Greenbytes: May 19, 2004 Edition

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Feature: EPA Issues Tough New Diesel Engines Standards

New England’s air quality got a huge boost last week when EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt approved a new Nonroad Diesel Rule that will cut soot and other pollution emissions from construction, agricultural and industrial diesel-powered equipment by more than 90 percent. The new rule will also remove 99 percent of the sulfur in nonroad diesel fuel by 2010.

In New England alone, the rule will reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution by about 40,000 tons a year – or about what is currently emitted by all of the region’s power plants.

“New Englanders can look forward to the day when the black puff of smoke from a diesel engine is a thing of the past,” said EPA-NE Regional Administrator Robert Varney, who celebrated the new rule with environmental and health leaders at a half-dozen events across the region. “This rule will be especially beneficial for the hundreds of thousands of adults and children in the region who suffer from asthma.”

Asthma rates in New England are significantly higher than the rest of the country. All six New England states have childhood asthma rates above 10 percent.

A typical piece of construction equipment such as a 175-horsepower bulldozer emits as much NOx and particulate matter as 25 new cars today. In New England, which has about 250,000 pieces of diesel equipment currently in use, nonroad diesel engines account for 40 percent of particulate emissions and 20 percent of NOx emissions from mobile sources. In urban areas, the percentages can be even greater.

When the full inventory of older nonroad engines has been replaced, EPA’s nonroad diesel program will annually prevent up to 12,000 premature deaths (including 500 in New England), one million lost work days, 15,000 heart attacks and 6,000 children’s asthma-related emergency room visits. The overall health benefits of the nonroad diesel program are estimated to significantly outweigh the cost by a ratio of 40 to 1.

The new rule is the latest round in EPA’s decade-long effort to make diesel engines and fuel cleaner. The rule complements the Clean Diesel Truck and Bus Rule announced in December 2000, which will put the cleanest running heavy-duty trucks and buses in history on America’s roads, building a fleet that will be 95 percent cleaner than today’s trucks and buses. Beginning in 2007, newly built trucks and buses will be required to meet the new emission standard.

The nonroad rule and other related documents are available at www.epa.gov/nonroad. For info on pollution-reducing retrofit projects in New England, visit www.epa.gov/ne/eco/diesel.

Press Releases

EPA’s Tough Diesel Engine Standards Celebrated

• CT I
• CT II
• RI
• ME
• MA I
• MA II

EPA to Hold Info Meeting on Cleanup of the 1½ Mile Reach of the Housatonic River

EPA to Begin Clean up at Old Pillsbury Mill Site

EPA to Review Cleanup Progress at BFI Rockingham Landfill Superfund Site

EPA NE Warns of Potential for High-Smog Days - Free Air Quality Info

EPA and Regional Transportation Coalition Launch 2004 Campaign to Ease Commutes and Reduce Air Pollution

EPA Finds Cleanup to be Effective at Tinkham Garage Superfund Site in Londonderry, NH

Public Review Period Extended on Final Environmental Impact Statement for Long Island Sound Dredged Material Disposal Sites: With 15 Day Extension, Review Period Ends June 1

Events and conferences are not archived. Please refer to the Regional Calendar for upcoming events and conferences.

Brownfields - what’s new

CEIT - business opportunities and envirotech news

Clean Marine Engine Initiative - new retailer info

CWA Public Notices - st. johnsbury highway department

Data Validation Guidance - new document added

GE Pittsfield - updated meeting info

Tinkham Superfund Site - second five year review report, march 30, 2004

Title V Permits - updated facility info for ma, nh, ri

Town Garage/Radio Beacon Superfund Site - second five year review report, march 30, 2004

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