Iowa's Bus Emission Testing Program Featured on National Television

Posted October 11, 2002

DES MOINES--Iowa's first-in-the-nation voluntary effort to test diesel emissions from school buses is featured as part of the American Environmental Review series, which airs nationally on public television stations to an estimated 50 million Americans.

American Environmental Review is hosted by Morley Safer and focuses on innovative products and technologies that aid the environment. The program will highlight diesel school bus emission testing in Iowa through the Bus Emissions Education Program (BEEP). BEEP is an effort to make Iowa's school buses the cleanest in the nation through education and by providing free emissions data.

Partners in BEEP include Mirenco, Inc of Radcliffe, the Departments of Natural Resources and Education, the School Administrators of Iowa and the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association. There is no cost to schools or the state budget since the effort is funded by donations.

"This is national exposure for an outstanding program that helps schools pinpoint which buses to focus on for mechanical work," said Brian Button, DNR air information specialist. "We expect the work in Iowa will prove to be a national model for other states to replicate." He said the data helps the districts save money since excess smoke is unburned fuel and targeted repairs avoid future, costly engine deterioration.

In the segment, Dwayne Fosseen, Mirenco CEO, discusses the application of Mirenco's DriverMax technology for use in emissions control and fuel management on Iowa's 4500 diesel school buses.

Also interviewed in the piece are Troyce Fisher, Executive Director of the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) and Brian Button, Air Information Specialist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

American Environmental Review is independently produced and distributed to the 350 public television stations nationwide. Individual stations air the series between regularly scheduled PBS shows and may run the program whenever and as often as they wish. An estimated 50 millions Americans will view the piece which will air in October. The series can also be seen internationally on WorldNet, part of Voice of America Television.

For more information, contact the DNR's Brian Button at 515-281-7832, Erin Heiden, with Mirenco, Inc. at 515-899-2164 or Troyce Fisher with the School Administrators of Iowa at 515-267-1115.