June 21, 2004

The Philadelphia Diesel Difference - Working Group Meeting
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC)
Pennsylvania New Jersey Room
The Bourse Building
111 S. Independence Mall East, 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106

IN ATTENDANCE:

Brett Alkins, Johnson Matthey.
April Birnbaum, Air Management Services, Department of Public Health, Philadelphia.
Michael Boyer, DVRPC.
Ron Brandt, Donaldson Company.
Ray Chalmers, US EPA, Region III.
Eric Cheung, Clean Air Council/Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities.
Bill Coughlin, Sunoco.
Dana DuBovis, Clean Air Council.
Ron Dunfee, Lubrizol.
Morris Fine, Air Management Services, Department of Public Health, Philadelphia.
Joseph Grinkewicz, School District of Philadelphia.
John Hadalski, Managing Director's Office.
Peg Hanna, NJ DEP.
Abey John, Diesel Engine Transformations/Alliance
Claudia Kane, Philadelphia Allies Against Asthma.
Dale Krapf, Krapf Bus Company.
Jack Lebeau, Rentar Environmental Solutions.
Robert Neff, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
Arleen Shulman, PA DEP.

INTRODUCTIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mr. Morris Fine, Director of Air Management Services, Department of Public Health, City of Philadelphia, welcomed all in attendance. New members to the group were particularly embraced. He thanked the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission for the use of their facility as a meeting venue. Mr. Fine alerted the Working Group to a number of important programmatic and funding updates. First, he announced that the Lubrizol Corporation and Sunoco, Inc. plan to retrofit the Asthma Bus with a diesel oxidation catalyst and ultra low sulfur diesel fuel by early August 2004.

Second, Mr. Fine noted that the EPA's Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program will continue to accept grant applications for demonstration projects that innovatively utilize EPA verified pollution control technologies to reduce emissions from diesel powered fleets until July 2, 2004. Targeted projects include the retrofitting of nonroad diesel equipment (i.e. construction equipment) and highway diesel vehicles (i.e. transit buses and waste haulers), which affect sensitive populations that are more susceptible to the effects of diesel exhaust. Applications will be accepted from state, local, multi-state, and tribal agencies, as well as from non-profit organizations.

In an attempt to obtain needed emissions reductions from diesel engine exhaust in our region, the Philadelphia Diesel Difference has assisted in the compilation of two applications for this grant cycle. The first aims to purchase and install 124 diesel oxidation catalysts on City of Philadelphia municipal waste haulers. The second will finance the fuel cost differential associated with the purchase of approximately 1,000,000 gallons of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel for particulate filter equipped transit buses housed at SEPTA's Southern Depot. Total estimated funding for the grant cycle is $1,500,000 nationally and the EPA expects to award ten to fifteen cooperative agreements, each ranging from $100,000 to $150,000. For additional information, please refer to http://www.epa.gov/air/grants_funding.html#trans.

Lastly, Mr. Fine announced that the Philadelphia International Airport is interested in joining the Philadelphia Diesel Difference, as a partner in the reduction of diesel engine emissions. It is currently working with the Greater Philadelphia Clean Cities Program on a compressed natural gas initiative. The Philadelphia International Airport remains in the process of coordinating a meeting with the Diesel Difference, to discuss ways in which our coalition can assist in meeting their air quality improvement objectives.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DISCUSSION:

At its January meeting, the Diesel Difference Working Group approved a document produced by the Organizational Structure Sub-Committee, entitled "The Greater Philadelphia Diesel Difference Working Group - General Description, Organizational Structure, Decision-Making Processes, and Administrative Procedures." This document created an Executive Committee, which has the authority to make decisions on all matters other than those reserved to the Working Group. Because the Executive Committee has yet to vote on an issue, the seventh position of the Executive Committee representing diesel fleet operators/managers was never appointed. Further, the Organizational Structure document did not create a procedure for filling this vacancy. Mr. Fine fostered a discussion of Working Group members, as to how we could proceed in appointing such a representative.

Suggestions entertained during the discussion include:

1. An amendment to the Organizational Structure, in which we remove the words "private sector" from Section III, Organizational Structure and Decision Making Authority, paragraph 3, number 7, to allow public fleet operators/managers to be eligible for this position.

2. Electing a fleet representative in attendance at a Diesel Difference Working Group meeting that includes a vote by the Executive Committee. This representative would be noted as a member who has voted and not again selected to vote until all of the other potential representatives have voted at such meetings.

3. Rotating alphabetically among potential representatives who frequently attend our meetings, when a vote of the Executive Committee is called.

The Organizational Structure Sub-Committee will schedule a conference call before the July meeting of the Diesel Difference, in which they plan to address this issue. Their recommendation(s) will be presented at the July Working Group meeting.

