EPA Recognizes Fort Wayne Community Schools for Reducing Diesel Emissions From Its Sc...( CHICAGO April 21 --- U.S. Enviro...),Health

CHICAGO, April 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Acting Air and Radiation Division Director Cheryl Newton this morning recognized the Fort Wayne Community School District, Fort Wayne, Ind., for its work using a $50,000 EPA Clean School Bus grant to reduce harmful diesel emissions from its school bus fleet. The event was held at Elmhurst High School, 3829 Sandpoint Road.

"EPA is working with the Fort Wayne Community Schools to upgrade buses and use cleaner fuels so children can breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives," Newton said. "Breathing diesel exhaust is not good for anyone, especially children."

EPA awarded the grant in late 2006, and FWCS installed diesel oxidation catalysts on 30 buses. Part of the grant was used to buy biodiesel fuel that was shared with the Southwest Allen County Schools. The two districts have been using biodiesel in 372 buses as a result of the grant.

"FWCS is well deserving of recognition," said Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry. "They have taken a very important step toward protection of the health of our children and improving the quality of the air that we all breathe. Our community is moving toward a higher recognition of the importance of making choices that will ensure the sort of world we want our children to enjoy."

"We are proud to do our part to ensure we all have cleaner air to breathe," FWCS Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson said. "We take our responsibility of being good stewards of the environment seriously. Having clean air is critical for everyone, but especially those children with asthma or other breathing difficulties."

The grant is part of EPA's Clean School Bus USA program. The goal of the program is to reduce children's exposure to diesel exhaust and the amount of air pollution created by diesel school buses. School buses are the safest way for children to get to school. However, pollution from diesel vehicles has health im
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