Installation of these filters reduces the diesel particulate emissions fromthese heavy-duty trucks by 85 percent, and reduces emissions of carbonmonoxide and volatile organic chemicals by 80 to 90 percent. It alsobrings the trucks into early compliance with the California Air ResourcesBoard Heavy Duty Diesel On-Road Municipal Fleet Rule.

Since the early 1990s, the Sanitation Districts have investigated andsuccessfully implemented projects to reduce emissions associated with itssolid waste and wastewater operations. These projects have included thededication of two public compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations,developing a facility to produce CNG from Landfill gas, re-poweringheavy-duty equipment with lower emissions engines, and replacing some ofits operational fleet vehicles with clean burning CNG vehicles.

"The Sanitation Districts will continue to play a significant role indeveloping air pollution controls in the areas of solid waste andwastewater management in order to provide for cleaner air in the basin,"indicated Stephen R. Maguin, Chief Engineer and General Manager for theDistricts.

For this most recent project, the Sanitation Districts received a grantfrom the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC) ofthe South Coast Air Quality Management District in the amount of $108,000to pay approximately 55% of the cost of purchasing and installing thefilters.

The Sanitation Districts are a partnership of independent special districtsserving over 5 million people in 78 cities and unincorporated territorywithin Los Angeles County. The Sanitation Districts provideenvironmentally sound, cost effective wastewater and solid wastemanagement, and in the process convert waste into resources such asreclaimed water, energy, and recycled materials.

The MSRC allocates Clean Transportation Funding from a $4 surcharge onvehicle license fees, specifically to be used for local projects designedto reduce air pollution from mobile sources. The MSRC has distributed morethan $220 million for air pollution-reduction programs since it wasestablished in 1990.