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Department of Ecology News Release - September 22, 2004
04-176
YAKIMA - Thousands of children in Central Washington are breathing cleaner air, thanks to upgrades to school buses that reduce toxic emissions by up to 50 percent.
In all, 170 diesel-powered school buses in Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Yakima, Benton and Klickitat counties have been fitted with modern emission controls.
The retrofit program is part of a statewide project sponsored by the Washington Department of Ecology and local air authorities, including Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority and Benton Clean Air Authority in Central Washington.
"The results are dramatic," explained Paul Rossow, an air quality specialist with Ecology. "By adding these devices, school districts are able to improve air quality without the expense of buying a new fleet of buses."
In 2003, the state Legislature authorized $5 million for the school-bus-retrofit program.
So far, more than 1,500 of the state's 9,340 public school buses have been fitted with the new equipment. A retrofitted bus emits from 30 to 90 percent fewer toxic emissions and fine particles than an older bus running standard equipment.
Emissions checkups also will be included as part of annual bus-safety inspections statewide through a partnership with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) and Ecology.
WSP has agreed to add a tailpipe opacity check to its inspection procedures, and Ecology agreed to pay for equipment, provide training, analyze the data and advise local school districts on maintenance options to make the buses as clean as possible.
"Exposure to diesel fumes not only worsens asthma in children who have it, but new cases can be triggered in kids who previously did not have it," said Sue Billings, an air quality manager for Ecology. "That's why it is really worth it to reduce the diesel pollution our children breathe."
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Media Contacts: Joye Redfield-Wilder, Washington Department of
Ecology, (509) 575-2610
Charlie Stansel, Yakima Regional Clean Air Authority, (509) 834-2050
Terry Flores, Benton Clean Air Authority, (509) 943-3396 Ext. 100
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
