News Release

For immediate release
December 21, 2003

NEW DIESEL TRUCK AND BUS EMISSION
LIMITS TO BE TOUGHEST IN NORTH AMERICA
New limits apply to all large school buses, regardless of age

TORONTO – Ontario will have the toughest emission limits in North America for large diesel trucks and buses when new standards take effect next April, Environment Minister Leona Dombrowsky announced today.

“With these new standards, we will be identifying more dirty vehicles and ordering them cleaned up. The result will be cleaner air and healthier communities,” Dombrowsky said.

“The new limits apply to all large school buses, regardless of age.

The minister also announced that heavy-duty diesel vehicles which voluntarily achieve a very low emissions level will be allowed to have tests every two years, instead of each year. An anti-idling strategy will also be developed for large trucks and buses.

The Ontario School Bus Association, the Ontario Trucking Association and Pollution Probe were consulted on, and strongly support, the new measures.

The heavy-duty diesel standards, which limit the amount of particulate matter (PM) in exhaust emissions, will be tightened in two stages, on April 1, 2004 and April 1, 2005.

Between 2000 and 2002 Drive Clean resulted in a reduction of nearly 1,100 tonnes of particulate matter from heavy-duty vehicles.

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Contacts:

See also:

• Fact Sheet: TIGHTER EMISSIONS STANDARDS FOR LARGE DIESEL TRUCKS AND BUSES HELP PROTECT OUR AIR