Ward One Councilman Seth Yurdin announced that the clean diesel ordinance he introduced, along with co-sponsor Councilman Cliff Wood, gained final approval from the City Council last night. The councilman hailed the passage as “a major victory for the people of Providence, who now will be able to breathe easier.”

Yurdin stated that, “The ordinance will result in cleaner diesel vehicles at City construction sites by requiring the use of low-sulfur diesel fuel, as well as retrofit technology that reduces harmful diesel emissions from vehicles.”

After doing research on the dangers of diesel particulate matter, Yurdin said he knew the need for the ordinance was dire.  He explained that, “The health risks from diesel exhaust have a substantial human cost—Providence County is within the worst six percent of counties nationwide for health problems caused by diesel particulate matter. These health problems affect our most vulnerable populations—children, the elderly, and those with existing heart or lung disease.” He added that, “There is a real monetary cost as well; the estimated cost of health care associated with diesel emissions in Rhode Island is $316 million annually.”

Yurdin stated, “I am incredibly proud of and grateful for the support of my fellow Council members, who understand how important this ordinance is to the health of Providence residents.” He also thanked Clean Water Action organizer Annie Costner for her advocacy efforts, which included securing expert testimony and providing substantive information on the environmental and health impact of diesel pollution.

Yurdin observed that final passage of the ordinance came the same day the City announced that it will be receiving a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to retrofit a majority of its own diesel fleet. “The two initiatives will dovetail almost seamlessly, meaning that as the City cleans up its dirty diesel vehicles, the construction contractors working on City projects also will be cleaning up their diesel vehicles,” said Yurdin.

Fighting diesel pollution has been a priority for Yurdin, who last year introduced a resolution calling on both the City of Providence and the State of Rhode Island to implement policies to reduce diesel emissions.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, diesel exhaust is especially problematic because it contains high levels of small particles, known as particulate matter, which can pass through the nose and throat and lodge themselves in lungs. As the Clean Diesel Ordinance cites, “forty percent (40%) of particulate matter emissions in New England come from non-road (construction) diesel engines.”