REPORT FROM THE CRITERIA SUB-COMMITTEE:

Mr. John Hadalski presented a report from the Criteria Sub-Committee. On June 8, 2004, Criteria Sub-Committee members participated in a conference call, in which they discussed the procedure for allotting $30,000 given to the Diesel Difference from EPA Region III for air toxics risk mitigation. A proposal that emerged during the call was to expand upon an existing clean school bus partnership held between the West Chester Area School District, George Krapf Jr. and Sons, Inc., and Johnson Matthey. The $30,000 could finance the purchase and installation of six Johnson Matthey particulate filters on six school buses, owned by George Krapf Jr. and Sons, Inc., and operated on routes in the West Chester Area School District. In order to maximize the emission reduction capabilities of the particulate filers, ultra low sulfur diesel fuel would be supplied to the retrofitted buses by George Krapf Jr. and Sons.

The Criteria Committee recommended to the Executive Committee the selection of the West Chester School District/Krapf Bus Company to receive the $30,000. Mr. Fine entertained a motioned for the Executive Committee to approve this recommendation. A motion was made by Ms. Arleen Shulman and seconded by Mr. Eric Cheung. The Executive Committee accepted the Committee's recommendation through a unanimous vote.

After the recommendation was approved, Mr. Marty Lassen, Commercial Development and Marketing Manager of Diesel Emission Control Systems for Johhnson Matthey, and Mr. Dale N. Krapf, President of Krapf Bus Companies, endorsed the Diesel Difference Working Group charter.

CLEAN AIR COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mr. Eric Cheung of the Clean Air Council/Clean Cities Program updated the Working Group as to the status of the Clean Air Council Non-Monetary Recognition and Mobile Source Outreach Programs. First, Mr. Cheung announced that he will serve as the Diesel Difference Coordinator once Ms. April Birnbaum leaves the Working Group. He then noted that the Clean Air Council will be sending a letter in the coming week to area municipalities and school districts, which will encourage their participation in the installation of clean diesel technologies on their fleet. Attached to this letter is a postage-page response card that fleet operators/managers can return to the Clean Air Council, indicating that they would like to receive additional information on the Diesel Difference and speak to a coalition representative. Finally, Mr. Cheung revealed that the Clean Air Council is drafting a plan of action that outlines their contributions to the Corporate Sponsorship Program under the Mobile Source Outreach contract. This document will be presented at the July Diesel Difference Working Group meeting.

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP STRATEGY:

Ms. April Birnbaum and Mr. Bill Coughlin reconvened the Corporate Sponsorship discussion that had been tabled at the May meeting of the Diesel Difference Working Group. The discussion was aimed at discerning what message we as a group want to send to the corporate sector and who we wish to target. Ideas that emerged from the Working Group include the facilitation of a celebrity golf tournament, whose proceeds would retrofit area school bus fleets; approaching PTAs for a match in funding raised by the Diesel Difference for their fleet; and obtaining the support of regional school districts through members of the Working Group who live in those communities. While some of these ideas may be pursued, the Working Group agreed that the Corporate Sponsorship Program would gain a clearer focus, once the corporate sponsorship document from the Clean Air Council is presented at the July Working Group meeting.

Ms. Birnbaum announced that the Corporate Sponsorship Presentation will be posted on the Diesel Difference website in the near future. Also, she has been in contact with Alvaro Alvaredo of EPA Region III, who hopes to have the cost/benefit analysis data on diesel retrofits for Philadelphia available shortly.

CLEAN DIESEL TECHNOLOGY OF THE MONTH:

For our June presentation, Mr. Ron Brandt discussed closed crankcase vent spiracle filtration technology. Mr. Brant noted that the spiracle filter targets the reduction of crankcase (non-tailpipe) emissions, which comprise approximately 25% of the total exhaust emitted from a diesel engine. Benefits claimed from this technology may include a 100% reduction in crankcase emissions, reduced engine oil consumption, and diminished underhood fumes. Please contact Ron Brandt at rbrandt700@aol.com for more information on the spiracle technology.

MEETING WRAP-UP:

Ms. Arleen Shulman informed the Working Group that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is currently updating their website: specifically, the link to Diesel Retrofit Information. Please contact Ms. Shulman at ashulman@state.pa.us if you know of any Pennsylvania fleets who have implemented clean diesel technologies and/or policies.

NEXT MEETING AND LOCATION:

The next Diesel Difference Workgroup Meeting will be held from 10 AM until 12 PM on July 19, 2004 at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission's Pennsylvania/ New Jersey Room, The Bourse Building, 111 S. Independence Mall East, 8th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106.