMIT Filter/Silencer specifically to fit facilities that need to reduce emissions and sound,” explained CleanAIR Sales Engineer, Daniel Serrano. “By combining our diesel particulate filters with a silencer, the customer no longer needs two separate units that take up a lot of space. Our PERMIT Filter/Silencer does the job of both by eliminating emissions while at the same time providing sound reduction. It also reduces the overall cost.”

Manufactured using 304 stainless steel, the PERMIT Filter/Silencer is custom designed to fit each application. Utilizing CleanAIR’s integrated approach, the product is entirely designed and manufactured in-house, including: product design; flow, stress and sound modeling; filter catalyzation; and custom fabrication of the silencer shell. Each PERMIT Filter/Silencer is fully insulated to reduce heat loss and provide sound attenuation.

The stainless steel silencer is corrosion-resistant, thereby extending the life of the product. Using stainless steel also reduces the product’s total weight by up to 50% over silencers currently on the market constructed of mild steel, allowing for easier installation.

“We looked at silencer designs already on the market and knew we could design a better, more efficient product that also incorporated our CARB verified PERMIT Filters,” concluded Michael Roach, President of CleanAIR Systems. “It was a real group effort with our engineering, manufacturing and technical sales staff all offering input as to what our customers wanted in an emissions control product. Our team designed a premium product using stainless steel construction, incorporating our PERMIT Filters and still maintained a comparable price advantage. In this way all facilities from schools and hospitals to power generation plants can afford to install a better emissions control product.”

See the Source:
The CleanAIR PERMIT Filter/Silencer

Watch a video to see how the PERMIT Filter/Silencer works

emissions control
particle pollution
clean air

What’s Up Doc – Don’t Breathe the Air!

Should you’re doctor be advising you to check the “AQI” each day? That’s the air quality index. If you’re sensitive to pollutants or at risk due to lung or cardiovascular disease, maybe your doctor should be explaining avoidance strategies for heavy pollution days at your next checkup.

A new report in the April issue of American Journal of the Medical Sciences, suggests that health care professionals should be looking at three specific categories of air pollutants, along with how they impact health, when advising their patients.

• Particulate matter, linked to increased rates of illness and death from heart and lung (cardiopulmonary) disease—probably by promoting inflammation within the airways. Particulates may also increase lung cancer risk, but more study is needed.
• Ozone, a respiratory irritant that decreases lung function in healthy people as well as patients with asthma. Short-term increases in ozone level may also lead to increases in illness and death from cardiopulmonary disease.
• Nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, which are highly toxic at high concentrations. Although they contribute to poor air quality, it remains unclear whether these pollutants cause health problems at the "ambient" levels associated with air pollution.

"Increased recognition of the hazards of air pollution, coupled with simple common sense recommendations from clinicians, may provide the basis for reducing exposure to outdoor air pollution," concludes Scott Shofer, MD, PhD, of Duke University School of Medicine.

Patients should be advised to watch for symptoms possibly related to air pollution exposure, such as chest pain or tightness, cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Those with respiratory diseases such as asthma should be sure to carry their "rescue" inhalers.

"We believe these simple actions may help reduce the risk of adverse events due to air pollution in sensitive patient populations," Dr. Shofer conclude. The report also calls for revised air quality standards to lower ambient levels of air pollutants—especially small particles and ozone.

See the Source:
Newswise

Find out:
How to reduce particle matter, carbon monoxide and NOx with CleanAIR emissions control technology

air pollution
NOx emissions
particle pollution

Project Big Green – IBM’s $1 Billion Baby

On May 10th, IBM launched “Project Big Green,” allocating $1 billion towards the advancement of “green” technology and services to increase energy efficiency for IBM and its clients, while at the same time reducing data center energy consumption. Savings could be substantial, with an average 25,000 square foot data center realizing a 42% energy savings, translating into a reduction of 7,439 tons of carbon emissions annually. Included in the initiative is IBM’s “green team” made up of over 850 energy efficiency architects.

See the Source:
IBM’s Energy Efficiency Initiative

Find out:
How generators used for back-up power at date storage centers can be made cleaner using CleanAIR Filter/Silencers

current issues
energy

EPA Awards Clean Air Excellence Awards

Thirteen businesses, organizations and individuals were chosen from 75 applicants from around the country, to receive the EPA's 7th Annual Clean Air Excellence Awards present on Wednesday for outstanding accomplishments in reducing air emissions.

