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American Lung Association Welcomes EPA Proposal to Clean Up Locomotive and Marine Diesel Engines


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The American Lung Association welcomed a long overdue proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up locomotive and marine diesel engines. Locomotive and marine engines are a major source of air pollution across the country. Their emissions cause thousands of premature deaths each year. Although the rules were slated for completion last year, EPA is not expected to issue final regulations until later this year.

“Cleaning up diesel locomotives and marine engines will save lives,” said Christine Bryant, Speaker of the American Lung Association Nationwide Assembly. “Communities across the nation urgently need these reductions to help clean up dangerous ozone and particle pollution. The American Lung Association will be pushing EPA through the public comment process to accelerate the timeline for the reductions.”

As the first Speaker of the American Lung Association Nationwide Assembly, Bryant serves as the top volunteer leading the fight to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. The Nationwide Assembly drives the mission work of the American Lung Association. Bryant resides in Del Mar, Calif. and has served the local, state and national Lung Association for two decades.

The American Lung Association supports cleaning up the existing locomotive and marine fleet, as well as all new equipment. The proposal does not fully implement the tighter requirements for new engines for more than a decade. EPA is proposing tougher controls for the existing fleet of locomotives as their engines are rebuilt.

“All of locomotive and marine engines should be required to install modern pollution control equipment when they are rebuilt. It is feasible, cost effective and will provide immediate benefits by reducing pollution,” added Bryant.

“Millions of people - seniors, children, people with lung diseases including asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease –COPD—live in areas where the pollution levels harm their health,” Bryant continued. “Other diesel engines including trucks, buses and heavy equipment are being cleaned up; it is long past time for trains, boats and ferries to clean up too.”

“We appreciate EPA’s continued commitment to cleaning up diesel pollution. Today’s step stands in contrast to recent actions that undermined clean air enforcement by changing the rules for large stationary sources through the New Source Review program and ignored the science by setting an inadequate particle pollution health standard. Issuing this proposed rule provides EPA the opportunity to break from that disappointing pattern,” concluded Bryant. “We look forward to working with the EPA to make this change happen.”

About the American Lung Association
Beginning our second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.” For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or log on to www.lungusa.org.



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