Boston, MA- Senate bill 502, a
bill to Protect Public Health by Reducing Harmful Diesel Emissions, sponsored
by Senator Hart (Boston) and Representative Coakley-Rivera (Springfield),
passed out of the Joint Committee on
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture today. If signed into law, the bill would make Massachusetts a national
leader in reducing harmful pollution from diesel engines.
“Today’s action by Chairs Resor
and Smizik and the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and
Agriculture represents a major step forward for clean air in Massachusetts” said Winston
Vaughan, Field Organizer with Environment
Massachusetts. “We applaud the
committee’s action and look forward to working with the legislature and the
governor to see this important bill become law.”
Modeled after successful regulations in California,
New York and New Jersey, the bill would require most
heavy-duty diesel vehicles operated or contracted by the state to be
retrofitted with filters that would dramatically lower harmful diesel emissions
by 2010. In Addition, the bill would
create a multi-million dollar fund that will help private construction
companies clean up their fleets.
“The incidence of asthma is off
the charts in Boston
and other urban centers. This bill provides critical—and long overdue relief—to
our most vulnerable citizens,” said Senator Jack Hart. Danielle O’Connor from Clean Water Action
agreed saying “Installing retrofits on diesels is a simple solution to a
huge health problem and the air quality benefits are immediate. We can't
afford not to pass this legislation.”
Massachusetts has the highest diesel pollution levels in New England. Soot
particles from diesel engines can get trapped deep in the lung and even pass
into the blood stream, causing serious respiratory and cardiovascular
problems. Diesel pollution across the
state contributes to over 450 premature deaths, 700 heart attacks, 9,900 asthma
attacks and 60,000 missed work days across the Commonwealth each year.
“The time is now for
Massachusetts to catch up to other states like California and New Jersey
in tackling one of the biggest health problems faced by urban communities,”
said Sam Krasnow, attorney and policy advocate at Environment Northeast.
The bill passed out of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural
Resources and Agriculture today and will be referred to the rules committee
before being approved by the house and senate and heading to the governor’s
desk.
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