Philadelphia Diesel Difference Working Group Minutes

May 25, 2004

The Philadelphia Diesel Difference - Working Group Meeting
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC)
Pennsylvania New Jersey Room
The Bourse Building
111 S. Independence Mall East, 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106

IN ATTENDANCE:

Kevin Benson, Cummins Power Systems.
April Birnbaum, Air Management Services, Department of Public Health, Philadelphia.
Emily Bockian Landsburg, The Energy Cooperative.
Francine Carlini, PA DEP.
Ray Chalmers, US EPA, Region III.
Eric Cheung, Clean Air Council/Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities.
Bill Coughlin, Sunoco.
Dana DuBois, Clean Air Council.
Morris Fine, Air Management Services, Department of Public Health, Philadelphia.
Kirt Flowers, Amtrak Automotive Group.
Joseph Grinkewicz, School District of Philadelphia.
John Hadalski, Managing Director's Office.
Jack Lebeau, Rentar Environmental Solutions.
Mike McClurkin, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
Ursula Miezio, Johnson Matthey.
John Moore, The Energy Cooperative.
Robert Neff, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
Larry Rosen, Rentar Environmental Solutions.
Bill Ross, Sprague Energy.
Jienki Synn, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
Lisa Zubowicz, Penn Future.


INTRODUCTIONS:

Mr. Morris Fine, Director of Air Management Services, Department of Public Health, City of Philadelphia, welcomed all in attendance. He thanked the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission for the use of their facility as a meeting venue. Mr. Fine alerted the Working Group to a number of important programmatical and funding updates. First, he noted that the EPA's Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program is now accepting grant applications for demonstration projects that innovatively utilize EPA verified pollution control technologies to reduce emissions from diesel powered fleets. Targeted projects include the retrofitting of nonroad diesel equipment (i.e. construction equipment) and highway diesel vehicles (i.e. transit buses and waste haulers), which affect sensitive populations that are more susceptible to the effects of diesel exhaust. Applications will be accepted from state, local, multi-state, and tribal agencies, as well as from non-profit organizations. The total estimated funding for this project is $1,500,000 and the EPA expects to award ten to fifteen cooperative agreements, each ranging from $100,000 to $150,000. Completed applications must be received by the EPA no later than July 2, 2004. For additional information, please refer to http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html#trans.

Secondly, Mr. Fine informed the Working Group that the $20,000 awarded to Amtrak Automotive from the US EPA Region III, on behalf of the Philadelphia Diesel Difference, has been returned to our coalition. Amtrak is unable to accept federal funding, due to unanticipated legal issues. Nevertheless, they will proceed with the retrofitting of fourteen maintenance vehicles with oxidation catalysts, via their own funding. The $20,000 will remain available to the Philadelphia Diesel Difference until September 31, 2004. Multiple ideas have been presented as to how to use this funding, which include expanding anti-idling compliance assistance in the City of Philadelphia and augmenting existing diesel retrofit projects. If you are interested in employing this $20,000 to conduct a retrofit demonstration project on your fleet, please contact Ms. April Birnbaum at April.Birnbaum@phila.gov as soon as possible.

Lastly, Mr. Fine announced that the Diesel Difference assisted the PA DEP in the submittal of an application for funding to the EPA's "National Transportation Idle Free Corridors" grant application, in order to launch advanced truck stop electrification at the Walt Whitman Service Plaza in South Philadelphia. One issue of concern is the potential for the regional produce terminal of the Food Distribution Center, which provides a large number of trucks that utilize the Walt Whitman Truck Stop, to move to Camden, New Jersey. At the time the PA DEP proposal was submitted, Idle Aire Corporation, the advanced truck stop electrification (ATE) provider, was conducting traffic studies at the site, to determine if installation of ATE at Walt Whitman is economically viable.


