Diesel Emissions

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.

View the non-attainment map for Ohio particulate pollution.

Click to see if your county is failing the particle pollution standard.

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.

"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.

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.

Read more in the OEC's No Idling Fact Sheet.

Idle Myths Busted Fact Sheet.

Read about the benefits of a fuel conservation ordinance (PowerPoint).

The OEC is collaborating with Parma Heights, Cleveland Heights, Worthington, and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority to retrofit more than 35 diesel vehicles with state of the art pollution controls. These controls will reduce pollution from these dirty diesel engines by as much as 90%.

This clean-up effort is funded by a $395,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The OEC received one of three Ohio grants that were awarded. Read more about this grant award.

Cleveland Heights has retrofitted 14 trash trucks, semis, and salt trucks with Diesel Oxidation Catalysts. Click here for photos.

Learn more about the U.S. EPA’s Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative.

"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)

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!

The OEC partners with many groups across Ohio to achieve clean air.

In central Ohio the OEC is teaming up with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Clean Fuels Ohio to educate municipalities about the need to clean up their diesel fleets through retrofitting, replacement, repowering, and cleaner fuels.

The OEC also sits on the Ohio Green Fleets (OGF) steering committee. The OGF rewards fleets who have taken steps to reduce their pollution and encourages other fleets to do the same.

The OEC's other partnerships include:

• Earthday Coalition, Cleveland Clean Air Century Campaign, to address the diesel and gasoline pollution in northeast Ohio, through work on idle reduction ordinances and green contract language.
• 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.

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.