Health and Environmental Groups Pleased with $196K to Fight Diesel Pollution in RI

PROVIDENCE—Health and environmental organizations are pleased by the news that $196,880 in federal money will be designated for cleaning up diesel vehicles and equipment in Rhode Island as well as for providing information to fleet operators about reducing their emissions.  The money was provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency through the Diesel Emission Reductions Act (DERA).

Denise Parrillo, of Clean Water Action, and lead organizer of the Diesel Pollution Initiative for the past two years, said she was excited by this new source of funding. “We have taken great strides in cleaning up diesel pollution, through the passage of laws that ban unnecessary idling of heavy-duty diesel vehicles and require the clean up school buses.  However, much more needs to be done, and this funding will help us get there,” said Parrillo.

Diesel exhaust contains very fine black soot particles and air toxins. When inhaled, these tiny particles become lodged in the lungs, triggering asthma and heart attacks. Providence County ranks among the worst six percent of all counties in the United States for health impacts from diesel pollution.  The average lifetime cancer risk from diesel soot for Providence County residents is 300 times higher than the “acceptable” risk level determined by the Environmental Protection Agency.  

“In these challenging economic times it is critical that we continue to seek out creative funding for environmental health protections and not let our bests interests just fall by the wayside,” said Anne Costner, who will take the lead as coordinator of the Diesel Pollution Initiative in 2009. “This year the Diesel Pollution Initiative is forging ahead with several municipalities and the General Assembly on project solutions to provide advanced pollution control technology,” according to Costner.

Molly Clark, of the American Lung Association of Rhode Island, also looks forward to the word spreading wider about how vehicle and fleet owners can clean up their equipment.  “Rhode Island is in the midst of an asthma epidemic,” she said, “as one in 10 adults and children currently have asthma. We hope all owners of diesel vehicles and equipment will take advantage of information and funding opportunities, and take action which will reduce human suffering, lost productivity, and health care costs.”