North Texas, TCEQ Awarded $2 Million for Clean Diesel Projects

The North Central Texas Council of Governments has been awarded $1.5 million, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will receive $500,000 from the Environmental Protection Agency to help reduce diesel emissions.

EPA and the Blue Skyways Collaborative awarded the grants as part of the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program.

“Blue Skyways and the EPA clean diesel program are delivering cleaner engines and cleaner air for America’s heartland,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “This program gives communities another effective tool to improve air quality and public health.”

Communities will use the grants for clean diesel projects that significantly reduce emissions through the use of retrofit technologies, engine replacements, and idle reduction technologies.

Reducing emissions from diesel engines is one of the most important air quality challenges facing the country. Even with EPA's more stringent heavy-duty highway and non-road engine standards set to take effect over the next decade, millions of diesel engines already in use will continue to emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and air toxics, which contribute to serious public health problems. EPA and the Blue Skyways Collaborative provide funding for projects to help reduce these heavy-duty diesel emissions.

The Blue Skyways Collaborative is a group of businesses, communities and government agencies spanning 10 states that work together voluntarily to reduce air pollution in North America's central corridor. With its 183 partners, the collaborative is implementing about $1.1 billion in projects that use innovations in diesel engines, alternative fuels and renewable energy technologies to reduce air emissions along major transportation corridors. These innovations save 76 million gallons of fuel per year, cut 1.6 million tons per year in greenhouse gases and reduce toxic air pollutants by 51,626 tons per year.

For additional information on the National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, click here.

For information the Blue Skyways Collaborative, click here.

For activities and information on EPA Region 6, click here.

An EPA audio file is also available, click here.

Find diesel particulate filters at CleanAIR Systems.

NYS Clean Diesel Regulations Show Promise

Regulations Will Reduce Harmful Effects of Diesel Pollution

A coalition of environmental and public health groups today urged adoption of regulations drafted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) which implement aspects of the New York State Diesel Emission Reduction Act of 2006. As specified in regulations published in the New York State Register on October 8, on-road and off-road heavy duty diesel vehicles which are owned or under contract with New York State must use ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel, and be fitted with best available retrofit technologies by December 31, 2010.

"Through these regulations, Governor Paterson and Commissioner Grannis have taken real steps to clean up a real problem, New York's dirty air," said Michael Seilback, Vice President, Public Policy & Communications for the American Lung Association of New York. "It is imperative that New Yorkers show their support for these regulations by attending and testifying at the public hearings across the state."

The Diesel Emission Reduction Act of 2006 required the Commissioner of DEC to enact rules governing which technologies shall be considered best available retrofit technologies.

DEC plans to hold the following public hearings:
-- Nov. 24, 2008, 1 p.m. at DEC Annex, Region 2, 11-15 47th Ave., Hearing Rm. 106, Long Island City
-- Nov. 25, 2008, 1 p.m. at DEC Reg. 8 Office, Conference Rm., 6274 E. Avon-Lima Rd., Avon
-- Nov. 26, 2008, 9 a.m. at DEC, 625 Broadway, Public Assembly Rm. 129, Albany

"Environmental Advocates of New York applauds Governor Paterson and Commissioner Grannis for taking this monumental step to clean-up our air. Dirty diesel emissions account for a major portion of the pollution endangering our environment and the health of our families. We urge the Department of Environmental Conservation to finalize rulemaking without delay, as every day that passes without curbing diesel emissions is another day of increased rates of asthma in children and the further degradation of our natural resources," said Jackson Morris, Environmental Advocates of New York.

"We salute Governor Paterson and Commissioner Grannis for helping New York lead by example," said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. "Diesel emissions are a significant health and environmental concern, and New Yorkers can breathe a little easier knowing that cleaner air is on the way."

"Children and seniors will breathe easier because of Gov. Paterson's and Commissioner Grannis' leadership on moving forward with the proposed regulations," said Cecil Corbin-Mark, deputy director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice. "Cleaning the fleet of on-road and off-road vehicles under the State's control will lead to less asthma and fewer deaths for our most vulnerable."

"Stronger diesel regulations will result in a reduction of harmful emissions including nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and air toxics, which contribute to serious public health problems. These emissions are linked to thousands of premature deaths, asthma attacks, lost work days, and numerous other health impacts every year. CCE commends the stronger regulations proposed by the DEC to address these serious issues," said Adrienne Esposito, Citizens Campaign for the Environment.

"Once these sensible regulations are adopted, all New Yorkers will be able to breathe easier," said Gordian Raacke, executive director of the not-for-profit organization Renewable Energy Long Island (RELI). "We applaud Governor Paterson and the DEC for proposing these regulations and hope that they will be adopted without delay."

