Rules on the Use of ULSDF and BART for Buses that Take Children To and From School

All diesel fuel-powered school buses used to transport children to or from any school located in the New York City must use Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel (ULSDF) and the Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) for reducing the emission of pollutants into the air.

A school bus is any vehicle that operates under a school bus contract (an agreement between any person and the New York City Department of Education to transport children on a school bus), and that is designed to transport ten or more children at one time.

ULSDF refers to diesel fuel that has a sulfur content of no more than fifteen parts per million. BART means the use of technology, verified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) or the California Air Resources Board (CARB), to reduce the emission of pollutants into the air. Such technology must also, at a reasonable cost achieve the greatest reduction in emissions of nitrogen oxides (it should not cost thirty percent more than other technology applicable to the particular engine).

Failure to comply with the rules concerning the use of emissions control technology on school buses might result in significant financial penalties, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, as set forth in the Rules of the City of New York (RCNY) Title 15, Air Code Penalty Schedule.