[DEHC] reminder: DIESEL EVENT TODAY MONDAY 10/22, 1 PM, Marshall School

[Rosanne.Foley at codman.org]

NEWS ADVISORY 

CONTACT:  Danielle Connor, Clean Water Action, (617) 338-8131 x205
                     Winston Vaughn, Environment Massachusetts, 
617-747-4447
                      Meg Wilcox, Environment Northeast, 617-319-6457 

Scientist Demonstrates Effectiveness of Diesel Pollution Filters

Diesel Pollution Monitoring Demonstration

Who: Dr. Bruce Hill, Senior Scientist from the Clean Air Task Force; 
Senator Jack Hart, Members of the Diesel Pollution Solution Coalition, and 
Strengthening Voices, a parent association.
Where: John Marshall School, 35 Westville Street Dorchester, MA 02124
When:  Monday, October 22nd, 1:00 PM 
, 
A Clean Air Task Force senior scientist will demonstrate the dramatic 
reduction in diesel exhaust that can be achieved with the installation of 
a pollution control device on a diesel truck. Two diesel trucks will be 
used in the demonstration. One has been retrofit with a filter to reduce 
emissions by up to 90% and one which has not yet been retrofit.  Without 
the control device, diesel exhaust, including fine particulate matter, is 
released, potentially triggering asthma attacks and other serious 
respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

Massachusetts has the highest levels of particulate pollution in New 
England.  Every year, pollution from Diesel engines is responsible for 450 
premature deaths, 700 heart attacks, 9,900 asthma attacks and 60,000 
missed work days.

SB 502 (Hart), An Act to Protect Public Health and Air Quality by Reducing 
Harmful Diesel Emissions and its companion bill in the house, HB 732 
(Coakley-Rivera) would reduce harmful pollution from diesel engines across 
the commonwealth by:
- Requiring state owned, leased, or contracted diesels to install 
pollution retrofits by 2011
- Requiring municipal garbage and recycling trucks to install pollution 
retrofits by 2012 
- Establishing a “Diesel Emissions Reduction Fund” to help private fleets 
modernize their pollution controls.

Note: excellent visuals will be available as Dr. Hill monitors emissions 
from a dirty diesel truck compared to one running with a tailpipe filter. 
Press packets will be distributed.

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