"89 percent of New York State residents breathe air not meeting federal health-based standards," said Isabelle Silverman, legal fellow with Environmental Defense Fund. "Because available retrofit technologies work on virtually every engine application to trap over 85 percent of soot, EDF supports rules requiring the highest possible soot reduction."

The law established the following schedule for installing the retrofit technologies: not less than 33 percent of all vehicles by December 31, 2008; not less than 66 percent of all vehicles by December 31, 2009; and, not less than 100% of all vehicles by December 31, 2010.

Air pollution problems and their attendant health threats have become serious statewide issues. Millions of New Yorkers are at-risk. In fact, according to the EPA, 89 percent of the state's population lives in a county where air quality does not attain federal health standards. In addition, the EPA has declared the counties of Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, Kings, Richmond, New York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland and Orange in "non-attainment" for fine particles.

The high air pollution levels in New York State make people sick and even cut lives short. Diesel pollution has been shown by a wealth of science to trigger asthma attacks; is linked to heart attacks, cancer and even premature deaths in seniors; and is associated with ambient levels of both ozone and fine particles.

According to the New York State Department of Health, the typical hospital bill for a person on Medicaid who is hospitalized for an asthma attack is $9,500, which is more than a diesel particulate filter (DPF) would cost. Thus, if each DPF installed provides enough clean air to avoid just one asthma-related hospital admission, then the legislation pays for itself. Furthermore, this law will increase economic opportunities for companies in New York State who currently make diesel emission reduction technologies.

The American Lung Association's State of the Air 2008 report found that from Buffalo to Bayport, and from Staten Island to Saratoga millions of New Yorkers are being forced to breathe unhealthy air. For most of the state, there truly is no escape for New Yorkers whose health is impacted by air pollution.

Diesel emissions remain a particularly troublesome health threat. They are a contributing factor to the ozone problems facing so many New York communities and are a big reason why the New York City metro area has such a problem with fine particles. In fact, New York State has the highest number of deaths and the greatest rate of disease associated with diesel exhaust particles. The New York City metropolitan area leads the nation in total deaths, cancer deaths, and heart attacks associated with diesel emissions. Unlike many areas of the country, the health effects associated with diesel pollution in New York are even greater than those associated with power plant fine particle pollution.

An interactive map showing air quality findings in New York, by county, is available at http://www.alany.org/. For information on how to comment on these regulations, contact Michael Seilback of the American Lung Association of New York at (631) 265 3848 x16.

ARB approves $200 million for Cleaner School Buses from Proposition 1B Funding

Program will reduce exposure of children to pollution from high emitting buses

The Air Resources Board approved today the allocation of nearly $200 million to replace the remaining 74 oldest school buses still circulating in California, and to replace or retrofit an additional 4,500 high polluting buses serving public schools.

Proposition 1B, approved by voters in 2006, provides funding for the ARB Lower-Emission School Bus Program. These monies will allow school districts to replace or retrofit diesel school buses in another effort to reduce diesel particulate matter emissions in California. Since established in 2000, the program has provided over $100 million to replace 600 school buses and retrofit another 3,800 vehicles.

"I can't even begin to describe the significant health benefits that this program will bring into California and particularly for our most precious sector of the population, our children," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "The additional funding originated by Proposition 1B will be well put to work by providing safe and clean transportation to public schools throughout the state, creating a much healthier environment for everyone."

As approved by ARB, this year's allocation of nearly $200 million will be distributed among the local air districts as
follows:

Local Air Basin Allocation* (in millions)
South Coast $70
Ventura $5
San Diego $5.6
Monterey $7
Bay Area $8.4
Sacramento $9
San Joaquin Valley $39
Other air districts $47
* Allocations have been rounded. Program administration and outreach costs are not included.

The Lower-Emission School Bus Program will cover the cost to replace all 74 still-in-service pre-1977 buses and approximately one thousand 1977-1986 buses. Those replaced buses must be scrapped to comply with established guidelines. Finally, the full cost of about 3,500 retrofits will be paid under this program. Retrofits provide the greatest health benefit in emission reductions per dollar spent.

A 2003 study sponsored by the ARB confirmed that children can be exposed to harmful diesel emissions from the buses they ride to and from school. The same study also stated that exposure to that pollution is worse in pre-1987 vehicles, which have deteriorating engines as well as interior cabins that allow toxic emissions into the bus.

The goal of the program is to reduce the exposure of school children to both cancer-causing and smog-forming pollution by reducing diesel particulate matter emissions from school buses.
With the replacement and retrofitting of the vehicles funded by the Lower-Emission School Bus Program, the reductions estimated through 2020 are 3,000 tons of oxides of nitrogen, 200 tons of diesel particulate matter and 22,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

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ARB Lower-Emission School Bus Program

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See animation showing how diesel particulate filters get rid of toxic diesel emissions

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Catalyst Market Due for Extensive Growth

Globally, vehicle emission legislations are tightening. This will have a major impact on the growth of the automotive catalyst market based on vehicle emission regulations that have already been implemented for all heavy duty diesel (HDD) vehicles in Europe in October 2006 and in the United States in January 2007.

