Cleaning Up Diesel Emissions - Let's Get it Done!

From California ARB:
"We have posted an on-line survey to gather information on the use of certain on-road diesel vehicles in California. The purpose of the survey is to better understand the age and use of diesel vehicles used in different operations such as long-haul, local delivery, and other types of operations. We are working on a proposal that would currently require all diesel trucks and buses subject to the regulation to meet 2007 engine standards by 2013 and 2010 engine standards by 2021. We would like any person, business or corporation that owns or is leasing, for twelve months or more, any diesel powered truck, bus, pickup, or other vehicle to complete the survey. The survey is available at the following website:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/onrdiesel_new.htm
A hard copy version is also available at the website.

I like riding the ferry BUT...

A plume of deadly diesel exhaust pours from the Blue and Gold Fleet Ferry service to Oakland Alameda. They do not use diesel particulate filters and the ferry manager said they do not have any plans to install them. An average of 900 people ride the ferry every day, including school children. The people who work on the ferry get the most exposure to it.

The company received roughly $1.5 million in Carl Moyer grant funding from Bay Area Air-Quality Management in 2006, including $677,531 for this vessel to be upgraded. They also raised their ticket prices for capital improvements. It seems that the vessel just "goes in for service" often, but no long-term air quality improvements are made. I usually enjoy riding the ferry, and the service and people who work there are great, but what's the point when you can't breathe fresh air? What is also concerning is that B&G claim to be clean, green and environmentally sound. I don't see any "green waves" here, do you?

I am looking forward to when this is really a clean, green commute. Until then, I think I WILL hold my breath.

Check out the California Air Resources Board, and the Clean Air Task Force public health information about Diesel Exhaust, which causes cancer and other health problems contributing to thousands of premature deaths per year.

Tags: air-pollution commute ferry transportation diesel san-francisco alameda oakland california

Dirty Diesel

70% of Cancer Risk comes from Diesel Exhaust

No Escape from Diesel Exhaust.Fine particulate matter pollution in the air is responsible for at least 70,000 deaths a year...Studies throughout the world show that people who live or work around diesel engines are at highest risk. But what about the rest of us? Exposure studies suggest that commuters on busy roadways, on diesel transit buses, and on commuter trains receive above-average exposures to fine particles. Studies by California Air Resources Board (CARB) researchers estimate that during the relatively small part of the day when we are in our vehicles, we experience over half of our exposures to ultrafine particles and black carbon.

Diesel Exhaust =Toxic Emissions

American Lung Association of California