Today’s guest blogger is Emma Shlaes, Clean Water Action National Campaigns Associate.

Summer is winding down. When you put your child on the bus for school, or take that one last road trip of the season, you expect that everyone will stay safe and healthy, as long as there are no accidents. But there is a hidden danger lurking around most school buses, highways and too many residential neighborhoods and schools. Dangerous and preventable diesel pollution from buses, trucks and construction vehicles is placing families in harm's way.

Dirty diesel engines emit a mixture of particles, metals and gases called "particulate matter" which include over 40 "hazardous air pollutants" as classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. This mixture can cause a range of health problems. From increased rates of asthma, to lung cancer, stroke and heart attack, diesel pollution contributes to countless illnesses and 21,000 early deaths a year.

In addition to being a serious public health problem, diesel pollution contributes to climate change by emitting a pollutant that’s aptly named “black carbon”. Black carbon soot is approximately 2,000 times more potent as a global warming agent than an equal amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). Over half the black carbon emissions in the U.S. come from diesel engines. Fortunately, black carbon is a short-lived pollutant and does not remain in the atmosphere, so this is one aspect of climate change we can do something about right now.

How do you ask? Available retrofits can reduce diesel particulate matter and black carbon emissions by at least 90% from the 11 million old, dirty diesel engines that are currently used in the U.S. This means an instant reduction of black soot in our atmosphere. Additionally, studies indicate that for every dollar spent on reducing particulate matter pollution from diesel engines, $12 would be avoided in monetized health damages. That translates to improved health for you and your family.

Since 2005, the federal Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) has been funding retrofits for existing heavy-duty diesel vehicles and engines in every state in the U.S. DERA has enjoyed support by: members of both parties in Congress, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and industry, labor, environmental and health groups. This important act is set to expire in 2011 and Congress must reauthorize it at the same level of funding if we are to see continued reduction in diesel pollution and the health effects it causes.

Clean Water Action works nationally and in the states to pass policies that will clean up diesel pollution and protect communities. Some states haven’t waited for government protections and funding to take action. For example, Clean Water Action recently helped Rhode Island pass the Clean Construction Law, which requires diesel-burning construction equipment on federally funded projects to be retrofitted to reduce emissions by 2013. Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey have also taken action at the state and local level. Find out more.

Clean Water Action works as part of the Diesel Clean-Up Campaign, a nationwide collaboration of organizations committed to reducing diesel emissions 40 percent by the year 2012, 55 percent by 2015 and 70 percent by 2020. You can visit their website at www.dieselcleanup.org

New Jersey Friends of Clearwater, a coalition partner and member group of NJ Environmental Federation, is holding its 35th annual Clearwater Festival, "Knock Out Pollution: Protect our Watersheds" this Saturday, August 21st from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm in Asbury Park. This wonderful event is FREE and ONE DAY ONLY!

The event is being held in Sunset Park on Main Street and Sunset Ave in beautiful Asbury Park, New Jersey (only a few blocks away from the beach)! In addition to delicious food and national and local musical acts, there will be numerous environmental groups and other vendors from the region with display tables and information.

NJ Environmental Federation Accomplishments 2009 (pdf file)

The NJ Environmental Federation is calling for passage of a package of bills to protect Barnegat Bay and the Passaic River that the Senate and Assembly Environment Committees will vote on Thursday at a joint hearing in Toms River.

One measure, S-1410, would require post-construction restoration of soil similar to the area. A second proposal, S-1411/A-2290, would help reduce the use of phosphate and nitrogen-based fertilizers, the biggest sources of pollution for New Jersey's waterways. The remaining measures, S-1815/A-2577 and S-1856/A-2606, would help control storm water runoff and pollution.

Sarah DeMunn (left) of Belmar and Noah Brooks of Point Pleasant, both with the New Jersey Environmental Federation, hold signs at a press conference in Lavallette Tuesday as activists prepare for a legislative hearing this week on Barnegat Bay. (STAFF PHOTO: KIRK MOORE)

Without taxpayer bailouts, the bonds for Camden County's money-losing trash operation would barely be worth the garbage it takes in, according to credit agencies.

The Pollution Control Financing Authority of Camden County has received $152 million in state solid-waste subsidies during the last decade - more than any other county in New Jersey has gotten - to pay the debt on an incinerator built in the early 1990s.

But that's not enough.

In recent days, leaders of the authority, which handles trash disposal for all but one of Camden County's 37 municipalities, have pressed the state for yet another bailout. If their efforts fail, the Fitch rating agency projects, the authority will default on its $25 million final bond payment, due Dec. 1.

WASHINGTON, July 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A nationwide coalition of 120 environmental, public health, labor, business, consumer advocacy, faith and community organizations today applauded Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and 57 other House members from 15 states for introducing promising new legislation that would accelerate the speed and success of clean fleet turnover plans at U.S.

Every day, millions of us wake up and turn on the faucet to make our coffee, brush our teeth, or wash our faces. Not for a second do we think this water could be lethal. Billions of people around the world aren't as lucky. Since World War II, contaminated water has killed more people around the globe than all wars and other forms of violence combined.

The growing crisis is the result of increased pollution, increased water demand, and the corporate control of water access, making clean water one of the scarcest resources for the world's poor. This week we have the rare chance to address this problem head-on.

The collapse of efforts to pass climate change legislation in the U.S. Congress left many clean energy advocates disillusioned, but it was doubly disappointing here in New Jersey where residents and businesses already are footing the bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

With New Jersey embracing cleaner technologies like solar and offshore wind power, some analysts suggested the higher costs reflected by those alternative energy sources are turning up in electric bills. The prospect of even higher utility costs because of national climate control legislation may have doomed the bill in a year with a weak economy and mid-term elections in Congress.

Tainted groundwater is spreading across thousands of acres in northern Delaware and has reached the Potomac Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to people across much of Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey.

In some areas of the upper Potomac near Delaware City and New Castle, concentrations of benzene, vinyl chloride and chlorinated benzenes are so high that exposure poses an immediate health threat. Elevated levels of these industrial byproducts significantly increase the risks of cancer. Sustained exposure could kill.