The automotive catalyst market was almost non-existent in 2005. It is expected to grow into a billion dollar market by 2010 due to the new legislation for heavy duty diesel engines. The market is likely to get a further boost by 2011 when legislation for off-road or non-road diesel engines is also going to be implemented. Non-road diesel engine legislation will require industries such as construction, agriculture and mining to adhere to the same emission standards as HDD vehicles.

See the Source:
BusinessWire

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About catalysts for non-road and heavy duty diesel vehicles.

California Adopts Landmark Rule to Reduce Toxic Emissions from Off-Road Equipment

This news just in from the California Air Resources Board:

SACRAMENTO - The California Air Resources Board today adopted a pioneering regulation aimed at reducing toxic and cancer-causing diesel emissions from the state's estimated 180,000 "off-road" vehicles used in construction, mining, airport ground support and other industries.

"This regulation will prevent thousands of premature deaths and reduce health care costs for those suffering from respiratory disease such as asthma," said Mary Nichols, ARB Chairman. "It is also the first of its kind in the nation, and, as has occurred with other California regulations, could serve as a model for other states to follow."

Diesel particulate matter, or diesel "soot," was identified as a toxic air contaminant in 1998. In 2000, the ARB established California's Diesel Risk Reduction Plan, which aims to reduce diesel emissions to 85 percent below 2000 levels by 2020. Other sources of diesel particulate matter such as transit buses, trash trucks, cargo-handling equipment and ship auxiliary engines have already been addressed through regulations, along with diesel fuel.

Because many diesel engines lack emission controls and can remain in use for 30 years or longer, they will remain a major contributor to air pollution for years to come. The regulation adopted today will dramatically reduce emissions by installation of diesel soot filters and encouraging the replacement of older, dirtier engines with newer emission controlled models. By 2020, diesel particulate matter will be reduced by 74 percent and smog forming oxides of nitrogen by 32 percent, compared to what emissions would be without the regulation.

The new rule also includes a provision allowing areas that are currently unable to achieve clean air standards set by the US EPA for particulate matter to opt in to stricter regional requirements if incentive funds are made available. The air districts that could take advantage of this provision are the South Coast Air Quality Management District and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District; both are considered "non-attainment areas" for particulate matter. Depending on the amount of incentive money made available, these provisions could as much as double the NOx emissions benefits in these districts, setting them on a faster track to meeting their clean air goals.

The requirements and deadlines vary depending on fleet size. For small fleets, which include small businesses or municipalities with a combined horsepower of 2500 or less, implementation does not begin until 2015. Medium fleets, with 2501 to 5000 horsepower, have until 2013, while large fleets, with over 5000 horsepower, must begin complying in 2010. Affected vehicles include bulldozers, loaders, backhoes and forklifts, as well as many other self-propelled off-road diesel vehicles.

ARB performed a comprehensive economic analysis of the rule's impact on business, concluding that the regulation will cost industry up to $3.5 billion over its lifetime. Staff reviewed individual companies' financial records and conducted numerous workshops to discuss the cost of the regulation as well as impacts on individual businesses. ARB also gave special consideration to small businesses (e.g., small fleets have until 2015 to begin compliance, while large fleets must begin in 2010) to ensure that the regulation would not provide undue economic hardship.

The Board's action today also sets the stage for efforts next year to develop similar requirements for the hundreds of thousands of on-road trucks that travel on California's roads every day.

According to ARB estimates, over its course, this rule will prevent at least 4,000 premature deaths statewide and avoid $18 to $26 billion in premature death and health costs.

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain health based air quality standards.

Find out:
About CARB verified diesel particulate filters used on off-road vehicles to reduce diesel particle pollution.

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New Report by EPA Details Cost-Effectiveness of Diesel Retrofits

The EPA has released "Diesel Retrofit Technology: An Analysis of the Cost Effectiveness of Reducing Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Oxides Emissions from Heavy-Duty Nonroad Diesel Engines Through Retrofits." Available online as a 17-page PDF, the report discusses retrofit options, how they can be a cost-effective strategy for off-road diesel vehicles in reducing emissions, and estimates for various retrofit scenarios.

