============================================================ Tuesday, April 29, 2008 @ 1:26 PM ============================================================

Along with the spring flowers, signs are popping up at schools participating in the collaborative effort between West Virginia’s Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Education to establish idle free zones.

The Idle Free Zone campaign is an outreach project targeted at reducing diesel emissions from school buses, but includes exhaust emissions from passenger vehicles and delivery trucks on school property. The signs are meant to encourage compliance with the WV State Board of Education policy 4336 to minimize idling. The goal is to raise awareness and stop or limit engine idling.

“The cooperation between our agencies will provide benefits not only in creating even healthier school environments, but improving air quality as well,” said John Benedict, Division of Air Quality Director. “This project should improve air quality both outside and inside the schools that participate.”

The idle free zone signs are free to the approximately 800 public schools in the state, and to private schools and Head Start locations as well. To date, 47 county public school systems, as well as a few private schools, are participating.

“If all of the more than 3,700 public school buses in the state decreased idling by 30 minutes a day during the school year, fuel cost savings would amount to approximately $700,000 a year,” said Ben Shew, Department of Education transportation director. He added that this estimate does not include potential savings from reduced school bus idling at extracurricular activities, such as sporting events and field trips.

Diesel fumes from idling school buses can be harmful when loading students onto buses, particularly when several buses are lined up and running all at once. According to the American Lung Association, children are more susceptible to air pollution than healthy adults. Their respiratory systems are still developing and they have a faster breathing rate. Diesel exhaust can aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular disease and existing asthma.

“By not idling, you use less fuel, save money, and help air quality,” said Renu Chakrabarty, the DEP’s team leader for the Idle Free Zone. “It’s a win-win situation.”

For more information about the idle free zone project, go to www.wvdep,org/daq and click on the Idle Free Zone graphic, or go to the diesel exhaust emissions link on the right side of the page. To inquire about the free signs, school administrators may contact Tammy Mowrer at (304) 926- 0499 ext. 1237, or e-mail her at tmowrer@wvdep.org.

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Contact: Kathy Cosco 304-926-0440

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