a proposal entailing schools across southern California, to replace diesel buses with ones using cleaner fuels has been approved by the South Coast Air Quality Management District ( aqmd ) board. "Our young people deserve the best we can provide both in terms of environment and education,' said William Burke, chairperson of the aqmd governing board. It is for the first time that an agency in the us has made it mandatory for school buses to stop using diesel, claim the aqmd officials. Schools facing financial problems will purchase the new buses only if outside funds are available. In case of non-availability of subsidies, these schools will purchase improved diesel engines and if they do not have funds even for this then they can buy conventional diesel buses equipped with soot traps, which capture 85 per cent of the smoke. A study conducted by a national environmental group shows that air inside the school buses contained nine times more diesel soot than air outside.