April 20, 2005

STATEMENT GIVEN AT PHILADELPHIA DIESEL DIFFERENCE ANTI-IDLING ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE PRESS EVENT

Joseph Otis Minott, Esq., Executive Director, Clean Air Council:

"I would like to begin by applauding the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Philadelphia Parking Authority for embarking on this new initiative to reduce unnecessary idling by area fleets. I also would like to acknowledge the Air Quality Partnership and Philadelphia Diesel Difference for arranging this event. Diesel emissions contain pollutants that are harmful to the health of Philadelphia residents. Whatever the city can do to mitigate the health threat from diesel emissions is welcome. Having the Philadelphia Parking Authority involved will allow the City of Philadelphia to be more effective in enforcing its anti-idling laws.

My organization, Clean Air Council, has worked to protect everyone's right to breathe clean air since 1967. Many of the Council's 9,000 members reside in the Philadelphia region, which EPA has designated as being in nonattainment of the federal health standards for both fine particulates and ozone (smog). The Council is particularly supportive of efforts such as the City's enforcement of anti-idling laws, because of one of the Council's major program areas - Children's Environmental Health. Children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse health impacts of pollution from diesel exhaust, because their lungs are smaller and still developing.

While the Council stresses the importance of having laws like Philadelphia's anti-idling provisions in place to safeguard the health of residents, fleets can do much to improve air quality without being mandated to do so. The Philadelphia Diesel Difference, which the Council helps to coordinate, promotes voluntary measures to mitigate diesel pollution.

Currently, Diesel Difference is working with Amtrak, the School District of Philadelphia, the City of Philadelphia's fleet, SPC Corporation in South Philly and the United States Postal Service at its forthcoming Eastwick facility to reduce diesel emissions from their vehicles by retrofitting them with pollution control devices.

Lastly, the Council is very excited about work that Diesel Difference, EPA, the City of Philadelphia, community groups and local residents are doing to reduce emissions from Philadelphia's ports. Diesel Difference has established a standing subcommittee to recommend strategies and programs towards developing an environmental management system to reduce all aspects of pollution from Delaware River Port facilities. This integrated approach will do much to protect the health of the surrounding neighborhoods. With so many exciting projects in place, it is clear that we are making great strides in reducing diesel emissions. Again, I would like to thank the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, the Air Quality Partnership, the Diesel Difference, and all of you for coming out."