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E(12/1466) Euro 6 subsidy by Dutch Govt (HKG still has Euro II and III polluting bus trash on its roads)

Jun 19th, 2012
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From: paulwong@epd.gov.hk [mailto:paulwong@epd.gov.hk]
Sent: 19 June, 2012 17:07
To: dynamco@netvigator.com
Cc: “E[KM]1″@epd.gov.hk; “SI[KM]1″@epd.gov.hk; enquiry@epd.gov.hk; vanessaau@epd.gov.hk
Subject: Fw: E(12/1466) Euro 6 subsidy by Dutch Govt (HKG still has Euro II and III polluting bus trash on its roads)
Dear Mr. Middleton

Thank you for your email.

When we tighten the vehicle emission standards in Hong Kong, we will make reference to the international practice and the availability of compliant vehicle models in Hong Kong. Starting from June 2012, all newly registered heavy duty vehicles including franchised buses in Hong Kong are required to comply with Euro V emission standards. The European Union will implement the Euro VI emission standards for heavy duty vehicle in phases starting from 2013 and fully implement in 2014.  At the moment, there is no Euro VI heavy duty vehicle available in Hong Kong. We will continue to monitor the Euro VI vehicle model supply situation in Hong Kong and decide to introduce the Euro VI emission standards in Hong Kong as soon as possible.

For franchised buses, as the latest commercially available models in Hong Kong are Euro V buses at this stage, the franchised bus companies are currently procuring Euro V buses for replacement.

Thanks
Paul Wong
Assistant Environmental Protection Officer

—– Forwarded by EPD_Enquiry/EPD/HKSARG on 14/06/2012 14:48 —–

EPD_Enquiry/EPD/HKSARG

14/06/2012 14:48
To “James Middleton” <dynamco@netvigator.com>
cc
Subject Re: E(12/1466) Euro 6 subsidy by Dutch Govt (HKG still has Euro II and III polluting bus trash on its roads)Link

Dear James Middleton,

Thank you for your email dated 13.06.2012.

I would like to inform you that our colleagues are processing your request and may need a few more days to come back to you.

Please let me know if you do not hear from us after about 5 working days. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Enquiry/KMU
Environmental Protection Department

“James Middleton” <dynamco@netvigator.com>

13/06/2012 19:52
To “EPD HKG” <enquiry@epd.gov.hk>
cc <kswong@rlphk.com>
Subject E(12/1466) Euro 6 subsidy by Dutch Govt (HKG still has Euro II and III polluting bus trash on its roads)

Dear EPD,

We note that replacement buses in Hong Kong under franchise agreements must be of the Best Available Current Technology.

Does Hong Kong have Euro 6 diesel ?

Are new diesel buses here mandated to be Euro 6 compliant, given the projected lifetime of the vehicles  ?

If not why not ?

Yours sincerely,

James Middleton

Chairman

www.cleartheair.org.hk
Dutch subsidy for Euro VI trucks and buses
In the Netherlands, heavy-duty vehicles(trucks and buses) that meet the new Euro
VI standards will be subsidised by up to 4500 euro each in 2012 and 2013. The Euro
VI standards will become mandatory for all new heavy-duty vehicles from 2014.
Tests by the Dutch environment consultancy TNO have shown that the new
Euro VI engines can reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by more than
90 per cent in real driving conditions, as compared to Euro V and earlier Eurostandard
engines.
Source: Dutch government press release, 30 May 2012.
Link: http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/nieuws/2012/05/30/subsidie-voor-schoonste-trucks-en-bussen.html

“The sulphur content of ship fuels will be cut to 0.1% from 2015 in the Baltic Sea and the North

Sea, and to 0.5% from 2020 in other EU waters. As a result, emissions of sulphur dioxide

from shipping in Europe will come down by more than 80 per cent.”

Hong Kong has no rules governing the use of  bunker fuel which varies between 2.75 – 4+% sulphur ,

no Emissions Control Area legislation (ECA).

The local HKG Environmental Prevarication Department  passes the responsibility to China to enact ECA legislation in Hong Kong waters

leaving only volunteer action by the Fairwinds Charter members to burn Low Sulphur Diesel at anchor in HKG port.  Yet vehicular ULSD is rightly

limited to parts per million.
31% of HKG’s particulates and 25% of local NOx and Sox come from marine emissions.

