Region 3 has identified our urban areas as priority targets for diesel emissions reductions. EPA’s own analyses and other risk assessment activities have pointed to diesel exhaust as a major risk contributor affecting our densely populated neighborhoods – places where our most vulnerable and sensitive populations often reside in great numbers. Similarly, many of our urban areas suffer from unacceptable levels of particulate matter and ozone.
The Mid-Atlantic Diesel Collaborative through the Urban Fleets Sector will focus initially on the primary sources and contributors of diesel from fleets. For example, fleets in this context include Garbage Trucks, Fire Engines, Ambulances, Street Sweepers, etc. Through the work of the sector workgroup, I anticipate that we will discuss and refine the goals and objectives for our work in the coming weeks.
The urban focus permits us to consider areas not meeting air quality standards for ozone and particulate matter, as well as areas of concern for air toxics risk. The Urban Fleets Sector seeks to encourage voluntary emission reductions in advance of regulatory standards. This Sector will also focus on reviewing, evaluating and potentially developing model policies and incentives that can be applied in multi-jurisdictional areas and/or at the county or state level. As a collaborative, we hope to encourage both short-term project specific activities and longer-term, sustainable policies and programs (e.g. statewide tax incentives/rebate programs, anti-idling programs) that are transferable among the Region’s states and urban areas.
The Urban Fleets Sector will work with other sectors to share information and coordinate project planning as appropriate. |
