May 14, 2004 12:24 PM, from staff and wire reports

The first National Idling Reduction Planning Conference will be held May 17–19, 2004, in Albany NY. This conference brings together trucking and transit companies; original equipment manufacturers; local, state, and federal government agencies; and the research sector to identify reliable and practical answers to reduce idling in the transportation industry. The conference’s goals include:

•Save more than $2 billion worth of diesel fuel annually.

•Reduce nitrogen oxides and harmful particulate emissions.

•Reduce engine wear and maintenance costs

•Protect children from harmful emissions by idling school buses.

•Provide truckers with cleaner air and quieter places to sleep.

•Reduce noise and air pollution around rail yards, truckstops, and depots.

•Ensure that equipment will comply with all regulations nationwide.

For more details, access www.orau.gov/idlingreduction.