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Littleton Public School District to receive EPA Environmental Achievement Award

Release Date: 6/9/2003
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DENVER – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Administrator Robert Roberts will present EPA’s 2003 Environmental Achievement Award to the Littleton Public School District for its Biodiesel School Bus Program at the school board’s 7 p.m. June 12 meeting at 5776 S. Crocker St., Littleton.

Accepting the award will be Dr. Stan Sheer, LPS Superintendent; Kanoe Cockett, LPS director of transportation; LPS transportation manager, Jerry Ryan; and LPS Chief Financial Officer Scott Murphy.

LPS earned the award because, through its own initiative, it began using pollution-reducing biodiesel fuel in all diesel vehicles, including school buses, in May 2002. LPS’s biodiesel program is considered a superior achievement in pollution prevention, community-based environmental protection and environmental sustainability.

By using biodiesel, a fuel produced from vegetable oils, LPS has reduced air pollution and global warming gases and is pioneering the way in the use of a sustainable and renewable energy source.

Specifically, LPS reduced the rate of tiny exhaust matter known as particulate emissions by 10 percent, hydrocarbons emissions by 21 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 11 percent, and sulfur dioxide approximately by 20 percent. To date, LPS has prevented an estimated 685 pounds of carbon monoxide, 296 pounds of hydrocarbons, 102 pounds of PM-10 (particulates), and 141 pounds of sulfur dioxides from entering our atmosphere.

The use of biodiesel fuel in school buses is especially beneficial because children are particularly sensitive to the air pollutants from diesel engines. Because biodeisel fuel is derived from renewable organic matter, it prevents pollution and reduces the amount of global-warming carbon dioxide in the biosphere. Moreover, much of the fuel is produced from recycled cooking oil. As a renewable plant-based fuel, biodiesel is a sustainable energy source.

The Regional Administrator presents awards in four external award categories to individuals and groups external to the Region Office. This award recognizes significant achievements in protection of public health or the environment, or in advancing the Agency’s current strategic goals. Among the criteria is an outstanding contribution to environmental protection through a single action, or by an ongoing action over an appreciable period of time.