"Congratulations to the winners of the 7th annual Clean Air Excellence Awards. One should never underestimate the power of American innovation," said William L. Wehrum, acting assistant administrator for Air and Radiation. "These original ideas and cutting-edge projects embody our nation's unwavering commitment to cleaner, healthier air."

The Clean Air Excellence Awards program recognizes and honors outstanding, innovative efforts in achieving cleaner air. Awards are given in five categories: clean air technology, community action, education/outreach, regulatory/policy innovations and transportation efficiency innovations. Two additional special awards are presented for visionary programs and individual achievement.

Established in 2000 at the recommendation of the Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, a senior-level policy committee that advises EPA on implementing the Clean Air Act.

Clean Air Technology
Eli Lilly Co. (Lafayette, Ind.) - Development of the Xact™ Multi-Metal CEMS
Environmental Safety Solutions, LLC (New York, N.Y.) - Enviroboot
Leak Surveys Inc. (Early, Texas) - The "HAWK" Leak Detection System
Railpower Hybrid Corp. (Erie, Pa.) - Railpower Switching Locomotives: Ultra Clean Power

Community Action
Cherokee Nation Environmental Programs (Tahlequah, Okla.) - Cherokee Nation Clean Air
Program
Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (Louisville, Ky.) - Strategic Toxic Air Reduction(STAR) Program

Education/Outreach
City of Lawton & Evergreen Productions Inc. (Lawton, Okla.) - Carpool Crazy
Mothers for Clean Air (Houston, Texas) - Ozone Theater: Setting the Stage for Air Pollution Education

Regulatory/Policy Innovations
Environmental Services (Minneapolis, Minn.) - City of Minneapolis Sustainability Initiative
New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (Lyndhurst, N.J.) - Emissions Reductions, Green Building & Renewable Energy

Transportation Efficiency Innovations
Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (Springfield, Ore.) - Everybody Wins

Gregg Cooke Visionary Program Award
3M (St. Paul, Minn.) - 3M's Sustainability Program Reduces Air Emissions Worldwide

Thomas W. Zosel Outstanding Individual Achievement Award
Ron Harris, Former County Judge (Collin County, Texas)

See the Source:
For complete information on this year's recipients of the Clean Air Excellence Awards

air pollution

clean air

Today’s Air News: From Squirrel to Obama

What’s new in the fight against air pollution?
- Squirrel: Have Air Pollution Monitor, Will Travel
- GM Going Green
- Obama Bam-Bams Global Climate Change

Squirrel: Have Air Pollution Monitor, Will Travel
Introducing Squirrel, a cool techie Bluetooth gizmo being developed by the University of California San Diego and the California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology. This wireless personal pollution monitor will allow users to measure air pollution levels at ground level, make informed decisions on exposure to pollutants, and is small enough to take with you for readings-on-the-go. Right now, the Squirrel prototype monitors carbon monoxide and ozone, but future capabilities will allow measurements of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide. Plus other measurement extras will be added such as temperature, barometric pressure and humidity.

GM Going Green
Breaking news! GM just joined the U.S. Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), calling for a cap and trade system to reduce greenhouse gases. The first car manufacturer to join the coalition, the news is not only stirring up climate change, but also the political climate. The group is composed of environmental leaders and high-level corporate partners. With the addition of GM, the USCAP now counts 22 companies as part of its roster, including utilities, chemical production and manufacturing.

The group’s mission:
- cut greenhouse gas emissions 60-80 percent
- create business incentives
- act swiftly and thoughtfully

Obama Bam-Bams Global Climate Change
Presidential hopeful, Barack Obama introduced his new climate action plan during a speech at the Detroit Economic Club to reduce dependence on foreign oil, while fighting the causes of global climate change. Obama’s goal is to cut oil consumption by 2.5 million barrels of oil per day, take 50 million cars’ worth of pollution off the road, save over $50 billion at the gas pump, while helping the auto industry save jobs and regain its standing in the world – all by 2020.

The Obama Plan has 3 key points:
- Setting fuel economy standards for an annual savings of 20 billion gallons of gasoline.
- Helping consumers with tax credits who buy hybrids.
- Helping manufacturers to manufacturer fuel-efficient vehicles by helping with the health care costs of retirees and offering tax incentives for retooling plants.

