New Law Reducing Diesel Pollution Will Save Lives and Lower Health Care Costs

 

(TRENTON)—Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today signed landmark legislation to cut exposure to harmful diesel emissions from school buses, garbage trucks, transit buses and publicly owned diesel vehicles.  New Jersey is the first state in the nation to place diesel emission controls on all public and privately owned transit buses and garbage trucks.

 

“Today marks an important milestone in protecting the health of New Jersey residents,” said Codey.  “Pollution from diesel engines is linked to hundreds of premature deaths and thousands of serious respiratory illnesses in New Jersey every year.  By taking action to reduce dangerous diesel emissions, we are prolonging and improving the lives of all New Jerseyans, including those most vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution -- children, seniors and those who live or work in urban areas.”

 

Codey signed the bill during a news conference at NJ Transit’s Hilton Garage in Maplewood.  He was joined by bill sponsors Assemblymen John McKeon and Robert Gordon.  Twenty other legislators signed on as cosponsors to this important bill.

 

"Diesel emissions are one of the most dangerous airborne pollutants that are quite literally choking us out of our homes," said Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset.  "Where we see increased levels of diesel pollution in our skies, we see some of the worst concentrations of respiratory illness, cardiac arrest and early death.  This cannot be the legacy we leave to future generations, and by acting today, we will reverse trends in increased diesel pollution and ensure cleaner air for tomorrow."

 

"Pollution and black soot emitted from exhaust pipes of trucks, buses, and construction equipment is cause for great concern in this densely populated state," said McKeon (D-Essex). "While new vehicles are being developed to burn cleaner fuel, an endless supply of soot is pumped into the air everyday by older diesel engines already on the road. The environment cannot wait 20 years for these engines to die out. For the sake of public safety, replacement must begin today."

 

"A steady transition from diesel engines to cleaner non-diesel alternatives is mandatory to reduce pollution, public health concerns, and cancer risks," said Manzo (D-Hudson). "The technology exists right now to ensure lower engine emission. There is no reason to delay the process of ensuring cleaner air for New Jersey residents."

 

On Election Day on November 8, voters will be asked to approve a constitutional amendment that would fund the diesel reduction program by reallocating revenue already generated by the state’s Corporate Business Tax.  The program would reimburse fleet owners for 100 percent of the cost of installing the emission-reducing equipment over the next 10 years.  The diesel program outlined in the bill signed today is contingent upon voter approval of Ballot Question No. 2 on Election Day.

 

Under the new law, diesel-powered school buses would be fitted with closed crankcase technology in their engines to prevent diesel exhaust from seeping into the cabin and threatening the health of New Jersey’s school children.  At the same time, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will undertake a study to determine if emissions from the bus tailpipe are affecting the air quality inside the school bus.  If the study shows that a reduction in tailpipe emissions will lower the health risks to children, DEP would require emission controls on tailpipes as well as crankcases. 

 

Because their immune and respiratory systems are still developing, children are especially vulnerable to asthma attacks, bronchitis and other illnesses caused by the soot in diesel emissions.  Asthma is the leading serious chronic illness among children and a leading cause of school absenteeism.

 

“The asthma rate among children has increased 160 percent over the last 20 years, with urban asthma rates even higher,” said DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell.  “It is important that we take action now to protect the health of our children.  The future of this major air quality initiative soon will be in voter’s hands.  It is up to all of us to help make an informed decision on November 8.”

 

In addition to school buses, the diesel retrofit program would fund the installation of particulate traps and other emissions-control devices in the tailpipes of garbage trucks, transit buses and publicly owned on-road and off-road diesel vehicles and equipment. 

 

"NJ TRANSIT has worked very hard--particularly in the last three years--to ensure that our bus fleet meets both state and federal guidelines," said NJ TRANSIT Executive Director George D. Warrington.  "Public support of this constitutional amendment would allow us and the

state to continue to be ahead of the curve."

 

The new law extends the authority to enforce existing idling laws to local police. New Jersey law already prohibits the idling of diesel vehicles for more than three minutes.

 

Today’s bill also expands the requirements pertaining to the use of ultra-low sulfur fuel. Reducing sulfur in diesel fuel directly reduces emissions of fine particles, and also makes it possible to use air pollution technologies that cut emissions even further.

 

Diesel exhaust ranks among the air pollutants that pose the greatest risk to public health. Diesel exhaust is likely to cause cancer, and includes fine particles, commonly called soot.  Fine-particle pollution can be inhaled into the deepest parts of the lungs where it can accumulate over time and enter the bloodstream, obstructing oxygen transfer to the blood leading to health problems.

 

If approved by voters on November 8, the new program would reduce diesel emissions by more than 500 tons per year.  It is estimated that New Jerseyans can save up to $1.4 billion each year for health care and related costs due to exposure from fine particle pollution.