College Community district's buses get free emission tests 

By Steve Gravelle
The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS -- College Community School District's buses got their third annual free emissions checkup Monday.

"It is very useful," said Scott Grabe, the district's transportation director. "These types of tests you don't normally do on you own accord."

A team from Mirenco Inc. tested the district's 44 diesel-powered buses using a device that measures soot or visible particles in their exhaust. Based in Radcliffe, Mirenco is the contractor for the Bus Emissions Education Program (BEEP), a joint program of the state departments of transportation and natural resources. The non-profit project is funded through private donations.

BEEP has tested all 4,496 of Iowa's diesel school buses since February 2002. The five-minute test produces readings from 0 percent, or clean air, to 100 percent for the heavy black smoke produced when unburned fuel goes out the exhaust pipe.

"The vast majority of our buses are under 15 percent" in earlier tests, Grabe said. Results from Monday's testing won't be available for a few months, he said.

BEEP was a response to reports from the Union of Concerned Scientists on the hazards posed by diesel emissions. Prolonged exposure, especially among children, can cause lung and heart disease.

"We're really focusing on the school buses because of the potential for long-term exposure to the students," said Dave DeValois, the project's public relations manager.

Fleet managers use test results to evaluate and adjust maintenance practices to keep engines running clean.

© Copyright 2003 by The Gazette Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.