Ward One Councilman Seth Yurdin has introduced an ordinance requiring cleaner diesel vehicles at City construction sites. The ordinance, which establishes specific requirements relating to the use of diesel fuel and retrofit technology for vehicles used in City construction projects, will go before the City Council tomorrow. 

Fighting diesel pollution has been a priority for Yurdin, who last year introduced a resolution calling on both the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island to implement policies to reduce diesel emissions.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, diesel exhaust is especially problematic because it contains high levels of small particles, known as particulate matter, which can pass through the nose and throat and lodge themselves in lungs. As Yurdin’s ordinance cites, “forty percent (40%) of particulate matter emissions in New England come from non-road (construction) diesel engines.” For that reason, Yurdin explained, the ordinance targets vehicles used in construction of City projects.

Councilman Yurdin stated, “The health risks from diesel exhaust have a substantial human cost—Providence County is within the worst six percent of counties nationwide for health problems cause by diesel particulate matter, and these health problems affect our most vulnerable populations—children, the elderly, and those with existing heart or lung disease. Additionally, there is a real monetary cost—the estimated cost of health care associated with diesel emissions in Rhode Island is $316 million annually.”

 

Yurdin observed that, “In their daily lives, the people who live and work in Providence breathe in diesel exhaust from construction vehicles used to build highways—such as the ongoing I-195 relocation; to build new schools—the majority of which are located in residential neighborhoods; and in major downtown developments. Additionally, as the capital city, Providence suffers from heavy traffic congestion, with on-road diesel vehicles traveling throughout city streets, often idling for long periods of time.”

 

Annie Costner, a campaign organizer for Clean Water Action—an organization which has been a leading voice for clean diesel--said that, “Councilman Yurdin is absolutely right to address diesel emissions from construction in Providence. The General Assembly is considering similar statewide legislation, but because of population density and the focus on development around the capital city, Providence County bears the brunt of diesel pollution in Rhode Island. School buses and the RIPTA fleet are well on their way to being cleaned up; it's time for construction to do its part.”    

 

The ordinance would require that construction companies that are awarded City contracts over $150,000 use ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, which runs cleaner, and retrofit their vehicles with pollution control equipment. Similar legislation is in place in New York City and other municipalities.

 

Yurdin emphasized the importance of running cleaner diesel construction vehicles, stating, “The health risks created by dirty diesel vehicles are controllable, and Providence must step up and ensure that everyone in our city, but especially our most vulnerable residents—children and the elderly—are protected from dirty diesel exhaust.  If passed, that’s exactly what this ordinance will do.”

 

The ordinance will be introduced on Thursday, February 19, 2009, at the 7 p.m. City Council meeting.