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Department of Ecology News Release - March 26, 2003
03-047
SPOKANE - The Spokane Transit and state Department of Ecology (Ecology) have joined forces to improve Spokane's air quality by reducing toxic air pollutants from diesel emissions.
With technical assistance from Ecology, Spokane Transit will participate in a voluntary program to reduce diesel emissions by burning bio-diesel fuel and by installing catalytic converters. The transit company also will replace "old technology" buses with "new technology" buses.
Biodiesel, produced from vegetable oils, is biodegradable, nontoxic, and lower in sulfur and other harmful compounds than petroleum-based diesel.
An $8,000 grant from Ecology will help pay for equipment (an emissions analyzer) that will allow the transit authority to measure the reduction in diesel emissions over time.
"We want to applaud Spokane Transit's commitment to this effort," said Ecology's René-Marc Mangin, who manages Ecology's eastern regional office. "It is so important for our community's health to work together to reduce toxic air pollutants, and Spokane Transit has really embraced this effort."
Spokane Transit and Ecology hope to cut emissions in half by the year 2010.
"We are proud to work with Ecology on this emissions reduction program and to honor a dedicated member of our Spokane Transit team with the 'Joey Project,'" said Spokane Transit Authority's interim chief executive officer, Kim Zentz. "Providing our service in a clean and energy-efficient way is an important component of our future."
The emissions-reduction project has been dubbed the "Joey Project," named in honor of Joe VanHoutan's son, Joe Jr., who died unexpectedly last Sept. 30. Joe VanHoutan is a 21-year employee of Spokane Transit and serves as lead foreman in vehicle maintenance.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Air Toxics Assessment, millions of pounds of toxic chemicals are emitted into the air annually in Washington. These toxic chemicals cause or contribute to increased deaths and serious illnesses such as cancer, birth defects and neurological problems.
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Contact: Jani Gilbert, Ecology public information, 509-329-3495;
pager, 509-622-1289
Teresa Stueckle, Spokane Transit, customer and public relations manager,
509-325-6063; pager, 509-880-3694
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
