7/12/2006
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Successful groundbreaking initiative completed
INDIANAPOLIS - Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson today joined the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) in announcing the completion of a groundbreaking initiative that will keep more than one ton of harmful diesel emissions out of the environment every year.
In 2004, Indianapolis received a $100,000 grant from the EPA’s Great Cities program to reduce harmful emissions from municipally-owned diesel-powered vehicles, improve overall quality of life and make central Indiana cleaner, healthier place to live, work and play.
The city of Indianapolis and its partners - the city of Lawrence, the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library (IMCPL) and the Marion County Health Department (MCHD) - used the grant money to purchase and install Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOCs) on 84 municipal vehicles including solid waste trucks, fleet vehicles, the health department’s Smile Mobile (mobile dental lab) and the library’s bookmobiles.
“These vehicles provide services to our neighborhoods every day and it’s important that this is done in a manner that takes health and the environment into account,” said Mayor Bart Peterson. “We are taking the lead in reducing the effects of vehicle exhaust and showing we are committed to making ongoing improvements in our environment.”
Diesel exhaust contains more than 450 components, including particulates and air toxics, which have been linked to a number of health concerns including cancer, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. EPA estimates show these 84 vehicles will now emit:
· 212 fewer pounds of particulate matter (soot) per year
· 552 fewer pounds of volatile organic compounds (precursors for smog) per year
· 2,000 fewer pounds of carbon monoxide per year
This project reduces drivers’ and workers’ exposure to diesel emissions and contributes to overall air quality improvements in the Indianapolis area.
“We want to thank the EPA and all of the partners who’ve helped us reduce the effects of harmful diesel emissions and take the important steps to improve air quality and the quality of life in central Indiana,” the mayor added.
Central Indiana air quality does not meet EPA’s eight-hour standard for ozone (smog), and Marion, Hamilton, Hendricks, Morgan, and Johnson counties do not meet EPA’s annual air quality standard for fine particles (soot).
EPA has made additional grant money available to the city of Indianapolis for future retrofits on other municipal vehicles in Marion County including those operated by the Indianapolis Fire Department, the Indianapolis Airport Authority and Citizens Gas.
Partner # of Retrofits
City of Indianapolis 59
Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library 2
Marion County Health Department 12
City of Lawrence 11
Total 84
On the web: www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/
www.knozone.com
www.mchd.com
www.cityoflawrence.org
www.imcpl.org
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