Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary John Hanger announced that the commonwealth is investing over $1.2 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to upgrade diesel vehicles with emission reduction technology that will improve air quality in the region. The grant will also fund the purchase of an additional filter, which will enable the city to continue operating the vehicles when the diesel particulate filter equipment must be removed and cleaned.
“Every day, Pennsylvanians are exposed to air pollutants emitted by diesel engines that can adversely impact their health, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly,” said Hanger. “By retrofitting diesel vehicles with cleaner technologies, we are making the air a little cleaner for our families and communities.”
The Allegheny County Health Department received $443,100 of the ARRA funding to upgrade 33 of the City of Pittsburgh’s waste hauling vehicles with particulate filters verified by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency or California Air Resource Board. Once upgraded, the trucks will emit fewer pollutants when traveling through the city’s neighborhoods. The verification affirms the emission reduction capability of the technology and signals that is has been approved by EPA.
One Pennsylvania school district and two bus companies have been awarded a total of $204,764 to retrofit 95 school buses in communities across Pennsylvania with diesel oxidation catalysts. Philadelphia Air Management Services was also awarded $616,740 to replace 38 diesel-powered baggage tractors at Philadelphia International Airport with 39 zero-emission electric tractors and install 19 dual-port electric charging stations.
Diesel-powered waste hauling vehicles and school buses are large contributors to elevated levels of particulate matter, or PM, and toxic emissions because they operate under stop and go conditions.
Elevated levels of outdoor air pollution such as ozone, PM and other toxics can exacerbate or increase symptoms of asthma and other respiratory problems. Fine particles (PM 2.5), a known component of diesel emissions, are most closely associated with increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits for heart and lung disease, increased respiratory symptoms and disease, decreased lung function, and even premature death. EPA recently classified diesel PM as a likely human carcinogen.
“Newer diesel engines are subjected to more stringent emission standards, are cleaner burning and less polluting,” said Hanger. “But many older models that are used on a daily basis continue to contribute to poor air quality. By using the available federal funding to make these older diesels cleaner burning, we are taking a major step toward making the air healthier for all of us to breathe.”
Adams County:
E & B Transportation Co. (E & B): $64,671.70 to retrofit 28 school buses with cleaner burning diesel technology. E & B services the Dover and Bermudian Springs school districts.
Allegheny County:
Allegheny County Health Department: $443,100 to retrofit 33 waste hauling vehicles in the city of Pittsburgh with cleaner burning diesel technology, and purchase one diesel particulate filter.
Dauphin County:
Central Dauphin School: $48,600 to retrofit 20 school buses with cleaner burning diesel technology.
Montgomery County:
CMD Services Inc. (CMD): $88,492.30 to retrofit 47 school buses with cleaner burning diesel technology. CMD services the Pottstown and Pottsgrove school districts.
Philadelphia County:
Philadelphia Air Management Services: $616,740 to replace 38 diesel-powered baggage tractors with 38 zero-emission electric baggage tractors and install 19 dual-port electric charging stations Philadelphia International Airport.