| IDLING OF DIESEL SCHOOL BUS ENGINES AT SCHOOL SITES |  | There has been much concern nationally about the potential harmful effects of particle emissions produced by older diesel engines, including those used in school buses.
The 2002 Minnesota Legislature adopted a requirement that: All operators of
diesel school buses must minimize, to the extent practical, the idling of school bus engines and exposure of children to diesel exhaust fumes.
In conformance with the requirements of this statute the Specifications for Pupil Transportation section of the contract for transportation services between the School District and our bus contractors for the 2003-2004 school year contains the following requirements:
335. Idling of Diesel Engines at School Sites Minnesota Statute 123B.885 requires that all operators of diesel powered school buses must minimize, to the extent practical, the idling of school bus engines and the exposure of children to diesel exhaust fumes.
Except as noted below, each school bus driver operating under this contract in temperatures above an ambient, or wind chill, temperature of twenty degrees Fahrenheit shall shut down his/her school bus no later than five minutes after arrival at the school or school sponsored activity. The five minutes if idle time is to allow the engine and turbo charger to cool prior to shutdown.
After starting an engine that has been shut down for over twenty minutes drivers may idle their engines for up to five minutes to allow the engine to warm-up prior to applying a load. Drivers operating in ambient, or wind chill, temperatures below twenty degrees Fahrenheit may idle engines as necessary to provide warmth to the driver and to prevent fuel gelling.
Drivers may idle buses as necessary in the following situations:
• Lift buses loading or unloading multiple wheelchairs
• School buses transporting medically fragile students who have been identified by the School District as needing continuous warmth even with ambient, or wind-chill, temperatures at or above 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
• A vehicle experiencing mechanical problems which may not restart.
• Vehicles parked as a shelter area for a field trip group involved in outside activities which must be kept warm to protect the students.
• Other emergency situations directed by the Transportation Department staff or their employer.
Each contractor shall provide training to all drivers operating under this contract explaining the requirements of Minnesota Statute 123B.885, the general concerns about school bus diesel emissions, and the requirements of this contract with respect to school bus idling. The Transportation department will supply contractors with inservice training materials in overhead transparency and/or Powerpoint Presentation format upon request.
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