HERNDON, Va. -- In a letter to South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Chairman Bill Burke, the Diesel Technology Forum urged the SCAQMD to include clean diesel technology as an option for future school bus purchases.

The SCAQMD is poised to vote at a hearing April 20 on its Rule 1195 that would require school districts under its jurisdiction to purchase only natural gas-powered buses.

Along with school districts and coalitions, the Forum questioned the SCAQMD's promises that "other state funding-not classroom dollars"-will be available to offset the far higher costs for CNG buses and new refueling stations. The South Coast Clean Air Partnership, representing nearly 20 Southland school districts, has questioned the truthfulness of the AQMD's promises for providing funding.

In the letter, the Forum cautioned the AQMD against relying on the February 2001 study by the NRDC to support its rule, pointing to inherent scientific flaws in the study such as linking diesel particulate emissions to asthma. The letter cites a more scientific analysis done by the school district in Fairfax County, Virginia that concluded "diesel exhaust inside its buses poses no threat health risks to our students and staff."