In recognition of its Idling Reduction and Clean School Bus programs, the New Hampshire School Transportation Association has received the Northeast Diesel Collaborative’s (NEDC) Breathe Easy Leadership Award.
NHSTA President Katie Scholes was presented with the award at the organization’s annual meeting in June.
Scholes, founder and owner of the special needs transportation company, The Provider Enterprises Inc., said that 85 percent of the state’s school buses are owned by companies or municipalities that have taken “the pledge.” They have pledged to minimize idling time, to park away from schools, to put in supplemental heaters so that buses aren’t idling in the cold when kids are not aboard and to re-establish traffic flow so exhaust is not being sucked into cold air vents.
“The particulates found especially in diesel exhaust are harmful for children,” said Scholes. “All companies take this pledge annually on the basis that they will teach trainers and drivers what this means. There’s a whole schedule we agreed to, based on temperature — once it’s 20 below, we can idle indefinitely, but above that, we limit idling time.”
For more than six years NHSTA has been “very involved” in trying to eliminate the pollution that comes from diesel school buses, Scholes explained, working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among other groups, as well as vendors and school districts.
Scholes added that it was rewarding to know NHSTA has helped improve air quality in New Hampshire, which has approximately 2,900 school buses.
“These two campaigns are a significant step towards ensuring the health and safety of the children who ride on school buses every day,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) in her commendation letter to NHSTA. “By educating bus managers and drivers about the harmful effects of diesel exhaust emissions, you have helped improve our environment and the quality of public transportation for children across our state.”
Nominations for the Second Annual NEDC Breathe Easy Awards are being accepted now through 5 p.m. (EST) Wednesday, Oct. 26. Nominated parties are judged on their effectiveness in meeting the NEDC’s goals.
