Dirty Diesel Campaign
In May 1997, WE ACT launched a major public awareness campaign urging the MTA to commit to modifying bus depots to accommodate natural gas buses, and to invest in clean-fuel buses only.
A study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided solid evidence that the levels of air pollution in a number of Northern Manhattan neighborhoods at the time exceeded proposed federal standards by as much as 200%.
In the face of mounting scientific evidence that linked the tiny particles from diesel exhaust fumes to increasing threats of asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, heart attacks, lung cancer and premature death, the MTA continued to purchase deadly diesel buses. By doing so, they were putting a price tag on the health of over a half million predominately African American and Latino New Yorkers.