From the report:
Retrofit projects can begin producing emission reductions immediately and can help State and local governments reduce emissions of PM2.5, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the near term. Retrofits include a wide range of emission reduction strategies available for diesel vehicles and equipment, including:

• Retrofitting engines with verified technologies
• Using cleaner fuels
• Replacing older equipment
• Repowering (replacing old engines with new, cleaner engines
• Reducing idling
• Properly maintaining equipment
• Gaining operational efficiencies

Retrofit technologies are advancing at a rapid pace. The use of established technologies, such as diesel oxidation catalysts (DOCs) and diesel particulate filters (DPFs), continues to grow exponentially, while new, emerging technologies such as Lean NOx (LNC) catalysts, are steadily improving. Retrofit technologies often vary in the type of pollutant reduced. DOCs and DPFs remove PM from the exhaust, but do not reduce NOx. However, DOCs or DPFs can be combined with a NOx reduction strategy – such as a cleaner fuel – to enhance the emission reduction benefits.

See the Source:
EPA Report

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More on diesel particulate filters for off-road vehicles such as construction and mining equipment.

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diesel retrofit

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/.

Ports Put Forth Plan to Slash Air Pollution

The Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have proposed an “unprecedented” plan to cut air pollution from diesel emissions by 80 percent within five year. According to the plan 16,000 trucks that move goods within the complex would be either scrapped or retrofitted with emissions control technology beginning in 2008, costing an estimated $1.8 billion.

Melissa Lin Perella of the Natural Resource Defense Council says “It’s a huge, huge step forward in our quest for clean air.”

The decision is part of a joint clean-air action plan with the goal of reducing toxic emissions by 45% in five years from all port engines, including ships, trains and trucks. Over 40% all imports to the U.S. are moved through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The final version of the plan is expected to be voted on sometime in July.

See the Source:
LATimes.com

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How trucks can be retrofit with diesel particulate filters to cut diesel emissions

First EPA Report on Environmental Impacts of Energy Use in Leading Manufacturing Sectors

Washington, DC – April 10, 2007 -- The Environmental Protection Agency has released a report on energy use trends in major manufacturing sectors that highlights the environmental implications of energy use. The report concludes with a general overview of the barriers to energy efficiency and use of clean fuel technologies, and offers some possible policy options for government to help address these barriers.

These sectors account for about 85 percent of all U.S. industrial energy use. The report analyzes each sector’s current energy consumption trends and the associated environmental impacts, specifically emissions of air pollutants and carbon dioxide. Under a business-as-usual scenario, energy consumption across many of these sectors will increase by 20 percent from 2004 levels by 2020, and carbon dioxide emissions will increase by 14 percent. The 12 sectors analyzed are aluminum, cement, chemical manufacturing, food manufacturing, forest products, iron and steel, metal casting, metal finishing, motor vehicle manufacturing, motor vehicle parts manufacturing, petroleum refining, and shipbuilding.

The report shows how each sector could improve environmental performance by becoming more energy efficient or by using clean fuel technologies. It also identifies five strategies that could be used to achieve these goals:

- switching to cleaner fuels
- using combined heat and power
- retrofitting or replacing older equipment
- making process improvements
- investing in research and development.

Based on the insights from this report, EPA will now work with the industry partners to explore the best ways to improve energy and environmental outcomes in each sector.

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About retrofitting diesel and natural gas engines to reduce emissions

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About retrofitting diesel and natural gas engines to reduce emissions

Fresno: Clean and Green

The City of Fresno, CA has earned national recognition from the DOE and EPA for instituting progressive measures in making the city “clean and green”.

City Mayor, Alan Autry says, “There are external standards in place to ensure compliance. We have an internal set of goals that more beyond compliance toward commitment – commitment to clean air initiatives and a commitment to being environmental stewards.”

The City of Fresno now boasts one of the largest clean fleets in California’s Central Valley, containing a total of 362 clean-air vehicles including:
- 54 Compress Natural Gas Transit Buses
- 72 Liquid Natural Gas Refuse Trucks
- 46 Hybrid Cars and Pickups
- 131 Diesel Vehicles retrofitted with emissions control technology
- 1 Class 7 Liquid Natural Gas “Plug-in” Electric Hybrid Truck (first of its kind)

The Municipal Service Center, where much of the fleet is parked, utilizes solar power from the 4,557 solar panels installed on the roof. The solar system is expected to have a 30-year life span and substantially reduce pollutants that would have otherwise been emitted by traditional power sources. The solar panels also help out during peak power hours by producing an increase in energy and lessening the load on local power grids.

Fresno City Council President Henry T. Perea emphasized, "More and more cities across the nation are recognizing their role in protecting the environment. Fresno has demonstrated its leadership in this regard and is pushing a progressive agenda to utilize more and greener technologies. Our efforts over the last several years have placed Fresno on the map of environmental innovation, and we have just begun."

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City of Fresno

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About emissions control technology to retrofit diesel engines