| Issue 53 | September 29, 1995 |
NY Assembly Hearing: Dump Diesel
On Tuesday, Sept. 12, NY State Assembly Environmental Conservation and Corporations Committees investigated health impacts of diesel soot and NYC Transit's continued purchase of diesel buses. Testimony by public health experts from Harlem Hospital, the Columbia University School of Public Health, and the NYU Medical Center outlined compelling reasons to abandon diesel buses. NYU's Dr. George Thurston said diesel particulates from NYC buses are small enough to elude respiratory defense mechanisms, are highly toxic, and are emitted at breathing level. NYC DEP Commissioner Marilyn Gelber reported that even the most modern diesel buses emit 9 times the particulate soot of natural gas buses. While Gelber favored using today's natural gas technology until better alternatives exist, Transit Authority Sr. Vice President Charles Monheim testified -- under sharp questioning from Assembly Environment Chair Richard Brodsky -- that NYC Transit did not consider the public health impacts and health care costs imposed by diesel emissions in its purchasing decisions. Monheim conceded that decisions to tie NYC Transit to diesels for decades might be premature.Hearing participants debated whether Transit has taken full advantage of federal funds available to encourage alt-fuel bus purchases. Although Monheim said Transit got all the funds it could, NRDC Dump Diesel campaign coordinator Rich Kassel argued that it could qualify for additional funds by changing its bidding procedures. Brooklyn Union Gas and Con Edison representatives said if NYC Transit committed to buying enough buses, they would contribute to investements in the necessary fueling infrastructure.
The Environmental Justice Alliance and West Harlem Environmental Action demanded reduction in public health impacts of the six diesel bus depots north of Manhattan's 96th Street, where NYC asthma rates are highest. Kassel called for NYC Transit to adopt a "no new diesels" policy, to immediately buy 100 natural gas buses and convert at least one Manhattan depot for non-diesel fueling.
