Re[3]: [at-l] Endangered Parks List

[Bob Cummings <ellen@clinic.net> (Bob C.)]

"...I'd still like to see some numbers.  How much pollution is generated in a
snowmobile-hour?" Billie asks.

 Mobile pollution sources contribute significantly to the risk of cancer, the
 emission of particulates that result in heart and lung disease and the creation
 of ground level ozone or smog that triggers asthma and causes respiratory
 irritation and lung impairment.

 The United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) estimates that
 gasoline-burning engines in recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles, all
 terrain vehicles, boats and personal watercraft are responsible for
 approximately 13% of the hydrocarbons (chemicals from unburned fuel) emitted by
 mobile sources.

 As a category, these non-road engines are growing as a source
 of air pollution.

 In Minnesota, it is estimated that 14% of benzene emissions from mobile sources
 come from off-road 2-cycle engines, while 10% comes from off-road 4-cycle
 engines.

 Looking at overall exhaust, 2-stroke engines are responsible for 32% of all of
 the mobile source hydrocarbons! This is highly disproportionate to their use.
 
 However, unlike automobile engines, which have been continuously modified for
 decades to increase efficiency and reduce emissions, the 2-cycle gasoline
 engine has not been improved significantly since it was introduced in the
 1940’s. 2-cycle gasoline engines, which take in fuel and emit exhaust in the
 same stroke, still dump from 25-30% of their fuel unburned directly into our
 environment. 2-stroke engines also emit particulates in amounts up to 45 times
 greater than diesel engines.
 
 2-cycle engines are still used in many vehicles – snowmobiles, personal
 watercraft, all terrain vehicles (ATVs), lawnmowers, garden equipment and
 outboard motors for boats.
 
 According to the National Park Service, a 2-stroke snowmobile produces 300
 times more hydrocarbons than driving an automobile.

  One hour on a typical
 snowmobile emits more air pollution than driving a modern car for a year.

 Studies show that a 2-stroke personal watercraft engine operating for seven
 hours produces the same amount of cancer-causing and smog-forming pollutants as
 an automobile being driven over 100,000 miles.

  Each year, marine 2-stroke
 motors spill 15 times more oil and fuel into waterways than did the Exxon
 Valdez.
 
 A 2-cycle gasoline-powered lawnmower pollutes as much in one hour as 40 new
 model cars. Nationwide, there are 89 million small 2-stroke engines in lawn and
 garden equipment directly exposing users to emissions.

  Outboard motors, snowmobiles and personal watercraft can all be purchased with
 cleaner, quieter 4-cycle engines.

 According to U.S. EPA comparisons of 4-cycle and 2-cycle recreational vehicles,
 a 2-cycle engine emits 30 times more hydrocarbons (benzene, butadiene and
 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and 40 times the particulate matter as does
 the more efficient 4-cycle engine.

  Other hydrocarbons disproportionately emitted by 2-cycle engines react with
 sunlight to form smog, particularly in hot, sunny weather. Smog irritates the
 respiratory system and can have serious health effects on people with lung
 disease or susceptibility to asthma. Breathing smog can cause permanent lung
 damage to children.

 The United States Environmental Protection Agency has
 previously written rules that phase out 2-cycle engines in lawnmowers and that
 set emission standards for most other off-road engines. These rules are being
 phased in over the next several years.
 
 Recently the U.S. EPA proposed new rules for 2-cycle engines in snowmobiles,
 all terrain vehicles and personal watercraft. These proposed rules are weak;
 they don’t set standards clean enough to require the phase-out of 2-cycle
 engines.

 They also don’t require an emissions labeling system to permit consumers to
 know how much pollution a vehicle emits before they buy it. You can reduce
 health risks to yourself and your family from exposure to 2-cycle engine
 exhaust while improving air quality.
 
 Choose cleaner alternatives in your home and yard. Use hand-powered or electric
 lawn and garden equipment. Help educate your neighbors that there are cleaner
 and quieter alternatives by loaning your equipment.

 If you use boats with outboard motors, personal watercraft, all terrain
vehicles or snowmobiles, make sure they have 4-cycle engines. Ask your dealer to
carry these cleaner, more efficient engines. Reduce recreational vehicle miles
by canoeing, rowing, hiking and cross-country skiing as a form of recreation.

Weary (with help from the internet)