OSU/ODEQ PARTNERSHIP FOR CLEAN AIR AND HEALTH ENHANCEMENT
PI – Kenneth J. Williamson, CCEE
Staff: Michael Fernandez, Outreach Specialist, CCEE
Partners – Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and OSU Extension Service. DEQ will identify particular target audiences in collaboration with OSU Extension Service and participate in the design of all outreach strategies and specific outreach activities. OSU Extension Service will conduct all outreach activities.
Situation – There are numerous opportunities for collaboration with DEQ. The first project to be addressed under this grant would be air quality improvements in the Portland metropolitan area. DEQ has determined that the Portland metropolitan area has elevated levels of diesel particulate matter (PM) in ambient air. The burning of diesel fuel contributes significantly to the generation of particulate matter[KJD1]. PM has been linked to a number of health effects including lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, increased incidence and severity of asthma, decreased lung function development in children and infants, increased hospitalization rates for cardiovascular and respiratory problems, and an increase in non-specific respiratory symptoms. The very young and the elderly are particularly susceptible to these effects. DEQ staff have estimated that diesel emissions cost the state nearly $2 billion dollars per year in direct and indirect public health and environmental costs. This project will focus on diesel truck fleet operators, tow boat fleet operators, and other large commercial consumers of diesel fuel.
OSU Extension Service is known as an objective, non-regulatory educational organization. This objectivity is of particular value in forwarding the goals of a regulatory agency like DEQ whose success in improving air quality through efforts that exceed regulatory requirements are sometimes hampered by its regulatory function. The requisite regulatory connections and outreach expertise currently exist at OSU in the Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) and Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities (TAB) programs in the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering. TOSC and TAB work closely with DEQ on a number projects throughout the state and have done so for several years. TOSC and TAB have worked particularly closely with DEQ on cleanup projects in Portland, Salem, and Eugene as well as on brownfields issues in Portland. In addition, we will also attempt to take advantage of College of Engineering relationships with private industry in the Portland metro area to help make initial contacts with potential industry partners.
Identified Need – The air quality issue was identified through discussions with DEQ staff. Reducing diesel fuel consumption and emissions from diesel engines would result in lower particulate matter (PM) concentrations in ambient air and thereby enhance the health of urban residents who are routinely exposed to the highest PM concentrations in the state. Urban areas also report high incidence of respiratory illnesses related to high PM concentrations in air. Previous DEQ efforts have piqued the interest of fleet operators but to date DEQ has been unable to bring about large scale retrofitting to any significant extent.
DEQ has also determined that diesel powered farm and construction equipment contribute greatly to the mass of PM discharged to ambient air due to the lack of emission controls on these engines. In many cases equipment operators are exposed to even higher levels of PM and other air pollutants than people who live and work near the site of equipment operation.
This project will advance the Extension Service goals of promoting health and wellness and addressing environmental issues.
Proposed Activities – During year one OSU Extension Service will work closely with DEQ to identify diesel truck fleet operations, tow boat companies, and other users of large volumes of diesel fuel as potential targets for outreach activities (weeks 1-8). Outreach efforts will be designed to educate fleet and boat operators about the advantages of engine retrofitting, to encourage and facilitate retrofitting of diesel engines to run more efficiently, and to develop a “brand recognition” certification system similar to the Energy Star and LEED Certification Programs (weeks 9-15) as well as to promote the use of ultra-low sulfur fuels to further reduce emissions. Outreach efforts will occur during weeks 16-48. A final evaluation of outreach success will take place during weeks 49-52.
Year two will follow a similar schedule with target agriculture and constructions groups being identified in weeks 1-8, promotion of emission controls and low sulfur fuels including biodiesel during weeks 13-48. Final evaluation of this effort will occur during weeks 49-52.
Planned Outcomes – As mentioned earlier, this project meets OSU Extension Service health and wellness and environmental goals. We expect that the project will lead to improved air quality which will in turn lead to improved community health. For the purposes of this project achievement of the health and wellness enhancement goals will be measured indirectly. Success in achieving these Extension Service goals will be measured in terms of numbers of fleet and boat owners contacted, project concepts developed that result in grant submittals, number vehicles retrofitted, number of pounds of PM eliminated per year of operation, and any other new criteria identified (if any) during the project period. It is hoped that the “brand recognition” certification will influence businesses to give priority to doing business with companies holding this certification and thus amplify the success. It is also hoped this work will identify other diesel emissions projects which may be proposed for grant funding.
Sustainability – Staff will pursue grant funding through EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and seek permanent funding through DEQ as appropriate in order to build upon the accomplishments of the first two years of this program.
Budget with matching funds – The budget for this project will include 0.5 FTE for one extension agent for two years (approximately $47,700 per year for 2 years including OPE). DEQ will contribute $25,000 in matching funds, primarily in the form of staff salary. Travel will consist of biweekly trips to meet with businesses ($2300 per year for 2 years). The total budget will be approximately $125,000 for two years.
[KJD1]For instance, heavy duty diesel vehicles account of r6% of the motor vehicle fleet but emit 70% of the particulates from motor vehicles. Don’t know if you want to include a factoid like that or not.