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 Kids Clean Air Zones” Project Launched at the Ecole Toussaint Loverture School, East Orange, NJ — February 13, 2007, the New Jersey Environmental Federation (NJEF) and the East Orange Environmental Ambassadors announced the launching of their “Kids Clean Air Zones” campaign. “Our children and seniors in urban areas are disproportionately impacted by dirty diesel and suffer increasing rates of asthma and other respiratory and cardiac disease. Clearly not enough is being done to address this problem. That’s why NJEF is here today with students from the Environmental Ambassadors Club, local elected officials, environmental justice activists and Board of Education representatives to say enough is enough and launch NJEF’s “Kids Clean Air Zones” campaign. If we can have smoke free restaurants and drug free school zones, why doesn’t a kid have the right to breathe clean outdoor air without needing an inhaler?” stated Kim Gaddy, Environmental Justice Organizer, NJEF. “The link between poor air quality and the increased risk of developing respiratory diseases, such as asthma, is a significant public health concern,” said Knadya O’KeIly, Coordinator, East Orange Green and Clean Program. “We can confidently say that reducing diesel exhaust in our environment will improve public health, as well as could help the state’s bottom line. More than 2 million New Jerseyans younger than 65 have no health insurance, and rely on hospital emergency rooms for primary care. Those costs are absorbed by the state and, ultimately, taxpayers.” “Fortunately, we don’t have to wait two or three decades for the current crop of dirty diesel equipment to be retired, replaced or retrofitted,” said Shakeira Willis, Teacher and Advisor of the Environmental Ambassadors Club. “Affordable solutions exist today that can reduce diesel engine emissions by 90 percent or more. To that end, the students will introduce a Diesel Reduction Resolution to the Mayor and East Orange Municipal Council as the first step to address the health disparities and the environmental injustices our community experience in East Orange.” In addition, the East Orange Ambassadors and the New Jersey Environmental Federation are calling for: I. Kids Clean Air Zones” around schools, playgrounds, recreational areas, parks after school and daycare centers by employing a variety of diesel reduction strategies including: a. tail pipe retrofitting and truck rerouting, b. electrification where diesel vehicles and equipment congregate, c. adoption and implementation of local no-idling ordinances, and d. aggressive fleet turnover policies. II. Develop cooperative efforts between the community, public and private sectors to secure and maximize the effectiveness of available federal funds, as well as New Jersey’s newly established and constitutionality dedicated Diesel Risk Mitigation Fund approved by the voters through Ballot Question #2 in 2005. Ill. Securing a state executive order requiring that diesel vehicles and equipment be replaced or retrofitted with emission reduction filters if they are to be utilized as part of a public contract It is estimated that this would reduce the statewide diesel particulate levels in the air by another 400 tons per year, almost doubling the reduction levels to be achieved by the 2005 Diesel Risk Reduction Act. “It doesn’t take a math wizard to comprehend the impact of this level of diesel pollution, especially in our urbanized areas,” said Mr. Michael Banks, Principal, and Ecole Toussaint Overture School. “In cities, many of the victims are the most vulnerable members of society -- those who can least afford to miss a day of school, work or pay to visit a doctor.” “Certainly, the USEPA must stay the course on (continued on press release)
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