Erie County Government - Official website of the Erie County, NY Government
Note: Although this web site is fully accessible to all browsers and internet devices, it has been designed to utilize current web standards, and therefore appears quite differently in browsers that do not support current web standards.
For more information on web standards and how to upgrade your browser please visit the Browser Upgrade Campaign at http://www.webstandards.org/upgrade/.
Robin Douglas - Project Manager, Erie County Clean School Bus Initiative
Edward A. Rath Bldg.
95 Franklin Street, Rm. 1077
Buffalo, NY 14202
Phone: (716) 858-8555
Email: douglasr@erie.gov
Bonnie Lawrence - Environmental Project Manager
Phone: (716) 858-8560
Email: lawrencb@erie.gov
The diesel school bus education program is educating school board members, transportation officials and parent-teacher organizations about the health implications associated with diesel school bus idling. The program can also advise these community leaders regarding transportation management strategies and new technologies available for school buses that will reduce children's exposure to diesel fumes.
Erie County staff is available to meet with individual school districts within Erie County to discuss available health and environmental data; and encourage them to adopt anti-idling strategies, as well as consider using alternatives to current diesel technology. Information will also be provided regarding funding that is available through State and Federal grant programs that can help schools make these changes.
By reducing diesel emissions from school buses, school districts can improve the health of the local school population as well as reduce tailpipe emissions, smog, ozone depletion, and respiratory illness. Erie county staff is available to assist School officials with making important decisions and changes related to transportation management, inspection and maintenance programs, fuel type, and driver training.
If you are interested in learning more about protecting children from diesel fumes and would like us to provide a presentation to your school transportation department, school board or another group in your community, please contact the Erie County Clean School Bus staff member Robin Douglas at (716) 858-8555.
Erie County has received two grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for emissions control technologies that reduce harmful tailpipe emissions and improve onboard air quality in school buses. The goal of the Erie County Clean School Bus Initiative is to retrofit every school bus in Erie County to improve air quality for students, teachers, bus drivers and county residents.
Diesel emissions are a concern because they contain toxic contaminants that are harmful to human health and the environment. Children are especially vulnerable because their respiratory systems are still developing, and their lung function can be impaired by exposure to the contaminants in diesel exhaust. In addition, Erie County is considered a non-attainment area by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for exceeding ozone level standards at least several times a year. For this reason, it is especially important to retrofit school buses and reduce children's exposure to the dangerous effects of diesel exhaust on their ride to and from school.
Clean School Bus Grant - Phase 1 - 2006-2008
In 2006, Erie County was awarded $300,000 to fund school bus retrofits in six school districts: Akron, Grand Island, Iroquois, Lancaster, Ken-Ton, and Sweet Home. Approximately 254 buses received pollution reducing equipment. The retrofits will reduce emissions of particulate matter, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide, which aggravate respiratory ailments and contribute to smog. In this grant, Erie County partnered with Clean Communities of Western New York, the New York Association of Pupil Transportation, the Erie County Health Department, and the University at Buffalo Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Biosurfaces (IUCB). The IUCB and the UB Chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World collaborated to test air quality on 10 Ken-Ton school buses before and after retrofits. Test results will be available in late 2008.
Clean School Bus Grant - Phase 2 - 2007-2009
In 2007, EPA awarded Erie County an additional $174,000 for retrofits on 42 buses owned by Fisher Bus Company, which serves Hamburg and Orchard Park school districts, and 20 idle reduction pieces for Sweet Home School District. Anti-idling training for school bus drivers is another component of the grant.
Clean School Bus Grant - Phase 3 - 2008-2010
Erie County is also pursuing 2008 EPA funding for retrofits in six more school districts. Grant notification is anticipated in October 2008.
Learn More
If you would like to know how your school district can obtain diesel retrofits, or if you would like a copy of a DVD about the health and environmental impacts of bus idling, please contact Robin Douglas at 858-8555.
To learn more about diesel pollution and retrofit technologies, please visit EPA's Clean School Bus website at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/schoolbus/index.htm
Your information resource from the government of Erie County, New York
