Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT David R. Celebrezze

Monday, August 25, 2008 614-487-7506 David@theOEC.org

Tonic for Ohio’s bad air:

Clean up the “other culprit”—dirty diesel
exhaust
OEC calls on Ohio to step up fledgling diesel retrofit
program
COLUMBUS, OHIO – It’s official. Twenty-four Ohio counties -- and parts of three others
-- have dirty air.

That’s the finding of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which
last week designated 24 counties comprising Ohio’s seven largest major metro areas
as well as some rural areas for “non-attainment” of new federal clean air standards for
particle pollution.

The EPA tightened the standard for fine particles in 2006 to better protect human
health and the environment. Most of these counties also fail to meet new federal
standards for ground-level ozone, which was strengthened in 2008.

For years, clean air advocates have targeted coal-burning power plants for clean up.
Now, they’re adding to their aim another major source of air pollution: diesel engines.

“Diesel exhaust poses a triple threat to Ohio. It makes people sick, it degrades our
environment, and it can strangle future economic growth. For our own good, Ohio
needs to step up the clean up of dirty, old diesel engines,” said David R. Celebrezze,
Director of Air and Water Special Projects for the Ohio Environmental Council.

The OEC is calling on state officials to increase funding for a new state program that
helps vehicle fleet owners upgrade their diesel powered trucks, buses, construction
equipment, and even locomotives to reduce emissions. Administered by the Ohio
Department of Development, the Ohio Diesel Emission Grant Program helps public and
private fleet owners retrofit existing diesel engines with modern emissions controls,
install idle-reduction technologies, and even rebuild or replace engines and whole
vehicles.

The program is funded at nearly $20 million in the current state operating budget; the
funding source is federal funds. The OEC is calling on the Strickland Administration to
increase funding to $30 million in the next two-year state budget, which starts next
July.

“The solution to diesel pollution is on the shelf and available today—affordable and
effective emission control equipment that can be added to existing diesel engines,”
said Celebrezze.

“Modern emission controls such as diesel particulate filters can reduce on-road diesel
pollution by up to 90%. Some local fleet owners are beginning to retrofit their vehicles
and equipment with pollution control equipment. The pace, though, is too slow. We
need a massive movement by the state and local governments to better assist public
and private fleet owners to help improve air quality and prevent any hindrance to
business growth.”

Diesel exhaust is a significant source of air pollution in Ohio. According to U.S. EPA
data, diesel engines account for nearly a third (29%) all emissions of nitrogen oxides
and 14% of air toxics in the Buckeye State. Diesel exhaust also is a significant source
of microscopic particle pollution, or soot.

According to government scientists, these dangerous pollutants can:

• trigger asthma attacks and cause lung damage, cancer, and even early death
• cause acid rain, ozone smog, haze, and global climate change
• drive up costs for business from lost work days caused by air pollution-related
illness and by forcing counties in non-attainment areas to offset increased
emissions from new factories with tighter emission control requirements for
existing sources

Should Ohio fail to meet the new federal clean air standards, it could face costly
penalties. The federal government could order Ohio to broaden vehicle emission
testing programs to more counties, offset increased emissions from new factories with
emission cuts to existing sources, or withhold highway construction funds.

As such, cleaning up diesel pollution benefits both Ohio’s human health and economic
vitality.

“Transportation experts predict freight shipments will nearly double nationwide in the
next 30 years. Most of that freight will move by diesel powered-vehicles. The Ohio
program offers a critical head start to get out in front of any increased emissions. The
Strickland Administration and the General Assembly can do right by the people of Ohio
by increasing support for this effective program sooner rather than later,” said
Celebrezze.

--30—

Ohio counties designated by U.S. EPA for non-attainment of for 2006 24-Hour Fine
Particle (PM2.5) Standards: Adams (part), Ashtabula (part), Butler, Clark, Clermont,
Coshocton (part), Cuyahoga, Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin, Galia (part), Greene,
Hamilton, Jefferson, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Montgomery,
Portage, Scioto, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Warren, and Washington

Sources:

• U.S. EPA Area Designations for 2006 24-Hour Fine Particle (PM2.5) Standards
http://www.epa.gov/pmdesignations/2006standards/regs.htm#1
• U.S. EPA Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative – Fact Sheet: Ohio
http://www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel/publications/mcdi-factsheets/Ohio.pdf
• U.S. EPA Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative http://www.epa.gov/midwestcleandiesel/
• Ohio Diesel Emissions Reduction Grant Program
http://www.odod.ohio.gov/diesel-emissions/
• National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission – Volume
2, Chapter 2, Page 11 http://www.transportationfortomorrow.org/