EPA has regulated highway diesel fuel quality since 1993. As part of the Clean Diesel Trucks and Buses program, EPA reduced the level of sulfur in highway diesel fuel by 97 percent starting in 2006. Likewise, the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule includes new fuel requirements that will decrease the allowable levels of sulfur in fuel used in nonroad diesel engines, locomotives, and marine vessels by 99 percent. Lowering sulfur in diesel fuel makes it possible for engine manufacturers to use advanced clean technologies which can be damaged by sulfur, just as lead was phased out of gasoline to prevent damage to catalytic converters. In addition, reducing sulfur levels will provide immediate public health benefits by reducing particulate matter from engines in the existing fleets of highway trucks and buses, nonroad equipment, locomotives, and marine diesel engines.

Clean Diesel Fuel Implementation Workshop being held November 15-16, 2004 in New Orleans, Louisiana

Co-sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Association of American Railroads (AAR), the American Trucking Association (ATA), the Association of Oil Pipelines (AOPL), the Independent Fuel Terminal Operators Association (IFTOA), the Independent Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA), the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), the National Association of Truck Stop Operators (NATSO), the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA), the National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC), the Petroleum Marketers Association of America (PMAA), and the Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA).

The workshop is geared to refiners, pipeline operators, terminal operators, marketers and end-users of diesel fuel who may be subject to, or affected by, the low and ultra-low sulfur requirements for nonroad and highway diesel fuels. The workshop will include sessions/panels on the following items:

• Overview of the Highway and Nonroad Diesel Rules
  
• EPA Presentation of the 2nd Annual Highway Diesel Pre-compliance Reports
  
• Sampling and Sulfur Testing
  
• Refiners Progress Toward Implementation
  
• Pipelines Progress Toward Implementation
  
• Terminal Operators Progress Toward Implementation
  
• Rack-to-Consumers Progress Toward Implementation

For additional information, and to register for the workshop, please visit:
http://api-ep.api.org/printerformat.cfm?ContentID=E2D33972-A89B-46AC-85CCF7F99212B4DB

Program Descriptions

Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Engines and Fuel
In May 2004, EPA adopted a comprehensive national program to reduce emissions from future nonroad diesel engines by integrating engine and fuel controls as a system to gain the greatest emission reductions. Exhaust emissions from these engines will decrease by more than 90 percent. Because the emission-control devices can be damaged by sulfur, the final rule also reduces the allowable level of sulfur in nonroad diesel fuel by more than 99 percent, which will result in immediate improvements in public health by reducing particulate matter from engines in the existing fleet of nonroad equipment. These emission reductions in nitrogen oxides and particulate matter will provide enormous public health benefits, including preventing 12,000 premature deaths, 8,900 hospitalizations, and one million work days lost by 2030. The Rule is one of a suite of inter-related rules known as the Clean Air Rules of 2004 which address ozone and fine particle pollution, nonroad diesel emissions, and power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury.

Locomotives
In May 2004, EPA announced its intent to propose more stringent locomotive engine emission standards that are modeled after the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel engines programs. Such standards would require the use of advanced emission-control technologies similar to those already upcoming for heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses. The availability of clean nonroad diesel fuel required under the new nonroad fuel standards will enable the use of the use of this technology on locomotive engines. EPA estimates that nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions could be reduced by 90 percent by applying such advanced technology to locomotive engines.

Diesel Boats & Ships
In May 2004, EPA announced its intent to propose more stringent emission standards for new marine diesel engines with per cylinder displacement below 30 liters and to engines at or below 37kW. These standards, which are modeled after the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel engines program, would require the use of advanced emission-control technologies similar to those already upcoming for heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses. The availability of clean nonroad diesel fuel required under the new nonroad fuel standards will enable the use of this technology on marine diesel engines. EPA estimates that NOx and PM emissions could be reduced by 90 percent by applying such advanced technology to these marine diesel engines.

Clean Diesel Trucks and Buses 
 Proposed Rule (signed June 3, 2004) - In-Use Testing for Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles
EPA is proposing a manufacturer-run, in-use emissions testing program for heavy-duty diesel trucks.  Under this ground-breaking program, engine manufacturers will measure emissions from their diesel engines in highway applications using portable onboard emission measurement systems.  This proposal advances EPA's clean diesel activities by helping to ensure that the benefits of more stringent emission standards are realized under real-world driving conditions.

In 2000, EPA finalized a major regulation that reduces the sulfur content in diesel fuel by 97 percent, providing for the cleanest-running heavy-duty trucks and buses in history.  By addressing diesel fuel and engines together as a single system, harmful emissions from diesel and gasoline heavy trucks and buses will be reduced up to 95 percent.  Diesel engine manufacturers will have flexibility to meet the new standards through a phase-in approach between 2007 and 2010.

Clean School Bus USA
EPA's Clean School Bus USA program brings together partners from business, education, transportation, and public health organizations to work toward eliminating unnecessary public school bus idling; retrofitting buses with better emission control technologies; and replacing the oldest buses in the fleet with new, less polluting buses.

SmartWay Transport
EPA created SmartWay Transport, a partnership with leading freight-haulers, retailers and manufacturers,to reduce fuel consumption from the transportation sector in the United States; emissions affecting human health, especially in densely populated urban areas; and greenhouse gas emissions.

Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program
This program addresses pollution from diesel construction equipment and heavy-duty vehicles that are currently on the road today.  The Program is building a market for clean diesel engines by working with state, localand industry partners to create demonstration projects around the country.

Diesel Fuel Programs
EPA has regulated highway diesel fuel quality since 1993. As part of the Clean Diesel Trucks and Buses program, EPA reduced the level of sulfur in highway diesel fuel by 97 percent starting in 2006. Likewise, the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule includes new fuel requirements that will decrease the allowable levels of sulfur in fuel used in nonroad diesel engines, locomotives, and marine vessels by 99 percent. Lowering sulfur in diesel fuel makes it possible for engine manufacturers to use advanced clean technologies which can be damaged by sulfur, just as lead was phased out of gasoline to prevent damage to catalytic converters. In addition, reducing sulfur levels will provide immediate public health benefits by reducing particulate matter from engines in the existing fleets of highway trucks and buses, nonroad diesel equipment, locomotives, and marine diesel engines.

Health Assessment Document for Diesel Exhaust
This May 2002 major report examines possible health hazards associated with exposure to diesel engine exhaust.

Fact Sheets

• Clean Diesel Programs Fact Sheet (EPA420-F-04-039, May 2004)
  
  
• Clean Diesel Programs Milestones (EPA420-F-04-034, May 2004) Lists actions EPA has taken to reduce emissions from diesel engines since the Clean Air Act of 1990.
  
  
• Clean Diesel Programs: Facts and Figures (EPA420-F-04-040, May 2004)

For further information or assistance regarding this web page, please contact the Assessment and Standards Division Information Line at (734) 214-4636 or email: asdinfo@epa.gov.