Air Board Ruling on Transit Buses

The passage of sorely needed transit bus regulations is a first step in reducing diesel exhaust pollution (Feb. 25), but Southern Californians shouldn’t breathe in deep just yet. Despite public acknowledgment by the state Air Resources Board that regions that suffer from high air pollution and air toxics levels could significantly benefit from the use of clean alternative fuels over even “cleaner diesel,” the transit rule unanimously passed by the ARB will allow transit agencies to continue their use of diesel fuel. More than 70% of the toxic risk in Southern California’s air is directly attributable to diesel exhaust emissions. The ARB’s rule does not do enough.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District is considering Rule 1192, which would require all transit agencies throughout the Southern California region to purchase 100% clean alternative fuel buses starting in 2001. Given that the cleanest diesel engines to be produced in 2007 will still emit two to five times more soot than compressed natural gas, Rule 1192 is critical for the protection of Southern California’s public health.

TODD R. CAMPBELL

Policy Associate, Coalition

for Clean Air, Los Angeles

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School buses can still belch toxic diesel soot, you report, because subjecting them to the new antipollution requirements for other buses would involve high cost.

Each year the Nissan Open golf tournament hires a herd of these smelly yellow elephants to shuttle spectators between the Veterans Administration parking lots near my home and the Riviera Country Club. High cost should not bother a golf crowd, however. I hope next year the tournament will hire an upgraded bus fleet and stop stinking up my neighborhood.

DAVID A. HOLTZMAN

West Los Angeles