The Philadelphia Diesel Difference Workgroup 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:

Joe Berty, Berty Reaction Engineers, Ltd.
April Birnbaum, Air Management Services, Department of Public Health, Philadelphia.
William Campbell, Seasoned Energy.
Francine Carlini, PA DEP.
Ray Chalmers, US EPA, Region III.
Eric Cheung, Clean Air Council/Clean Cities Program, Philadelphia.
Joseph Colella, Sunoco, Inc.
Hallie Comer, Air Management Services, Department of Public Health, Philadelphia.
Morris Fine, Air Management Services, Department of Public Health, Philadelphia.
Kirt Flowers, Amtrak Automotive Group.
Lionel Gillston, Diesel Engine Transformations.
Michael Gray, Rentar Environmental Solutions.
John Hadalski, Managing Director's Office, Philadelphia.
Jack Lebeau, Rentar Environmental Solutions.
Steven J. Levy, Sprague Energy.
Tim Lynch, Office of Fleet Management, Philadelphia.
Philip Marotta, School District of Philadelphia.
Ron Pacitti, Diesel Engine Transformations.
Roberta T. Perry, Amtrak Environmental.
Richard Ross, School District of Philadelphia.
Thomas Sandin, EkoBalans.
Arleen Shulman, PA DEP.
Kevin Snape, Lubrizol.
Jienki Synn, DVRPC.
Christopher P. Thomas, Managing Director's Office, Philadelphia.

INTRODUCTIONS:

Mr. Morris Fine, Director of Air Management Services, Department of Public Health, City of Philadelphia, welcomed all in attendance. He introduced Ms. April Birnbaum, who recently joined Air Management Services (AMS) as a Special Project Coordinator. She will be assuming many of the duties surrounding the Diesel Difference Initiative. Her contact information at AMS is April.Birnbaum@phila.gov and (215) 685-9425. Mr. Fine concluded the introductory portion of the agenda by asserting that the Diesel Difference initiative is moving ahead on several fronts, which were discussed throughout subsequent portions of the meeting.

SCHOOL BUS RETROFIT PROMOTION VIDEO:

Ms. Arleen Shulman, Chief, Mobile Sources Section, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), aired the first public viewing of a School Bus Retrofit Promotion Video. The video highlights the efforts of the Wissahickon School District, who partnered with 3M, the PA DEP and the US EPA to conduct a diesel retrofit demonstration project. It focuses upon the vulnerability of children to health-related illnesses associated with particulate matter from school bus diesel engines and the benefits of implementing clean diesel technology. Ms. Shulman noted that a copy of the video is free and available to all workgroup members who wish to obtain it. Contact ashulman@state.pa.us for additional information.

PA DEP GRANT:

Ms. Arleen Shulman reminded the working group of the upcoming October 21, 2003 deadline for the PA DEP Diesel Retrofit Demonstration Project Grant. The grant application and other related materials are available at: http://www.dep.state.pa.us/deputate/airwaste/aq/cars/diesel/retrofit.htm.
Some concerns were raised in reference to further grants stemming from this source. Ms. Shulman confirmed that she is hopeful about receiving funding from future settlements such as VEPCO, but cannot be certain. The terms and conditions of the VEPCO settlement, for which VEPCO and the EPA are the parties, may stipulate that the state level organization (PA DEP) will be the smallest organization awarded funding. If this is the case, funding would be awarded from the PA DEP. Additionally, the settlement may also limit the funding to projects employing EPA verified retrofitting technologies.

DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS:

Mr. Richard Ross of the School District of Philadelphia spoke of his collaboration with Sunoco, Inc and Lubrizol in an upcoming clean technology demonstration project. As marketed by Sunoco, Lubrizol donated an above ground storage tank filled with their Aquamix protect. This partnership involves only a negligible financial investment from the School District of Philadelphia. The collaboration aims for a target date of January 2004 to begin employing clean fuel and retrofit technology.

The second demonstration project involves the diesel retrofitting of Amtrak's fleet. Kirt Flowers of Amtrak has spoken to Rentar, Lubrizol, and Johnson Matthey about retrofitting his truck and locomotive fleets. Mr. Flowers plans to discuss these options with corporate management, as by 2005, Amtrak will be mandated to retrofit all of its fleet, due to the implementation of federal requirements.

COMMUNICATION WITH FLEET OPERATORS:

Mr. Morris Fine discussed a draft e-mail circulated to the Working Group, which attempts to couple fleet operators interested in employing diesel retrofit technologies and cleaner fuels, with companies that market these products. A basis for such partnerships includes grant opportunities, like the October 21, 2003 PA DEP grant. One suggestion brought to the floor, in reference to the e-mail, was to make available a personal connection for fleet operators, so that they could pair "a name with a face." Another recommendation was to include, within the e-mail Working Group, meeting times and dates.

CLEAN AIR COUNCIL RECOGNITION PROGRAM:

Mr. Eric Cheung of the Clean Air Council/Clean Cities Program updated the Working Group as to the status of the Clean Air Council Recognition Program. This program promotes diesel retrofit and clean technology projects through non-monetary incentives, such as media coverage and outreach assistance. Mr. Cheung felt that a press conference, which publicizes the retrofitting projects implemented within the Wissahickon School District and Amtrak, could be one of the first and easiest aspects of the initiative to be launched. The Clean Air Council is also working on a Diesel Difference logo, letterhead, and website. It is likely that Mr. Cheung will serve as webmaster for the site, for which he estimates will be functional within the next month. The Working Group noted that a listing of stakeholders ought to be included on the website.

MEMBERSHIP IDEAS:

Mr. John Hadalski suggested the inclusion of additional stakeholders in the Working Group, such as representatives from SEPTA, Exxon Mobile, and the Pennsylvania State trucking fleet. Also, he stated that presentations from the Wissahickon School District and SEPTA could serve as the early portions of future working group meetings, to model the May 30, 2003 conference in a smaller form.

NEXT MEETING AND LOCATION:

Mr. Kirt Flowers volunteered the 30th Street Rail Station as a venue for next month's Diesel Difference Working Group Meeting. Those in attendance agreed upon October 17th as an appropriate date. More specific details will follow in regards to the logistics of this meeting.