Diesel Campaign

Diesel exhaust poses a serious risk to Allegheny County residents’ health. Diesel exhaust shortens the lives of 237 Pittsburghers each year, and triggers hundreds of heart attacks and thousands of asthma attacks. Our children and the elderly are most at risk from the harmful effects of diesel exhaust.

GASP is helping to lead the Allegheny County Partnership to Reduce Diesel Pollution. This campaign is a collaborative effort committed to reducing the health risks posed by diesel pollution. This comprehensive campaign aims to reduce toxic diesel pollution from a full array of diesel vehicles; including school buses, transit buses, garbage trucks, locomotives, and marine vessels operating in Allegheny County.

The good news is that there is existing technology that can cut diesel emissions by 90% or more. Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP) has begun a comprehensive program that involves educating the general public, school districts and local leaders about the harmful effects of diesel exhaust and strategies they can take to clean up existing diesel engine fleets. GASP is also advocating for a variety of regulatory clean-up options that will reduce diesel exhaust locally and regionally. To get involved in this critical work please contact GASP at 412-325-7382 or gasp@gasp-pgh.org.

Diesel and Health in America: Diesel Soot Impacts Across U.S. Enter your zip code to view health impacts in your community.

NEWS ARTICLES AND PRESS RELEASESGrant to help cut pollution from buses (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 7, 2006)

Report Card on School Bus Idling (Allegheny Front, June 7, 2006)

Pennsylvania Receives “B” by Scientists Group for Reducing School Bus Pollution (DEP Update, May 26, 2006)

Groups tout tailpipe filters that trap soot, clean up diesel exhaust (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 10, 2006)

Filters cut emissions on Plum buses (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, May 10, 2006)

District pumped up over cleaner fuel (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, August 24, 2005)

New rules limit idling by buses, trucks (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 16, 2005)

Allegheny County takes step in reducing deadly diesel exhaust (GASP Press Release, July 13, 2005)

Diesel comes clean (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, June 12, 2005)

More…

TAKE ACTION

When you see a school bus idling unnecessarily, hand the driver a copy of this Idling Violation Notice as a friendly reminder not to idle. (Adobe Acrobat required: 80 KB)
GASP advocates for many options to help clean up the existing diesel fleet. Learn more.
Allegheny County has adopted a school bus anti-idling regulation and is working on a regulation for other heavy duty diesel vehicles. GASP is relying on you to help notify the enforcement agencies about nuisance idling in your community.
ACHD and the PA Department of Environmental Protection should include diesel cleanup measures as federally-enforceable requirements in our State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the attainment of fine particle and ozone air quality standards.

LEGISLATIONDiesel Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Regulation Section 2105.92 of Article XXI. (Adobe Acrobat required: 20 KB)

Comments made by GASP at the public hearing on diesel regulations in Allegheny County (February 14, 2005)

School Bus Idling Regulation Section 2105.91 of Article XXI. (Adobe Acrobat required: 388 KB)

Allegheny County Idling Ordinance Ordinance 40-03-OR, enacted August 2003. (Adobe Acrobat required: 20 KB)

Press release concerning Allegheny County Anti-Idling Ordinance (August 19, 2003)

GASP FACT SHEETS/RESOURCES

The Many Faces of Diesel Pollution (Adobe Acrobat required: 112 KB)
Diesel Danger: Reducing Children’s Exposure to Diesel Exhaust from School Buses. (Adobe Acrobat required: 116 KB)
GASP created this magnet to remind school bus drivers not to idle now that there’s a “no idling” regulation in effect. To get a magnet, please contact GASP at (412) 325-7382.

SPOTLIGHT ON BIODIESEL

NewsSeeds of Change: Can biofuels energize Pittsburgh — and save the world? (Pittsburgh City Paper, February 16, 2006)

A Conversation with Nathaniel Doyno of Steel City Biofuels (Pittsburgh City Paper, December 22, 2005)

Pittsburgh Voyager details plans for new ‘green’ boat (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 30, 2005)

Biodiesel gaining steam as alternative fuel source (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 16, 2005)

Resources

FOCUS ON SCHOOL BUS IDLING

May 6, 2003 was proclaimed “Stop School Bus Idling” Day by Allegheny County Council, thanks to a GASP proposal.

Allegheny County Council Proclamation.
Anti-smog group pushes to stop school bus idling outside schools (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 6, 2003)
May 6th Proclaimed “Stop School Bus Idling” Day (GASP Hotline, Summer 2003)

As of October 2004, unnecessary school bus idling in Allegheny County is no longer allowed. GASP took the lead in advocating for and contributing to the School Bus Idling Regulation (Section 2105.91 of Article XXI).

School Bus Idling Comes To A Halt (GASP Press Release, October 12, 2004)
Limits placed on school bus idling (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 15, 2004)
New Air Quality Regulation Limits School Bus Idling in Allegheny County (PA DEP, October 15, 2004)

National school bus news/resources:

Clean School Bus USA (EPA Program)
Children’s School Bus Exposure Study (California Air Resources Board)
A Multi-City Investigation of the Effectiveness of Retrofit Emissions Controls in Reducing Exposures to Particulate Matter in School Buses (Clean Air Task Force, January 2005)
Bush wants to reduce school bus emissions (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 30, 2004)

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Diesel Campaign