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                             NEWS FROM

                           STATE SENATOR

                  Q U E N T I N    L.    K O P P

                   Eighth Senatorial District

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Terri Burns                                          June 8, 1995
(916) 324-6928


      SAN MATEO UHSD RECEIVES SAFER, LEE-POLLUTING BUSES


Students in the San Mateo Union High School District will soon 
be riding in safer, less-polluting, more energy-efficient new 
school buses thanks to a program funded by the California 
Energy Commission, State Senator Quentin L. Kopp announced today.

The Commission will purchase 224 school buses under the third 
phase of the Safe School Bus Clean Fuel Efficiency Demonstration 
Program. The San Mateo UHSD will receive two advanced diesel-
powered buses valued at $168,000.

"Our children's safety is of utmost concern to all of us," 
declared Senator Kopp. "By providing new, safer buses, we ensure 
that the children are well-protected while travelling to and from 
school. Our old school buses must be retired, but funding is 
difficult. The Energy Commission devised an innovative solution 
that retires old buses, replaces them with safer ones and 
facilitiates use of cleaner and more efficient fuels."

The program was created by the Legislature in 1988. Under the 
program, the school districts retire an equal number of older 
buses built prior to the 1977 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standards. These older buses are replaced by ones that have 
advanced safety features. Also, as part of the program, at 
least 35 percent of the new buses have to be powered by fuels 
other than diesel or gasoline. The older buses are retired from 
service and cannot be used within California for transporting 
children or adults. Many of the older buses are sold for scrap 
or parts.

"Almost all of our fleet are pre-1977 buses; some of them are even

pre-1964," explained John Mahaffy with the San Mateo Union High 
School District.  "We've only been able to replace three buses 
in the last eight years because of tight budgets. So, we're 
excited to get these new buses."

"The new buses generate better mileage than the old ones they 
replace," stated Senator Kopp. "So, with every mile they travel, 
they'll be able to reduce operating costs for the District. Every 
dollar saved in lower operating costs can be spent by the 
District to provide students a better education."

Upon delivery of the buses in 1996, a total of 787 buses will 
have been purchased in the three phases of the $100 million 
program.  Funding for the program emanates from the federal 
Petroleum Violation Escrow Account, which consists of fines 
collected from oil companies that over-charged consumers at 
the pumps during the 1970's oil crisis.


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For more information contact:

John Mahaffy
San Mateo Union High School District - 415-348-8834

Bob Aldrich
Information Officer, California Energy Commission - 916-654-4993



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95-06-08_Senator_Kopp_Release_San_Mateo USD_Receives_Buse