Major changes in diesel fuel and engine regulation have been proposed. Public hearings will be held in June in New York and Chicago. ASA has encouraged dialogue with the EPA on this subject. ASA's interest has been in the role of inspection and maintenance programs as fuel and engines become cleaner as far as their impact on air quality. ASA is hopeful the role for inspection and maintenance programs will continue to grow across the United States.

The Bush administration has proposed major changes in diesel fuel and engine regulation. In an announcement just prior to a report released by the American Lung Association and Environmental Defense, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Administrator Christine Todd Whitman announced the administration's new proposed rules for diesel fuel and engines.

Although the Bush administration has been accused by some environmental organizations of "rolling back" certain environmental regulations, the diesel proposal is seen as a major initiative by the environmental community.

In its recently announced report, the American Lung Association and Environmental Defense recognized that diesel engines are "the workhorses" of the American economy, yet their exhausts are among "the most dangerous and pervasive sources of air pollution." Tough standards are in place to dramatically reduce pollution from large diesel trucks, buses and highway diesel fuel beginning in 2006, yet nonroad diesel equipment has been largely ignored. The report focused on:

• Diesel engines in a range of nonroad equipment from lawn tractors to excavators
• Stationary internal combustion engines used in electric generators

The report concluded with five recommendations:

• Adopt national nonroad clean air standards consistent with onroad standards
• Achieve cleaner air today through sensible transition policies
• Address all nonroad engines comprehensively
• Close the stationary diesel engine loophole
• Ensure long-lasting clean air gains through effective program implementation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposal will go a long way toward improving the diesel emissions problem. The rule addresses nonroad diesel fuel and engines by mandating a phase-in of low-sulfur diesel fuel, from the current level of 3,400 parts per million to 500 parts per million in 2007. This will continue to diminish to 15 parts per million in 2010, which would be a 99 percent reduction. This phase-in approach allows industry to adjust to these dramatic changes in policy.

Beyond proposed new fuel regulations, engine requirements will also be stringent. In an effort to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), the EPA calls for a 90 percent curtailment in new nonroad emissions between 2008 and 2014. The EPA estimates an annual reduction of 825,000 tons in NOx and 125,000 tons in PM emissions by 2030.

The diesel report also compared the number of onroad vehicles that would have to be taken off America's highways to achieve the same particulate matter reductions as could be obtained from offroad diesel vehicles. For example:

• In Alabama, 3,018,000 vehicles would have to be removed from highway use
• In California, 23,370,000 vehicles would have to be removed from highway use
• In Ohio, 7,692,000 vehicles would have to be removed from highway use

At the Automotive Service Association's 2002 Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., the American Lung Association pointed out the national health costs of poor air quality. The EPA's proposal also highlights the continued public costs for not having clean air. The proposed regulation has a price tag of $1.5 billion per year, yet will provide health benefits of $80 billion. This includes the prevention of 9,600 premature deaths and 8,300 hospitalizations. Industry sources argue the rule could cost as much as $8 billion per year.

Administrator Whitman intimated that nonroad emissions are virtually unregulated and their emissions represent 44 percent of PM and 12 percent of NOx from all mobile sources. She said, "Just one large bulldozer produces 800 pounds of air pollution, which is equivalent to the pollution associated with 26 cars. The 800 pounds of pollution churned out by that bulldozer will be reduced to 80."

The proposed regulation will remain open for comment until Aug. 20, 2003. The EPA has scheduled public hearings in New York June 10, 2003, and in Chicago June 12, 2003.

The aftermarket should note that the EPA continues to push forward a clean engine, clean technology approach to reducing emissions. ASA has encouraged dialogue with the EPA at the association's annual meetings and in the annual Emission I/M Forum held each year during the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS.) ASA's interest has been in the role of inspection and maintenance programs as fuel and engines become cleaner as far as their impact on air quality.

With the success to date of state on-board diagnostic inspection programs, ASA is hopeful the role for inspection and maintenance programs will continue to grow across the United States.

Bob Redding is the Automotive Service Association's Washington, D.C., representative. He is a member of several federal and state advisory committees involved in the automotive industry. For more information about the legislative activities of ASA, visit www.TakingTheHill.com.

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