See the Source:
medGadget
Environmental Defense
BusinessWire

Find out:
More on emissions control technology to reduce air pollution when you visit CleanAIR Systems

air pollution
climate change
current issues

Try Out the New EPA Tool to Check the Air You Breathe

AirCompare is a new EPA air quality tool, providing local air quality information to help people make educated decisions about moving, vacationing or living in different areas of the country.

"From people getting ready to retire to vacationers or those changing jobs, Americans are increasingly considering air quality as they make their plans," said Bill Wehrum, EPA's acting assistant administrator for Air and Radiation. "AirCompare helps answer those questions in a way that's simple to understand."

Using the EPA's Air Quality Index (AQI), AirCompare explains air quality from a health perspective. A person with asthma, for example, can use AirCompare to select up to 10 counties across the country -- and with the click of a button, find out how many days the air was unhealthy for asthmatics last year. Or someone planning a trip can find out the best time of year to visit a particular area, based on concerns about asthma, heart disease, outdoor activity, or just general interest.

See the Source:
EPA - AirCompare

air pollution

More from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The third volume of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report was release on May 4th, entitled “Mitigation of Climate Change.” The report offers options for short-term and long-term strategies to stabilize factors contributing to climate change.

The report covers six areas:
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission trends
• Mitigation in the short and medium term, across different economic sectors (until 2030)
• Mitigation in the long-term (beyond 2030)
• Policies, measures and instruments to mitigate climate change
• Sustainable development and climate change mitigation
• Gaps in knowledge

According to the report summary, greenhouse gas emissions have grown since pre-industrial times, with the biggest increase of 70% was between 1970 and 2004. The largest increase can be seen in the area of energy supply with an increase of 145%.

To read the complete report along with suggestions on how changes can be made, visit: http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM040507.pdf

See the Source:
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

climate change
environment
global-warming

The Buzz on Breathing

Find out how dirty the air is in your area. Try out a map developed by the American Lung Association. Does your city, county and state get a passing grade? What variables are involved with air quality in your region? Click on this US map to find out.

This week there has been a big buzz in the environmental field about the recent American Lung Association “State of the Air: 2007” annual report. Although there was good news in that ozone pollution was down through out the country, there was still bad news for California, in particular Southern California. The 71-member Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) are pressing Governor Schwarzenegger and President Bush to take a tougher stance in passing stricter state and federal rules to fight unhealthy fine particle pollution.

To get across their point, Southern California city and county officials have declared their air quality a health crisis.

"You simply have to have the state and federal government do things differently or we are not going to meet the federal standards," said Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge, a SCAG board member.

SCAG states that fine particle pollution in Southern California results annually in:

• 5,400 premature deaths
• 2,400 hospitalizations
• 1,000,000 lost work days

Although much is being done to fight air pollution in the state, various state and federal agencies disagree on strategies.

See the Source:
The Press-Enterprise
State of the Air: 2007

Find out:
About diesel particulate filters from CleanAIR Systems to fight fine particle pollution.

air pollution
particle pollution

Senator Bingaman on Alternative Fuel Vehicles

On May 1st, Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico chaired a hearing to explore possible incentives Congress should consider in helping to expand the availability of advance technology vehicles in our country. He also opened conversation on how the United States can become the world leader in manufacturing alternative fuels.

Bingaman invited Martin Eberhard, CEO of Tesla Motors, to testify. The hearing in the Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure took a closer look at what incentives are needed to create a larger market for vehicles that use less - or no - fossil fuels, and to encourage more companies like Tesla Motors to manufacture their products in the U.S. Bingaman is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure.

"Right now, over 50 percent of the nearly 21 million barrels of oil we use each day in the U.S. is imported. And almost 70 percent of that oil consumption is used in the transportation sector. These numbers suggest that in order to achieve energy security, we need to reduce our use of imported fuels. We can begin this effort by becoming efficient users of transportation fuels," Bingaman said.

The U.S. tax code has several incentives to encourage manufacturers and consumers to build and purchase more fuel efficient vehicles. There are tax penalties that apply to the purchase of the least fuel efficient vehicles. The tax code also features credits, against income or excise tax, for bio-based fuel blends that take the place of imported fuels.

But the Senator wants to do more. "We have taken steps that allow us to continue providing incentives to all types of advanced technologies that increase our fuel efficiency and reduce polluting emissions. What we learned today is that we also need to provide incentives for manufacturers to produce these technologies in the United States," Bingaman said. Today the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee met to vote on legislation to promote the efficient use of energy, expand the use of biofuels and to invest in research and development capture and storing of carbon emissions.

