Farm Bureau Sponsors BEEP Program
Iowa Farm Bureau announced two year sponsorship of the
BEEP Program
Farm Bureau sponsorship to improve Iowa air quality
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Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Lang, second from left, joined educational and
environmental officials Jan. 30 in announcing the Farm Bureau's two-year,
$10,000 sponsorship of the Bus Emissions Education Program (BEEP). On hand for
the presentation, which took place at the Johnston Schools Transportation Office
in Johnston, were, left to right, Terry Voy, executive director, Iowa Pupil
Transportation Association; Mary Jane Greenawald, business manager, School
Administrators of Iowa; Jeff Vonk, director, Iowa Department of Natural
Resources (DNR); Dwayne Fosseen, Mirenco CEO; and Brian Button, air information
specialist, DNR. |
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On January 30, 2003 the Iowa Farm Bureau announced a two year sponsorship of
the Bus Emissions Education Program.
The Iowa Farm Bureau, as part of its ongoing commitment to improving the state’s
air, soil and water quality, announced a two-year, $10,000 sponsorship of the
Bus Emissions Education Program (BEEP).
BEEP is the nation’s first voluntary bus testing program and helps fund
emissions tests on all of Iowa’s nearly 5,000 diesel school buses at no cost to
the schools. The not-for-profit organization is a partnership among the Iowa
Department of Education, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, School
Administrators of Iowa, Iowa Pupil Transportation Association and Mirenco, Inc.,
an Iowa-based company that specializes in fuel management technology for
reducing fuel emissions.
“Safeguarding the health of Iowa’s young people is critical and Farm Bureau
wants to be part of proactive efforts that helps children lead safer, more
active and productive lives,” said IFBF President Craig Lang. “The BEEP program
is just one more way to help students and all Iowans protect and enhance the
quality of our environment. We’re excited to be involved in this proactive,
pro-environment effort.”
National reports have raised concerns about the effects of diesel exhaust from
school buses, especially on children. For BEEP officials, these reports are a
call to action. The mission of the BEEP program is to make Iowa’s school buses
the cleanest and best-maintained fleet in the nation within five years and
educate Iowa’s school students on the science of vehicle tailpipe emissions and
effects on the Earth’s life cycle and atmosphere.
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Buses tested twice yearly
The program plans to test all school buses twice a year and offer guidance for
lowering bus emissions and improving the health of students. Specifically, BEEP
uses an EPA-approved test that measures the capacity of soot emitted from the
tailpipe. Results range from zero opacity for clean exhaust to 100 percent when
black smoke and raw, unburned fuel are expelled from the tailpipe. BEEP releases
the opacity level of each diesel bus to school transportation officials who use
the emissions data to identify buses that need immediate maintenance attention.
“We created the program as a proactive solution to the problem of excessive
diesel emissions from school buses,” said Mirenco CEO Dwayne Fosseen. “The
testing program helps school districts save money through improved fuel
efficiency and engine durability by identifying engine combustion problems.
“Farm Bureau’s commitment to the program will help provide schools with the
resources they need to reduce emissions and to improve the health and well-being
of students throughout the state.”
Farm Bureau’s support of the BEEP program is part of the organization’s
long-term Ag and the Environment Campaign launched in 2001. In addition to
helping reduce bus emissions, the organization has contributed $250,000 to Trees
Forever for the creation of buffers to protect water quality. Farm Bureau is
also the sponsor of the FFA Environment First Grant Program, providing up to
$90,000 to chapters statewide to assist them in conducting programs that improve
environmental awareness and quality.
For more information, go to
www.agandenvironment.com or www.mirenco.com.
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