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Committee submits statement in support of
Proposed Idling Reducation Regulation
The League of Women Voters of Indiana County strongly supports the proposed Idling Reduction Regulation proposed by the Environmental Quality Board for three major reasons.
Health Issues
Diesel engines emit nitrogen oxide, volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter, pollutants that cause and/or exacerbate breathing problems such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema 1. Over a lifetime, health risks include increased cancer, reduced heart health and arteriosclerosis 2. Furthermore, children’s health is more at risk, because they have more lung surface area compared to body weight, and have higher respiratory rates. Health risks for children include slowed lung function growth, increased asthma attacks, respiratory infections, and coughing, and increased allergic reactions. Pennsylvania has many diesel emission hot spots in both Eastern and Western Pennsylvania placing residents at more risk for breathing and other health disorders. 3
Environmental Issues
The League of Women Voters believes that “global climate change is one of the most serious threats to the environment.” In February, the United Nations sponsored International Panel on Climate Change reported that there is 90% likelihood that human activity is influencing the warming of the planet. Pennsylvania contributes one percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. Reduction in diesel emissions along with other pollution decreasing policies will contribute to improved air and water quality and an improved state economy. The League believes negative impacts of global warming on PA include:
- Loss of State’s ski industry and other winter recreation
- Loss of breeding areas of many species of songbirds
- Severe heat waves
- Crop yield change by as much as 39%
- Decline in forested areas
- Lower stream and river flows and lake levels
- Increased storm related property damage
In addition, sportsmen are reporting disease typically found in warmer climates is appearing in the Southern Pennsylvania deer herd suggesting that Pennsylvania is indeed experiencing warmer weather.
Economy
Pennsylvania’s large and heavily used interstate highway system includes some 260 truck stops and 47 public rest areas, which provide convenient areas for heavy duty diesel vehicles to idle. The Commonwealth’s highway emission’s consultant, Michael Baker, Jr., estimates that total statewide idling related to truck travel rest is more than 21 million annual hours. Use of an alternate method to heat/cool their cabs during idling would reduce fuel use by 20 million gallons a year. Baker estimates this would save nearly $67 million per year at current fuel prices. In addition, any reduction of air pollutants could impact health costs and the environmental issues that impact water supply, hunting, recreation and agriculture. These economic issues are significant and provide a strong basis for implementing the proposed rule.
The Department of Environmental Protection has made practical exemptions and timetables for implementing the regulations. The League of Women Voters of Indiana County applauds the Environmental Quality Board, the Department of Environmental Protection, for this proposed regulation and urges its immediate adoption.
- www.epa.gov/otaq/schoolbus/basicinfo.htm/
- Schneider, C.G. & Hill, L.B., (Feb., 2005), Diesel and Health in America: The Lingering Threat, www.catf.us/publications/reports/Diesel_Health_in_America.pdf
- Ibid
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Sherene Hess, President
Clarice K. Reber
Chairperson, Air Quality Committee
League of Women Voters of Indiana County
1235 Oak Street
Indiana, PA 15701
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