The Ohio Enviornmental Council teamed up with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission to produce a public service announcement encouraging vehicle owners not to idle their cars or trucks unnecessarily.
Councilmember Hearcel Craig sponsored the resolution and held a press event with OEC and several local non profits, city agencies, and metropolitan planning commissions.
How is the Quality of Our Air?
The Clean Air Act (1970) created the provisions for air quality standards and monitoring. The Act requires the federal government to establish standards called the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and requires states to develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to meet these standards.
Counties in the state that are failing the standard for ozone pollution and particle pollution (have not attained the standar) can face penalties such as E-check, county emission off-sets, and highway funds withheld if they don't meet the standards.
Most of Ohio is now meeting the ozone standard that was set in 1997. However, the U.S. EPA revised this standard in 2008. This new standard is more protective of public health and many of Ohio's counties that met the 1997 standard will not immediately meet the 2008 standard.
OEC commented on the recent proposal by the Ohio EPA to have central Ohio be designated as meeting the particulate matter standard.
The OEC is reaching out to citizens on the importance of being aware of poor air quality. The OEC is engaging Women, Infant, Children programs in eleven counties in central and northern Ohio to educate participants on the sources of pollution, the health impacts, and what they can do to improve the air.
Green Contract Language
"Green contract language" (also known as "clean contracting") is a way that businesses operating diesel vehicles and equipment can help make a difference in our air quality.
It is a requirement that directs the contractor to adhere to certain "clean" pollution control technology, fuel, and/or work practices during the completion of a construction project.
There are approximately 50,000 construction vehicles in Ohio. A typical 175-hp bulldozer emits as much as particle pollution from 500 new cars. New regulations will ensure new engines after 2010 will be cleaner and, by 2014, off-road vehicles will be up to 90% cleaner. Unfortunately, fleet vehicles with engines built before then will continue to contribute to air quality problems for the next 20-30 years.
For more information, read the OEC's Green Contract Language fact sheet and template.
No-Idling: Your Air, Your health, Your wallet
Reducing the amount of vehicle idling is key to protecting Ohio's health, economy, and environment.
The OEC is working with groups in the Cleveland area to develop and implement an idle reduction ordinance in northeast Ohio. Idle reduction can save an area millions of dollars.
The OEC has worked with dozens of school districts, cities, and private fleets in securing more than $2 million in grants to retrofit and replace dirty, old diesel engines.
Currently, the OEC has teamed up with MORPC to retrofit vehicles with the Summit County Engineer's Office and the Northwest Local Schools (Stark County). MORPC received a grant from the U.S. EPA to work with several fleets throughout Ohio. The OEC is helping MORPC with these two fleets.
"The Lingering Threat" is a landmark report
that estimates the health impacts from diesel soot pollution
using EPA’s own methodology. The report was authored
by the Clean Air Task Force and released in partnership
with OEC and other clean diesel advocacy groups around the
country. It estimates that nearly 21,000 preventable deaths
occur each year in American due to breathing in diesel fumes.
Ohio ranked 8th in the country for health impacts from diesel
engines with an estimated 769 annual early deaths. Read
full report. (PDF)
To learn about the health impacts in
your community, view this interactive
map. (external link)
Diesel Clean-Up Campaign
In the US, more than 13 million diesel engines build our nation’s infrastructure and transport goods and people. However, particulate pollution from diesels shortens the lives of an estimated 21,000 people nationwide every year. Read about diesel’s health effects.
The Diesel Clean-Up Campaign is committed to the following goals: To reduce diesel fine particulate matter emissions 40% by 2012, 55% by 2015, and 70% by 2020. To learn more about the national diesel cleanup campaign visit www.dieselcleanup.org.
Join us in this effort! Have your organization sign onto the Campaign Platform. Be part of the solution to diesel pollution!
Collaborations: How to Get Things Done
The OEC partners with many groups across Ohio to clean up our air.
In central Ohio the OEC collaborates with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Clean Fuels Ohio to educate public and private fleets about the need to clean up their diesel fleets through retrofitting, replacement, repowering, and cleaner fuels.
Earthday Coalition, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, and Cleveland Clean Air Century Campaign, to address the diesel and gasoline pollution in northeast Ohio.
American Lung Association of the Midland States on diesel emission and ozone education.
Ohio Clean Diesel Coalition to fight for funding for the Diesel Emission Reduction Grant program.
Clean Air Task Force at the national level, to urge Congress to adopt strong green contract language requirements for all public works projects that use federal funds and to support funding for the Diesel Emission Reduction Act.
A number of fleets that have worked with OEC to clean up their diesel vehicles.
The OEC is also reaching out to several Women, Infant, and Children Clinics in central and northeast Ohio to distribute information on air quality and what individuals can do to reduce their own risk.
The 6 R's of Diesel Clean Up
The solutions are as easy as learning the 6R’s of Diesel Cleanup:
Retrofit. Pre-2007 highway diesel engines can be retrofitted with an emission control device that can reduce pollution by as much as 90%.
Refuel. Switching to cleaner fuels such as alternative diesel fuels or ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel can achieve modest reductions in pollutants.
Repower. Installing a new low-emission engine in an older chassis can allow the machine to run for many more years.
Replace. Replacing a vehicle with a new lower-emission model ahead of schedule can result in substantial emission reductions.
Rebuild or repair. Performing routine maintenance and periodic engine rebuilds can keep emission rates at or near original levels.
Reduce idling. Idling equipment is not only polluting but also a waste of fuel. Limiting idle time can save money by reducing fuel usage and wear and tear on the engine.
"The Lingering Threat" is a landmark report
that estimates the health impacts from diesel soot pollution
using EPA’s own methodology. The report was authored
by the 
