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Supports New York State's Efforts to
Reduce Harmful Air Emissions, Particularly in Environmental Justice Communities
Disproportionately Overburdened by Pollution
New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos
today visited Albany's South End neighborhood to announce a week-long
truck enforcement detail happening in disadvantaged communities across
the State as part of New York's commemoration of Earth Week.
Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) from DEC's Division of
Law Enforcement, in coordination with DEC's Division of Air Resources
staff, are conducting the details to protect public health and the
environment by inspecting diesel vehicles to ensure compliance with the
State's stringent air regulations. This enforcement blitz will take place
in approximately 30 locations to advance efforts to reduce harmful air
emissions, especially in disadvantaged communities most impacted by
transportation pollution.
"New York State continues to lead the nation in
taking bold action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air
pollutants that harm our environment, economy, and affect Environmental
Justice communities that are disproportionately impacted by
pollution," Commissioner Basil Seggos
said. "This latest diesel truck detail, happening as we
commemorate Earth Week, will take dirty trucks off our roads and provides
us with a great example of why we need to accelerate our transition from
fossil fuels to prevent the damage they cause to our climate and the
health of our communities."
The detail will help identify non-compliant
heavy-duty vehicles and reduce emissions of fine particulate matter in
disadvantaged communities where there is often significant heavy-duty
vehicle traffic. DEC's Earth Week enforcement details are happening in
and around Environmental Justice communities in Suffolk, Nassau, Queens,
Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess,
Schoharie, Delaware, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Clinton, Washington, Warren,
Saratoga, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Oneida, Cortland, Oswego, Broome,
Seneca, Schuyler, Steuben, Allegany, Chautauqua, Niagara, and Erie
counties.
In addition to conducting emissions inspections on
diesel vehicles, ECOs will also engage in targeted enforcement of
regulations restricting idling time for diesel vehicles. Reduced idling
time cuts down on air pollution and noise, improves fuel economy, and
saves diesel operators and consumers money. Officers will also monitor
compliance of pesticide applications, solid waste transportation, and
open burning as part of the Earth Week detail.
New York prioritizes climate justice in several
ways, including in the implementation of the ambitious Climate Leadership
and Community Protection Act which requires the State to invest or direct
resources to ensure that disadvantaged communities receive at least 35
percent, with the goal of 40 percent, of overall benefits of spending on
clean energy and energy efficiency programs. Draft criteria developed by
the Climate Justice Working Group will guide the equitable implementation
of the Climate Act. The draft criteria include an interactive map and
list of communities the criteria would cover for directing programs and
projects to reduce air pollution and climate-altering greenhouse gas
emissions, provide economic development opportunities, and target clean
energy and energy efficiency investments. New Yorkers can comment on the
draft disadvantaged communities criteria until
July 7, 2022, by going to the Climate Act website. In addition, the Draft Scoping Plan, which
describes recommended policies and actions to help New York meet its
climate directives as part of the Climate Act, is available for public
comment until June 10, 2022, at the Climate Act website.
Assemblyman John T. McDonald III, RPh said, "Thank you to the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation for undertaking this enforcement
effort and for looking toward longer term
solutions by working toward the transition to zero-emission vehicles
which will have a profound impact on air quality and sustainability. I
appreciate the focus on enforcement in environmental justice communities
such as the South End of Albany and will continue to work with the
community members that I represent and our state partners to create a
healthier and more equitable environment for all."
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, "For too long our historically
disadvantaged communities have had to deal with heavy emission vehicles
regularly driving through their backyards. I applaud Governor Hochul and DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos
for continuing to shed light on the harm that diesel emissions have on
our air quality and enforcing air regulation compliance among trucks. As
we celebrate Earth Week, this is a great reminder of the importance of
protecting our environment."
Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, "Historically, minority communities have
shouldered the burden of higher levels of air pollution compared to
wealthier neighborhoods. This environmental injustice is what drove me to
protect the South End from bomb trains carrying highly combustible crude
oil and stop the expansion of oil refinement at the Port of Albany years
ago. During Earth Week, we're reminded that we can always do more to
improve air quality and the quality of life for our residents, and I commend
the State Department of Environmental Conservation and Governor Hochul for cracking down on unnecessary and dangerous
diesel emissions in neighborhoods."
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is a
critical component of improving the air quality in disadvantaged
communities and will achieve the goals in the Climate Act. Earlier this
year, Governor Kathy Hochul's State of the
State address included several initiatives to support New York's
transition to electric vehicles, including: the commitment to convert the
State agency fleet to all zero-emission vehicles by 2035; require the
purchase of zero-emission school buses by 2027; and invest $1 billion in
electric transportation, mostly directed to charging infrastructure.
In addition, Governor Hochul
signed legislation this past September requiring the sale of 100 percent
zero-emission cars by 2035, and 100 percent zero-emission trucks and
buses by 2045. DEC is also enacting regulatory requirements that are
driving a transition to EVs as more and more electric vehicles are now
available across the market, from passenger cars to SUVs and pickup
trucks. This includes New York's adoption of California rules requiring
vehicle manufacturers to sell an increasing amount
of zero-emission cars and light trucks, and issuing the Advanced Clean
Truck Rule, which requires manufacturers of trucks and buses to sell a
certain percentage of zero-emission trucks and buses.
Existing programs to help fund the transition to
zero-emission vehicles include the New York Truck Voucher Incentive
Program (NYTVIP), administered by the New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA), which helps make it easier for fleets to
adopt zero-emission vehicle technologies while removing the oldest,
dirtiest diesel engines from New York roads. NYTVIP provides vouchers, or
discounts, to fleets across New York State that purchase or lease medium-
and heavy-duty zero-emission battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell
electric vehicles. The New York State Clean Diesel Grant Program (NYSCDGP)
is another initiative designed to improve air quality by reducing harmful
diesel exhaust emissions that usually come from older trucks, marine
vessels, and other diesel-powered equipment. NYSCDGP has received funding
through the Diesel Emission Reduction Act since 2008 to provide
opportunities and incentives to public and private entities with eligible
projects. DEC also administers the Municipal ZEV Rebate (PDF) through the Climate Smart Communities Program
to provide rebates to cities, towns, villages, counties, and New York
City to purchase or lease eligible new zero-emission vehicles for fleet
use.
For more information visit Heavy
Duty Vehicles webpage.
ECOs Conducting Truck Emission Detail Across from Seneca Falls
Landfill
Truck Emission Detail Blitz Near Seneca Falls Landfill
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