UCLA Professor Sues for Firing over Diesel Pollution Study Whistleblowing

Jun 18th, 2012
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http://reason.com/blog/2012/06/14/ucla-professor-sues-for-firing-over-dies

Dr. James Enstrom

A California epidemiologist who lost his job with UCLA not long after challenging the science behind claims that diesel pollution was responsible for 2,000 deaths a year in the state is suing to get his job back.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) announced today it had filed suit Wednesday in Los Angeles against UCLA officials for violating Dr. James Enstrom’s constitutional rights:

“The facts of this case are astounding,” said David French, Senior Counsel of the ACLJ. “UCLA terminated a professor after 35 years of service simply because he exposed the truth about an activist scientific agenda that was not only based in fraud but violated California law for the sake of imposing expensive new environmental regulations on California businesses. UCLA’s actions were so extreme that its own Academic Freedom Committee unanimously expressed its concern about the case.”

Dr. Enstrom, a research professor in UCLA’s Department of Environmental Health Sciences, published important peer-reviewed research demonstrating that fine particulate matter does not kill Californians. Also, Dr. Enstrom assembled detailed evidence that contends powerful UC professors and others have systematically exaggerated the adverse health effects of diesel particulate matter in California, knowing full well that these exaggerations would be used by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to justify draconian diesel vehicle regulations in California. In addition, the complaint argues that he exposed the fact that the lead author of the key CARB Report used to justify the diesel regulations did not have the UC Davis Ph.D. degree that he claimed. Instead, according to the suit, this “scientist”bought a fake Ph.D. for $1,000 from a fictional “Thornhill University.”

Finally, Dr. Enstrom discovered that several activist members of the CARB Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants have exceeded the legislatively mandated three-year term limits by decades. The suit contends that shortly after Dr. Enstrom revealed this systematic wrongdoing, UCLA not only issued a notice of termination, it denied him any compensation for his work by systematically and wrongfully looting his research fund accounts. Dr. Enstrom worked for more than a year without pay as he in good faith appealed his wrongful termination using UCLA procedures. Ironically enough, the fake “scientist” was only suspended for his misconduct while Dr. Enstrom was terminated for telling the truth.

The legally inclined can read the lawsuit here [pdf].

Reason.tv interviewed Dr. Enstrom in 2011 and detailed the controversy, as well as the economic disaster California truckers face in the wake of CARB’s diesel guidelines.

On Tuesday, the World Health Organization waded into the subject matter, releasing a study declaring diesel fumes a carcinogen akin to second-hand smoke, so it’s possible truckers in other states (or countries) may soon be fighting this fight as well.

Hat tip to Adam Kissel of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for the Twitter tip. FIRE has beenheavily involved in both covering and assisting Enstrom’s fight.

UPDATE: UCLA has posted their response here.

Finding raises diesel cancer fears

Jun 14th, 2012
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HK Standard

Diesel fumes cause cancer, the World Health Organization declared yesterday.

Mary Ann Benitez and Choya Choi

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Diesel fumes cause cancer, the World Health Organization declared yesterday.

The conclusion, announced after a week-long meeting of a panel organized by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, may make vehicle exhaust gases as important as a public health threat as secondhand tobacco smoke.

Before this, diesel exhaust had been categorized as “probable carcinogen” to humans.

But now the agency, which is the WHO cancer arm, has made a definitive determination that diesel exhaust does cause cancer.

“Based on sufficient evidence, exposure [to diesel exhaust] is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer,” a statement from the IARC and the WHO said.

“It’s on the same order of magnitude as passive smoking,” Kurt Straif, director of the IARC was quoted as saying by Associated Press.

“This could be another big push for countries to clean up exhaust from diesel engines.”

Straif said there may be many cases of lung cancer connected to the contaminant.

He said the fumes affected groups including pedestrians on the street, ship passengers and crew, railroad workers, truck drivers, mechanics, miners and those operating heavy machinery.

Reclassifying diesel exhaust as carcinogenic puts it into the same category as other known hazards such as asbestos, alcohol and ultraviolet radiation.

A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said the government has been “closely monitoring” the WHO study on the health effects of diesel engine emissions.

“As diesel vehicles emissions are the main source of pollution and have adverse effects on public health, the government has enforced a series of measures to control and reduce the emissions of diesel vehicles,” he said.

