Join the CAADP Related Information

Connecticut Alliance Against Diesel Pollution

Working to significantly reduce the health risks from diesel pollution in Connecticut

Winter 2006-2007

Dear Connecticut Organization:

The Connecticut Alliance Against Diesel Pollution (CAADP) invites your organization to join the campaign to reduce local health risks from diesel vehicles.

Diesel health risks translate into real impacts for real people. Each year, an estimated 200 premature deaths, 340 non-fatal heart attacks, 4000 asthma attacks, 24,000 work-loss days and 140,000 minor restricted-activity days result from diesel particulate matter emissions in Connecticut. Although these health risks are highest in urban areas, diesel pollution is everywhere. For instance, several recent studies show that children in school buses can be exposed to levels of diesel particulate matter up to ten times higher than levels outside the bus.

Solutions are available now, and now is the time to show your support for comprehensive action. Please read the following principles and join this Alliance today to lend your voice to the statewide effort to prevent diesel pollution.

The Connecticut Alliance Against Diesel Pollution advocates that Connecticut should implement measures to significantly reduce diesel pollution consistent with the following principles:

1. The Connecticut Diesel Pollution Plan should achieve a reduction in diesel particulate matter pollution of 75% by 2015, consistent with Special Act 05-07 and the Connecticut Climate Change Action Plan 2005, to protect public health and reduce the economic, health, and environmental threats posed by global warming.

2. High exposure public fleets should lead by example and should be targeted first for clean-up. Connecticut should maximize pollution reduction from transit buses, school buses, and equipment used in large state construction projects, and clean up dates in Special Act 05-07 should be considered hard targets. This strategy should include strong recommendations for developing an in-state funding stream to support diesel mitigation.

The National Partnership to Reduce Diesel Pollution, a nationwide initiative with whom CAADP is allied,
advocates the following:

3. Plans should be designed to minimize risk to public health. Acknowledging that there is no known safe level for exposure to diesel pollution, diesel emissions reductions should go beyond attainment of state and federal ambient health standards for air quality, and deeper diesel pollution reductions should be pursued as technology improves.

4. Plans should consider options to reduce diesel pollution from all sources.

5. Plans should utilize the best pollution controls and management practices to guarantee the greatest possible reduction in diesel emissions. Strategies could include: retrofits, rebuilds, replacements, cleaner fuel, implementing and enforcing no-idling policies, encouraging stricter inspection and maintenance practices, and implementing commercial and industrial environmental management systems.

6. Plans to reduce diesel pollution should target particulate matter, as its components have serious health and global warming impacts. Particulate matter has been identified by public health and medical experts as the most dangerous component of diesel pollution. Targeting particulate matter will also reduce black carbon soot, a global warming pollutant, helping to reduce the serious economic, health, and environmental threats posed by global warming.

7. Plans to reduce diesel particulate matter should not significantly increase other air pollutants. Policies that create other pollution, including net increases in nitrogen oxides (NOx) or other air toxics, should be avoided.

8. Plans should require that, to the maximum extent feasible, each sector contributing to diesel pollution share in the expense and effort of reducing this pollution. A diversity of funding sources, public and private, should be utilized to achieve maximum pollution reductions. Innovative funding and incentive strategies (for example: loans, tax credits, and small-scale grants) should be pursued to encourage private fleet participation.

9. Plans should target reducing exposure to sensitive subpopulations, especially the elderly, children, and environmental justice communities, where pollutant levels are highest and where the potential for human health benefits are greatest.

10. Plans should ensure that adequate pollution monitors exist to create an accurate inventory and to provide ongoing tracking of emissions. Comprehensive diesel emission inventories of all sectors (on-road, off-road and stationary) are an essential tool for identifying opportunities and assessing progress.

11. Plans should support engagement of all levels of government to pursue maximum diesel pollution reductions.

Download the file above to get the sign up sheet and instructions on where to send.