Greg Tryska, RCSD head
bus mechanic,
demonstrates the
"white hanky" test.

Ron Brandt shows the students how the engine
is modified to help
control emissions.

Board of Ed. President Lori Montefusco and RCSD Superintendent
of Schools Paul Doyle take
a look at the results of
the "white hanky" test.

Bus Clean Air Grant

(Very Back) Greg Tryska--RCSD Head Bus Mechanic; Lori Montefusco--President RCSD Board of Ed.; (Back Row L-R) Joe Littmann--NYSERDA; John McCormick--RCSD Transportation; Ron Brandt-- Donaldson Company; Walter Mugdan--Director of Divison of Environmental Planning and Protection; Andrea Pekar--Middle School Principal; Paul Doyle--RCSD Superintendent; Front seventh graders.

RIVERHEAD, New York (April, 2005) - Officials from Riverhead Central School District were commended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for taking actions to curb pollution from 30 of their school buses. The School District installed pollution controls on their buses using $60,000 of a $500,000 grant provided by EPA through NYSERDA to encourage school bus retrofits across NY State. Riverhead is one of two Long Island school districts and one of 11 statewide to receive the grant.

"The job of this department is to serve the residents and students of this district. That is our job and we take it very seriously,” states John McCormick, Riverhead Central School District's supervisor of transportation. “School Bus Clean Air issues have been a growing concern across the state as well as here in Riverhead. I am very happy to say that, with the Board of Education's approval to participate in this grant, we have begun to address that concern. Additionally, the idle time of all our buses has been cut back and, when it is available, the buses will use ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel as well. As a result, the air in Riverhead will be a little cleaner for both the residents and our students."

“While school buses are already a safe and reliable way for our children to get to school, we can make them even safer by reducing the amount of harmful diesel pollution in their exhaust,” said Kathleen C. Callahan, Acting EPA Regional Administrator. “Riverhead is helping to lead the way to a brighter and healthier future for children everywhere.”

The district has a fleet of 90 school buses of various types, with 68 on the road daily. They are all powered by diesel engines. The grant from EPA and NYSERDA has enabled the District to retrofit 30 of its full size buses with diesel oxidation catalysts, which, much like catalytic converters on cars, will reduce fine particles by at least 20%; hydrocarbons by at least 50% and carbon monoxide by at least 30%. EPA estimates that this will remove six tons of carbon monoxide, two tons of hydrocarbons and 1.4 tons of particles from New York State’s air.

According to NYSERDA director Peter R. Smith, the grant is part of New York State's Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996. The Act was a comprehensive plan developed to enhance the environment through the implementation of projects that improve water and air.

The retrofitting consists of two upgrades, the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst Muffler and the Spiracle Filtration System. The Diesel Oxidation Catalyst Muffler reduces pollution in the exhaust through enhanced catalyst performance, and the Spiracle Filtration System further reduces pollution that would otherwise escape through the bus’ crankcase. EPA has verified that these two devices operating as a system are an effective way to control diesel pollution from school buses.

"The retrofitting should make the air cleaner for passengers inside the bus as well as for those who are waiting outside the bus, especially during arrival and dismissal from school," said Mr. McCormick.

John McCormick has initiated programs in mass casualty training, bus safety and emergency drill. The $60,000 grant that Mr. McCormick secured from NYSERDA to install pollution-reducing equipment on 30 of the district's 90 buses, will provide a cleaner, healthier environment for the students, bus drivers, staff and the Riverhead community.

Photo caption #2: Ron Brandt, a representative from the Donaldson Company, which specializes in engine systems and parts, shows the students how the engine is modified to help control emissions.

Photo caption #3: Greg Tryska, RCSD head bus mechanic, demonstrates the "white hanky" test to show the difference in emission particles between a bus which was not retrofitted and one that was.

Photo caption #4: RCSD Board of Ed. President Lori Montefusco and RCSD Superintendent of Schools Paul Doyle take a look at the results of the "white hanky" test.