Sarah Craig of CLF opposes 561-A's regeneration exemption
Craig says Conservation Law Foundation litigates anti-idling cases, including against Academy Express. She says a Massachusetts court found stationary regeneration especially polluting and that buses can regenerate while driving, so 561-A's exemption is harmful.
Good afternoon.
My name is Sarah Craig and I am a senior attorney with Conservation Law Foundation's Clean Air and Water team.
I am honored to speak on behalf of CLF and its members in opposing proposed Intro 561A.
Conservation Law Foundation is a member-supported nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting New England's environment.
CLF has engaged in an anti-idling campaign focused on reducing unnecessary idling and the harmful public health and environmental impacts from vehicle exhaust pollution.
As part of that campaign, we have litigated Clean Air Act cases to stop unnecessary idling by several bus companies serving both New England and New York, including Academy Express.
CLF's case against Academy went to trial earlier this year in the U.S.
District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and that court found Academy liable for a pattern and practice of violating the Massachusetts anti-idling law and the Clean Air Act.
Consistent with the testimony on regeneration we heard earlier today,
The court found that the process of stationary regeneration is especially polluting.
An employee testimony and evidence produced in our idling cases has all
also shown that stationary regeneration creates extremely hot exhaust gases and should be performed away from people.
The evidence in our idling cases has consistently shown it is possible for bus companies to perform regeneration while a vehicle is driving.
And the court in the Academy case ultimately found that stationary regeneration performed outside of maintenance yards and at random stops along bus routes is neither necessary
nor acceptable.
The proposed bill 561A would effectively create a diesel regeneration exemption that encourages drivers to engage in this harmful and especially polluting activity along the New York City streets.
Thank you for your good testimony.
I appreciate it.
Before I call the next witness, can I just see the sergeant for a second?
Next witness, Jason Chernow.
You may begin.
You may begin.