REPORT FROM THE MOBILE SOURCE EMISSIONS REDUCTION CREDIT SUB-COMMITTEE:

Ms. April Birnbaum, Chair of the Sub-Committee on Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Credits, presented a report for the Sub-Committee on Mobile Source Emissions Reduction Credits. Ms. Birnbaum informed the Working Group that Mr. Kevin Snape had drafted a proposal for mobile source particulate matter trading in our region, which remains in the redrafting process by members of the MERCS Sub-Committee. Once complete, it will be discussed with the appropriate regulatory parties.


REPORT FROM THE TECHNICAL SUB-COMMITTEE:

Ms. April Birnbaum, Chair of the Technical Sub-Committee, presented a report for the Technical Sub-Committee. Due to continuing meager participation, the Technical Sub-Committee remains unable to embark upon its goals. One of the first tasks that this committee would like to accomplish is the compilation of a frequently asked questions sheet that will directly address any concerns expressed by fleet operators on the use of clean diesel technologies. If you are interested in participating in the Technical Sub-Committee, please e-mail Ms. April Birnbaum at April.Birnbaum@phila.gov.


SPECIAL EVENT FOLLOW-UP:

On Monday, May 24, 2004, the Philadelphia Diesel Difference and the Air Quality Partnership (former Ozone Action) celebrated voluntary actions that aim to improve the air quality of the Philadelphia region. The event was held at Conversation Hall in City Hall and was attended by more than sixty guests. Attached please find a copy of the agenda, which highlights featured speakers and exemplary fleets and partners who were recognized at the event. A signing ceremony for the Diesel Difference added numerous endorsements to our charter, including the School District of Philadelphia and SEPTA. Also, an official announcement was made in regards to the retrofitting of the Asthma Bus, through donations of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel from the Sunoco Corporation and an appropriate aftertreatment device from the Lubrizol/Engine Control Systems Foundation. FOX News and Comcast CN8 provided media coverage of the event.


CLEAN AIR COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mr. Eric Cheung of the Clean Air Council/Clean Cities Program updated the Working Group as to the status of the Clean Air Council Non-Monetary Recognition and Mobile Source Outreach Programs. The Clean Air Council assisted in numerous aspects of the event on May 24, 2004, including production of the charter, banner, clean diesel decals, and plaque for the Wissahickon School District. The Diesel Difference thanks the Clean Air Council for their support in this endeavor.

Mr. Cheung circulated copies of the Diesel Difference brochures on both the non-monetary recognition program, as well as on a general overview of the Diesel Difference program. Mr. Cheung then announced that the Diesel Difference website, which is located at http://www.cleanair.org/dieseldifference/, remains under construction. Please send any corrections and/or suggestions to Eric Cheung at echeung@cleanair.org. Success stories of fleets that have engaged in retrofit projects and highlights of the May 24, 2004 event should be posted onto the website in the near future.

Lastly, Mr. Cheung announced that the Clean Air Council has created a database of key contact information for area municipalities and school districts. Mr. Cheung aims to send a letter to these contacts in the coming weeks, which will encourage their participation in the installation of clean diesel technologies on their fleet.


CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP PRESENTATION/STRATEGY:

Ms. April Birnbaum and Mr. Bill Coughlin delivered a Power Point presentation on the Corporate Sponsorship Program of the Philadelphia Diesel Difference. Please note that the Corporate Sponsorship Program has recently been renamed the Adopt-A-School Bus Program, in order to supplement the grant funding provided by Clean School Bus USA and target school bus retrofits in our area. A copy of the Power Point Presentation given at the Working Group meeting will be posted on our website shortly [http://www.cleanair.org/dieseldifference]. Mr. Coughlin then reviewed the methods through which the Adopt-A-School Bus Program of the Philadelphia Diesel Difference plans to secure funding. Numerous tactics were illustrated and due to time constraints, the remainder of this discussion has been tabled until the June meeting of the Diesel Difference Working Group. A copy of the Corporate Sponsorship strategy is attached to this document.

NEXT MEETING AND LOCATION:

The next Diesel Difference Workgroup Meeting will be held from 10 AM until 12 PM on June 21, 2004 at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission's Pennsylvania/ New Jersey Room, The Bourse Building, 111 S. Independence Mall East, 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106.


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