Archived Web Articles
Expanded articles available from past Currents include:

• 3Q04: How Hard Are You TRI-ing?
• 3Q04: 2004 Clean Air Act Update
• 1Q04: EPA Recommends Nonattainment Area Designations for the 8-hr Ozone Standard
• 4Q03: New Modeling Shows Additional Benefits from Proposed Clear Skies Act
• 4Q03: Penalties Increase for HazMat Transportation Violations
• 3Q03: EPA Proposes Rules to Cut Nonroad Diesel Engine Emissions
• 2Q03: TCEQ Moves to Correct EPA-Noted Deficiencies in Title V Program
• 1Q03: EPA Proposes the Remaining Ten MACT Rules
• 1Q03: OSHA Releases Information on Machine Guidance Safety Programs
• 4Q02: Enhancing Community Relations
• 3Q02 EPA releases results of national-scale air toxics assessment
• 3Q02 2002 OSHA food industry inspections on the rise
• 2Q02 Ecological Risk Assessment
• 2Q02 Update on the EMS Measures that TNRCC is Considering
• 1Q02 EPA imposes's nation's first Part 71 operating permit program
• 1Q02 Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission amends enforcement rules
• 4Q01: Managing Process Changes: Who's Reacting - Your Chemicals or You?
• 4Q01: CMP for Silver Dischargers
• 4Q01: TNRCC Increases Scrutiny of Ethylene & Propylene Plants
• 3Q01: Changes to the Hazardous Waste Inventory Rule
• 3Q01: Update on the 77th Texas Legislative Session
  

---

EPA Proposes Rule to Cut Nondiesel Engine Emissions

For more information, contact Roger Brower at 410.312.7907.

EPA has proposed new emissions standards and fuel sulfur restrictions for nonroad diesel engines, the largest remaining contributors to mobile source emissions. These engines, used in construction, agricultural, mining and industrial equipment, account for roughly 44 percent of the nation's mobile source diesel PM emissions and 12 percent of the NOx emissions from this source category. The proposal, published on May 23rd, should reduce PM and NOx emissions from nonroad diesel emissions by more than 90 percent. Also, the proposal regulates diesel fuel for the first time, reducing sulfur by more than 99 percent. The proposed emissions standards, to be fully phased in by 2014, will begin affecting new engines in 2008. The proposed fuel sulfur restrictions, taking effect in 2007, will be fully phased in by 2010. Engine manufacturers and fuel refiners will be most affected by these proposed rules.

The Federal Register notice of the proposal can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/EPA-AIR/2003/May/Day-23/index.html.

The proposal includes new engine exhaust emissions standards, emissions test procedures, including not-to-exceed requirements, for nonroad engines ranging from 3 to over 3,000 horsepower, as well as sulfur limits for nonroad, locomotive, and marine diesel fuel. Emission standards similar in stringency to the final standards included in the 2007 highway diesel program will begin to take effect for nonroad sources in the 2008 model year, with a phase-in of standards across five different engine power rating groupings. The following table shows the proposed standards and timetable.

Proposed Tier 4 Emission Standards (g/hp-hr)
Rated Power	First Year that Standards Apply	PM	NOx
less than 25 hp	2008	.30	-
equal to or more than 25, but less than 75	2013	.02	3.5*
equal to or more than 75, but less than 175	2012-2012	.02	.30
equal to or more than 175, but less than 750	2011-2013	.01	.30
greater than or equal to 750	2011-2014	.01	.30

Proposed Tier 4 Emission Standards (g/hp-hr) Rated Power First Year that Standards Apply PM NOx less than 25 hp 2008 0.30 - equal to or more than 25, but less than 75 2013 0.02 3.5* equal to or more than 75, but less than 175 2012-2014 0.02 0.30 equal to or more than 175, but less than 750 2011-2013 0.01 0.30 greater than or equal to 750 2011-2014 0.01 0.30

* The 3.5 g/hp-hr standard includes both NOx and nonmethane

To meet the proposed emission standards, engine manufacturers will produce new engines with advanced, high-efficiency control technologies, such as catalytic emission control devices. However, these systems require ultra low sulfur diesel fuel to meet the proposed standards. This proposal would reduce the currently uncontrolled sulfur levels for nonroad diesel fuel to an interim cap of 500 ppm beginning June 1, 2007. By June 1, 2010, sulfur levels for fuel used for nonroad diesel applications except locomotive and marine engines would be further reduced to a maximum sulfur level of 15 ppm.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Roger Brower at 410-312-7907 or rbrower@zephyrenv.com.

[top]