But Clear the Air chairman James Middleton did not mince words about the “failed” tenure of outgoing Secretary for the Environment Edward Yau Tang-wah.

“He has made 60 overseas trips in 59 months, presumably seeking a source of clean air for Hong Kong during his failed portfolio tenure,” Middleton said.

“His recent Greentech jaunt to Europe where he visited a polluting incineration plant and a Scottish distillery will be of doubtful use to Hong Kong’s environmental problems.

“Roadside pollution has increased during his tenure.”

Officials urged to heed WHO diesel warning

Jun 14th, 2012
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SCMP

News that fumes raises cancer risk means officials should clean up and reduce diesel fleet, groups say
Dennis Chong
Jun 14, 2012

The government should cut the number of diesel-powered vehicles on the streets, and make the remainder less polluting, to protect pedestrians now the World Health Organisation has classified diesel fumes as a cause of cancer, lobby groups say.

WHO experts said that the more diesel exhaust fumes people breathed in, the more they risked getting lung and bladder cancer.

At the end of March, about 130,000 diesel-powered vehicles were registered in Hong Kong.

The Clean Air Network and think tank Civic Exchange claim the government has been too slow in toughening environmental standards for diesel engines.

Clean Air said the WHO’s decision reinforced the need for the government to set out policies to encourage the use of cleaner fuel.

According to the group, more than 80 per cent of diesel vehicles have engines that meet the emissions standards in force in the EU before the year 2000. These pre-Euro-IV- standard vehicles account for most of the city’s emissions of two key pollutants, being responsible for 88 per cent of pollutant particles in the air and 76 per cent of nitrogen oxide.

The European Union has introduced progressively tighter emission standards for vehicles since 1992. Its Euro V standard for buses and trucks was introduced in 2008; the Euro VI standard comes in next year.

Clean Air general manager Helen Choy Shuk-yi said bus companies had been reluctant to upgrade their vehicles on cost grounds.

Mike Kilburn, of Civic Exchange, said it was crucial officials speed up the phasing out of old diesel vehicles.

He also said the government may not be fully informed on the emission levels of construction machinery and other equipment, such as diggers and cranes. “There is no standard for [their] maintenance,” he said.

The government must respond to the WHO findings since people could now easily understand the harm diesel exhaust fumes cause, Kilburn said.

An Environment Bureau spokesman said it had noted the WHO decision and would consider measures to tighten controls. He also said the government was planning new laws to control emissions from machinery and equipment.

The WHO said that while the risk of getting cancer from diesel fumes was small, since so many people breathed in the fumes in some way, raising the status of diesel exhaust to carcinogen from “probable carcinogen” was an important shift.

The WHO’s updated stance was based partly on the findings of a study conducted by the US National Cancer Institute/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which found that a wide exposure to diesel-related emissions by 12,300 underground miners increased their risk of death from lung cancer.

Choy said she expected the WHO to revise its pollution benchmarks along with the latest decision.

“Hong Kong will then fall far short of international standards in terms of its air quality benchmarks,” she said.

The government says it will toughen air-quality targets in 2014.

dennis.chong@scmp.com

DIESEL EXHAUST

Jun 13th, 2012
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What is diesel exhaust?
What chemicals are found in diesel exhaust?
Diesel exhaust is a mixture of over 400 different fine particles, vapors, and toxic
organic materials, that result when diesel fuel is burned. Over 40 chemicals in diesel
exhaust are considered toxic air contaminants (TAC) by the State of California.

What is diesel exhaust?What chemicals are found in diesel exhaust?Diesel exhaust is a mixture of over 400 different fine particles, vapors, and toxicorganic materials, that result when diesel fuel is burned. Over 40 chemicals in dieselexhaust are considered toxic air contaminants (TAC) by the State of California.

Download PDF : diesel_english

Particulate Emissions from Diesel-Fueled Engines as a Toxic Air Contaminant

Jun 13th, 2012
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The staffs of the Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) have been evaluating diesel exhaust since 1989 under California’s air toxics program, for potential identification as a toxic air contaminant (TAC). A draft report was first released in June 1994, for public review and comment. A revised draft report was released in May 1997. A third draft report was report released for public review in February 1998. The February 1998 report was formally reviewed and approved by the Scientific Review Panel (SRP) at its April 22, 1998, meeting.

