In the United States and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, more than 13 million and 200,000 diesel vehicles respectively help build our roads and buildings and transport our goods and citizens. However, the fine particle pollution (PM 2.5) from diesel emissions shortens the lives of an estimated 21,000 people nationwide every year. The cancer risk from diesel exhaust is 7.5 times higher than the total cancer risk from all other 133 air toxins tracked by the EPA combined. The asthma rate in certain schools in Massachusetts exceeds 20 percent and diesel pollution contributes greatly to lung cancer, heart disease, bronchitis, strokes, and respiratory complications of Commonwealth residents.

The Massachusetts Diesel Pollution Solution Coalition (DPS), led by Alternatives for Community & Environment, Chelsea Green Space, Clean Water Action, Dorchester Four Corners, Environment Northeast, MASSPIRG, and Springfield’s North End Outreach Network is committed to reducing the health risks from diesel pollution. The Diesel Pollution Solution has called on state government to create a plan for reducing emissions from diesel vehicles 75% by 2020. DPS supports the full implementation of a plan to achieve this goal as it would extend and save thousands of lives, improve the health and well being of Massachusetts residents, help mitigate global warming, and yield large economic benefits.

The Massachusetts Diesel Pollution Solution advocates that Massachusetts implement measures
to reduce diesel pollution significantly which incorporate the following principles:

1. The Massachusetts Diesel Pollution Plan should achieve a reduction in diesel particulate matter pollution of 75% in key fleets by 2010, and 75% overall by 2020, (in conjunction with the new federal diesel engine rules,) in order to protect public health, prevent global warming pollution, and reduce serious economic and environmental threats.
2. Publicly-owned and contracted fleets should lead by example and should be targeted first for clean up. Massachusetts should maximize pollution reduction from transit buses, school buses, waste haulers, marine vessels, trains, and equipment used in public construction projects, and clean up dates should be established as hard targets.
3. A statewide strategy should include, at a minimum, a robust in-state funding source to support the retrofitting of diesel engines with emission control devices, which can achieve PM reductions of up to 90%.

The Massachusetts Diesel Pollution Solution shares principles with the National Partnership to Reduce
Diesel Pollution, a nationwide initiative of over 200 organizations in 20 states, including:

1. The creation of strategic state diesel plan to maximize public health benefits and work towards minimizing health risk, since there is no known safe level for exposure to diesel pollution. Diesel emissions reductions should go beyond attainment of state and federal ambient health standards for air quality, and deeper reductions should be pursued as technology improves.
2. Each plan should target reducing exposure to sensitive subpopulations, especially the elderly, children, and environmental justice communities, where pollutant levels are highest and potential health benefits are greatest.
3. Plans to mitigate diesel pollution should target particulate matter (PM), as it has been identified by public health and medical experts as the most dangerous component of diesel pollution. Targeting particulate matter will also reduce black carbon soot, a global warming pollutant.
4. Each sector that contributes to diesel pollution should be responsible for paying a share of the costs for pollution-control measures. Public funds should be earmarked first to clean up public fleets, and then to create incentives (such as loans, tax credits, and small-scale grants) to encourage private fleet participation.
5. Plans to reduce diesel particulate matter should not significantly increase other air pollutants. Policies that create other pollution, including net increases in nitrogen oxides (NOx) or other air toxins, should be avoided.
6. Comprehensive diesel emission inventories of all sectors (on-road, off-road and stationary) are necessary to fully address the problem. Each plan should ensure that adequate pollution monitors exist to create an accurate inventory and to provide on-going tracking of emissions.
7. Plans should support engagement of all levels of government to pursue maximum diesel pollution reductions.