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Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 7, 2007

CONTACTS:

Kim Gaddy, Environmental Justice Organizer, NJEF Cell: 973-704-4312
Dr. Nicky Sheats, Director, Center for the Urban Environment, Director (609) 777-4351 ext 4280
Valorie Caffee, Environmental Justice Coordinator, NJ WEC (609) 695-7100

Environmental Justice Activists Show More Needs To Be Done Against Dirty Diesel

(Trenton, NJ) - New Jersey's 2005 Diesel Risk Reduction Law is a positive first step, but it is not enough to bring the state into compliance with the federal Clean Air Act, nor does it relieve New Jerseyans of the price they pay with their health and quality of life from exposure to diesel exhaust and fine particle air pollution, according to the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance (Alliance).

"The Alliance and its members acknowledge some progress has been made in establishing the regulations needed to implement the 2005 diesel law, but the time line is too long and not comprehensive enough. The governor must step up to the plate and implement more aggressive measures to fulfill his commitment to reduce the state's air pollution levels, including fine and diesel particulate matter air emissions, toxic "hot spots" and long standing environmental injustice," stated Kim Gaddy, Environmental Justice Organizer, NJ Environmental Federation (NJEF).

"The Alliance is asking Governor Corzine to issue an Executive Order to address several key diesel-related issues not currently covered by the 2005 law," said Dr. Nicky Sheats, Committee Chair and Director, Center for the Urban Environment of the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy of Thomas Edison State College. "Passage of an Executive Order requiring private companies with state contracts to retrofit will reduce diesel emissions by another 50 percent."

The key issues include the:

  1. requirement that private diesel powered vehicles and equipment utilized in public contracts with the state be retrofitted with emission reduction devises;
  2. installation of community-based monitoring in diesel "hot spots;" and
  3. design and implementation of comprehensive diesel reduction efforts at an accelerated pace in the diesel "hot spots," which include the state's urban centers, transportation corridors, and ports.

Asthma is one of the major ailments linked to exposure to diesel soot and fine particle pollution. The asthma rate in NJ's urban school-age children is estimated to be as high as 25% (double the state and national average). On a hot summer day, emergency room visits for respiratory distress, including asthma, rise almost 30%. According to UMDNJ, 12% of New Jersey's managed health care costs are asthma-related.

Asthma is also the leading cause of school absenteeism, requiring caregivers to also stay home from work. According to calculations from the Clean Air Task Force, based on federal Environmental Protection Agency methodologies, New Jersey ranked #2 in cancers and #4 in the nation in non-cancer ailments, such as non-fatal heart attacks, related to diesel exposure.

"This is a budget-buster for the state's charity care program. The economic costs of asthma and other ailments linked to particle air pollution are also high," noted Valorie Caffee, Director of Organizing and Environmental Justice Coordinator for the NJ Work Environment Council. "Workers who operate diesel-powered vehicles and equipment are directly exposed to large amounts of such air pollution. In fact, in 1999, there were 107,364 lost work days in New Jersey alone from diesel soot health impacts. Having Gov. Corzine adopt an Executive Order would also help protect the health and income of workers and their families."

"That's why we are asking for an Executive Order extending the Diesel Risk Reduction Law to some segments of the private sector. This will not only save lives, but it will cut down on lost work days and school absenteeism, and make our air healthier," added Rev. Fletcher Harper, Director of GreenFaith, New Jersey's interfaith environmental organization."

In October 2005, soon to be Governor-elect Corzine delivered an environmental speech announcing his priorities and action plans at which time he stated that:

"....I [Corzine] am committed to environmental justice, whether that means addressing the impact of clean air on childhood asthma or preventing eminent domain decisions to build prisons or cement plants. If I am elected, I will make certain that the DEP has the authority to reject projects that cumulatively or disproportionately impact lower income or minority communities. A commitment to clean air, clean water, and open space is the foundation of a strong economy, and a more affordable and livable Garden State..."

"New Jersey residents cannot escape from diesel exhaust, so we need action now!" concluded Assemblyman William Payne. "Diesel pollution presents a grave injustice to NJ's most vulnerable populations - the children, elderly, ailing, low income and communities of color, especially those residing in urban centers and near transportation hubs. The costs to New Jersey families and the state are too high to hesitate any longer."

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