The final report and a staff report are available in our “formal” rulemaking activity referenced below.

Fact Sheets

HEARING ACTION AND SUPPLEMENTAL 15-DAY NOTICES
  • ·        Notice of Public Availability of Modified Text (PDF – 4K)
  • ·        Resolution 98-35 (PDF – 20K)

o   Attachment A: Scientific Review Panel Chairman’s Cover Letter and Panel Findings on Proposed Identification of Diesel Exhaust as a Toxic Air Contaminant

§  SRP Chairman’s Cover Letter (PDF – 6K) and

§  The SRP Findings of Diesel Exhaust (PDF – 33K)

o   Attachment B: Proposed Regulation Order (PDF – 7K)
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE AND RELATED MATERIALS
  • ·        Cover Letter (PDF – 10K)
  • ·        Public Hearing Notice(PDF – 18K)
  • ·        Staff Report: Initial Statement of Reasons (PDF – 111K), which summarizes the scientific basis for the proposed regulation and includes a discussion of the environmental and economic impacts of the proposal.

o   Appendix I: (Proposed Regulation Order) (Staff Report)

o   Appendix II: (Findings of the SRP) (Staff Report) and

o   Appendix III: (SRP-Approved Version) of the:

§  Executive Summary (PDF – 152K)

§  Part A (Exposure Assessment) (PDF – 594K)

§  Part B (Health Risk Assessment for Diesel Exhaust) (PDF – 1,995K)

§  Part C (Responses to Comments)

June 1994 Comment Period

ARB (PDF – 45K)
OEHHA (PDF – 573K)


May 1997 Comment Period

ARB (PDF – 37K)
OEHHA

(pp. 1-154) (PDF – 539K)
(pp. 155-231) (PDF – 252K)


February 1998 Comment Period

ARB (PDF – 91K)
OEHHA (PDF – 359K)
Part A, prepared by the ARB staff, is an evaluation of emissions of, and exposure to, diesel exhaust. Part B, prepared by the OEHHA staff, assesses the health effects of diesel exhaust. Part C consists of copies of the public comments received on the June 1994, May 1997, and February 1998 draft reports, and the ARB / OEHHA staff responses. Because of the size and format of the comment letters as well as the Appendices to Part A, they were not included on this page. Part A Appendices and Part C (public comment letters) are available by contacting Kathy Spring at (916) 323-3485

Health Effects of Diesel Exhaust

Jun 13th, 2012
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Diesel fuel is widely used throughout our society. It powers trucks that deliver products to our
communities, buses that carry us to school and work, agricultural equipment that plants and harvests
our food, and backup generators that can provide electricity during emergencies. It is also used for
many other applications. Diesel engines have historically been more versatile and cheaper to run
than gasoline engines or other sources of power. Unfortunately, the exhaust from these engines
contains substances that can pose a risk to human health.
In 1998, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment (OEHHA) completed a comprehensive health assessment of diesel exhaust. This
assessment formed the basis for a decision by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to formally
identify particles in diesel exhaust as a toxic air contaminant that may pose a threat to human health.
The American Lung Association of California (ALAC) and its 15 local associations work to prevent
lung disease and promote lung health. Since 1904, the
American Lung Association has been fighting lung
disease through education, community service, advocacy
and research.
This fact sheet by OEHHA and ALAC provides
information on health hazards associated with diesel
exhaust.

Diesel fuel is widely used throughout our society. It powers trucks that deliver products to ourcommunities, buses that carry us to school and work, agricultural equipment that plants and harvestsour food, and backup generators that can provide electricity during emergencies. It is also used formany other applications. Diesel engines have historically been more versatile and cheaper to runthan gasoline engines or other sources of power. Unfortunately, the exhaust from these enginescontains substances that can pose a risk to human health.In 1998, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health HazardAssessment (OEHHA) completed a comprehensive health assessment of diesel exhaust. Thisassessment formed the basis for a decision by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to formallyidentify particles in diesel exhaust as a toxic air contaminant that may pose a threat to human health.The American Lung Association of California (ALAC) and its 15 local associations work to preventlung disease and promote lung health. Since 1904, theAmerican Lung Association has been fighting lungdisease through education, community service, advocacyand research.This fact sheet by OEHHA and ALAC providesinformation on health hazards associated with dieselexhaust.