See the Source:
United States Senator – Jeff Bingaman

current issues

Mayday, Mayday – Breathing May Be Hazardous to Your Health

On this May 1st, here’s a rundown of air quality news:

• EPA reports the emissions data for 2006 indicates long term improvement in US air quality for 6 pollutants: NOx, ozone, SO2, particulate matter and lead. According to the EPA total emissions of these key pollutants have dropped 54% between 1970 to 2006.


• April 30 to May 4 is Air Quality Awareness Week. This year’s theme is “Be Air Aware: Keep an Eye on the AQI”. Established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the EPA, this week is a reminder to the public of the importance of air quality forecasts in making health decisions.
  
  NOAA forecasts are updated twice daily on www.weather.gov/aq, providing hour-by-hour information on air quality for cities, suburbs, and rural areas located in the eastern US. Similar forecasts are now available for western United States through experimental products. Approximately 300 cities nationwide use the EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI) found on http://www.airnow.gov/ to issue daily forecasts and offer steps that should be taken to reduce exposure to pollutants when levels are high.

• The American Lung Association has released its annual air quality report “State of the Air: 2007”, showing both good news and bad news. According to the report, the eastern United States shows an increase of almost double in the level of particle pollution, mainly due to an increase in power generation and coal-fired power plants. While in the west, deadly particle pollution has dropped. Overall, ozone has dropped throughout the entire country due to a reduction in NOx emissions thanks to 1990s air regulation requirements.
  
  Snapshots from the Report:
  According to the report, 46 percent (136 million people) of the U.S. population lives in 251 counties where they are exposed to unhealthful levels of air pollution in the form of either ozone or short-term or year-round levels of particles. About 38.3 million Americans -- nearly one in 8 people -- live in 32 counties with unhealthful levels of all three: ozone and short-term and year-round particle pollution.
  
  One-third of the U.S. population lives in areas with unhealthful levels of ozone, a significant reduction since the last report when nearly half did, yet 99 million Americans still live in counties with F grades for ozone.
  
  Roughly one in three (more than 93.7 million) people in the United States lives in an area with unhealthful short-term levels of particle pollution, a significant increase since the last report, which is only partially due to the new, slightly lower threshold of unhealthful air recognized in this report (based on the newly adopted national standards). Nearly one in five (more than 54 million) people in the United States lives in an area with unhealthful year-round levels of particle pollution.
  
  Los Angeles ranked as the most polluted city in the nation for all categories in the report, even though LA's pollution levels have dropped. Other cities ranking among the worst for ozone include several in southern California, as well as large cities in Texas and on the east coast, including Houston, Dallas, New York, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia. Other cities on the lists of the worst for particle pollution include many in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states, including Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland, Washington, DC-Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York.
  
  With ozone pollution dropping in the eastern US, several cities returned to the list of most polluted cities despite improved ozone levels, including Atlanta, Phoenix, and Baton Rouge. They reappeared because of greater improvements by other cities. Some cities moved up to the worst cities for ozone list for the first time, including Las Vegas, Milwaukee and Kansas City.
  
  "The American Lung Association is fighting for tougher federal standards because they protect Americans from dangerous levels of air pollution," Dr. Weaver said. "Air pollution shortens lifespan, it lands our children and elderly in emergency rooms, and it can make children and teens more vulnerable to lung disease for the rest of their lives."

Top 10 cleanest U.S. cities for long-term particle pollution

1. Cheyenne, Wyoming

2. Santa Fe-Espanola, New Mexico

3. Honolulu, Hawaii

4. Great Falls, Montana

6. Flagstaff, Arizona

6. Tucson, Arizona

8. Anchorage, Alaska

8. Bismarck, North Dakota

10. Albuquerque, New Mexico

To find out how clean the air is in your community, go to http://www.lungusa.org/, enter your zip code in the widget and click go. A grade will be issued that is determined by high ozone and high particle pollution days. It also offers statistics for groups at risk according to the total population figures.

See the Source:
EPA – air quality and emissions trends
NOAA/EPA National Air Quality Awareness Week
Local air quality forecasts
NOAA
NOAA Air Quality Guidance (East U.S.)
NOAA Air Quality Guidance (West U.S.)
American Lung Association
Best and Worst Cities: State of the Air 2007