[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Cleans Up Diesel Emissions in South Phoenix

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Cleans Up Diesel Emissions in South Phoenix

PHOENIX (Oct. 17, 2008) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Director Steve Owens announced today that work has been completed on a
project funded by ADEQ to install emissions-control devices on a number
of diesel powered vehicles and other machines operating in South
Phoenix. 

ADEQ provided the City of Phoenix with a $208,000 grant last year to buy
and install 53 diesel oxidation catalysts and 11 diesel particulate
filters on 64 vehicles and other pieces of equipment owned and operated
by the City.  The retrofitted vehicles included 39 trash trucks, 23
sweet sweepers, an excavator and a loader.

"This project will help protect children and families in South Phoenix
from harmful diesel pollution that otherwise would be emitted by these
vehicles," Director Owens said.  "Diesel exhaust is especially harmful
to children and is a principle trigger for asthma attacks and other
respiratory problems affecting some South Phoenix residents because of
the volume of diesel truck traffic and industrial activity in the area."

Owens added that in addition to the diesel vehicle retrofit project,
ADEQ has taken other steps to reduce diesel emissions in South Phoenix,
including getting five school districts in South Phoenix to participate
in ADEQ's School Bus Idling program. 

The idling program is a voluntary effort which has reduced diesel
exhausts through school bus drivers turning their engines off while
waiting for students at school loading and dropoff zones. The program
has reduced harmful emissions from nearly 140 buses and affecting about
45,000 students in the South Phoenix area. 

-30-

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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