May 21, 2004—The Bush Administration’s new Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule will cut emission levels from construction, agricultural, and industrial diesel-powered equipment by more than 90 percent. The rule will also remove 99 percent of the sulfur in diesel fuel by 2010, resulting in dramatic reductions in soot from all diesel engines. Diesel fuel currently contains about 3,000 parts per million (ppm) sulfur. The new rule will cut that to 500 ppm in 2007 and 15 ppm by 2010.
The anticipated costs vary with the size and complexity of the equipment but are in the range of one to three percent of the total purchase price for most equipment categories. While the estimated added cost for low-sulfur fuel is about seven cents per gallon, the net cost is projected to average about four cents per gallon because the use of ultra-low sulfur fuel could significantly reduce engine maintenance expenses. The overall benefits of the nonroad diesel program are estimated to significantly outweigh the costs by a ratio of 40 to 1.
Standards for new engines will be phased in starting with the smallest engines in 2008 until all but the very largest diesel engines meet both NOx and PM standards in 2014. Some of the largest engines, 750+ horsepower, will have one additional year to meet the emissions standards.
When the full inventory of older nonroad engines has been replaced, the nonroad diesel program will annually prevent up to 12,000 premature deaths, one million lost work days, 15,000 heart attacks and 6,000 children’s asthma-related emergency room visits, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
More information on EPA’s clean diesel programs, including the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule, is available from EPA. Information about the Clean Air Rules of 2004 is also available from EPA.