Download PDF : diesel4-02

Dutch subsidy for Euro VI trucks and buses

Jun 13th, 2012
by Editor.
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In the Netherlands, heavy-duty vehicles(trucks and buses) that meet the new Euro

VI standards will be subsidised by up to 4500 euro each in 2012 and 2013. The Euro

VI standards will become mandatory for all new heavy-duty vehicles from 2014.

Tests by the Dutch environment consultancy TNO have shown that the new

Euro VI engines can reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by more than

90 per cent in real driving conditions, as compared to Euro V and earlier Eurostandard

engines.

Source: Dutch government press release, 30 May 2012.

Link: http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/nieuws/2012/05/30/subsidie-voor-schoonste-trucks-en-bussen.html

IARC: DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST CARCINOGENIC

Jun 13th, 2012
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Lyon, France, June 12, 2012 ‐‐ After a week-long meeting of international experts, the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), today
classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence
that exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer.
Background
In 1988, IARC classified diesel exhaust as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). An Advisory Group
which reviews and recommends future priorities for the IARC Monographs Program had recommended
diesel exhaust as a high priority for re-evaluation since 1998.
There has been mounting concern about the cancer-causing potential of diesel exhaust, particularly based
on findings in epidemiological studies of workers exposed in various settings. This was re-emphasized by
the publication in March 2012 of the results of a large US National Cancer Institute/National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health study of occupational exposure to such emissions in underground miners,
which showed an increased risk of death from lung cancer in exposed workers (1).

Lyon, France, June 12, 2012 ‐‐ After a week-long meeting of international experts, the InternationalAgency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), todayclassified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidencethat exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer.BackgroundIn 1988, IARC classified diesel exhaust as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). An Advisory Groupwhich reviews and recommends future priorities for the IARC Monographs Program had recommendeddiesel exhaust as a high priority for re-evaluation since 1998.There has been mounting concern about the cancer-causing potential of diesel exhaust, particularly basedon findings in epidemiological studies of workers exposed in various settings. This was re-emphasized bythe publication in March 2012 of the results of a large US National Cancer Institute/National Institute forOccupational Safety and Health study of occupational exposure to such emissions in underground miners,which showed an increased risk of death from lung cancer in exposed workers (1).

Download PDF : diesel exhaust carcinogenic

Diesel fumes cause cancer: WHO

Jun 13th, 2012
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/news/print.cfm?objectid=10812719

Description: WHO says diesel fumes are as big a public health threat as passive smoking. Photo / Thinkstock

WHO says diesel fumes are as big a public health threat as passive smoking. Photo / Thinkstock

Diesel fumes cause cancer, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) cancer agency says, a ruling that could make exhaust as important a public health threat as passive smoking.

The risk of getting cancer from diesel fumes is small, but since so many people breathe in the fumes in some way, the science panel said raising the status of diesel exhaust to carcinogen from “probable carcinogen” was an important shift.

“It’s on the same order of magnitude as passive smoking,” said Kurt Straif, director of the IARC department that evaluates cancer risks. “This could be another big push for countries to clean up exhaust from diesel engines.”

Since so many people are exposed to exhaust, Straif said there could be many cases of lung cancer connected to the contaminant. He said the fumes affected groups including pedestrians on the street, ship passengers and crew, railroad workers, truck drivers, mechanics, miners and people operating heavy machinery.

The new classification followed a weeklong discussion in Lyon, France, by an expert panel organised by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The panel’s decision stands as the ruling for the IARC, the cancer arm of WHO.

The last time the agency considered the status of diesel exhaust was in 1989, when it was labelled a “probable” carcinogen. Reclassifying diesel exhaust as carcinogenic puts it into the same category as other known hazards such as asbestos, alcohol and ultraviolet radiation.

Experts in Lyon analysed published studies, evidence from animals and limited research in humans. One of the biggest studies was published in March by the US National Cancer Institute. That paper looked at 12,300 miners for several decades starting in 1947. Researchers found that miners heavily exposed to diesel exhaust had a higher risk of dying from lung cancer.

A person’s risk for cancer depends on many variables, from genetic makeup to the amount and length of time of exposure to dangerous substances.

– AP

Copyright ©2012, APN Holdings NZ Limited

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