United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-03-004
Environmental Protection April 2003
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
and
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a direct
final rule revising the definition of "nonroad engines" to include all
diesel-powered engines used in agricultural operations in the of
California that are certified by the engine maker to meet the applicable
nonroad emission standards. To meet this definition, the diesel engine
must be used in the growing of crops or raising of fowl or animal in
California and must be part of a certified engine family. The effect of
this change is to encourage farmers who want to voluntarily replace
older diesel engines to do so with new low-polluting models meeting
stringent EPA nonroad standards.
Background
In California, approximately half of the engines that are used on agricul-
tural lands for the purpose of growing crops or raising of fowl or animal
are stationary. On a farm, it would not be unusual to have two identical
engines, one used to power a pump mounted on a mobile piece of equip-
ment and the other identical engine powering a similar pump but fixed in
one space. This rule will consider such engines as "nonroad" without
regard to whether these engines are portable or transportable or how long
these engines remain in one fixed location at a farm.
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This rulemaking is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), an agency working with EPA to explore potential cost share
incentives for replacement of the older engines under the USDA Environ-
mental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EPA will model the engine
replacements after California's successful Carl Moyer Program, a state
funded program which helps farmers convert older agricultural engines to
cleaner emitting engines.
Between 1999 and 2001, under the Carl Moyer Program, existing station-
ary diesel engines were replaced with new engines of similar power and
performance that were also certified to meet the nonroad emission stan-
dards. It is estimated that this program reduced oxides of nitrogen (NOx)
emissions statewide in California by over 1,750 tons per year.
Highlights of Rule
This rule only applies to the state of California because of its unique air
quality problems (California is the only state with severe and extreme
ozone nonattainment areas where agricultural operations are significant
contributors) and the demonstrated success of the Carl Moyer Program.
Additionally, this rule will not interfere with California's ability to
further regulate nonroad engines if the state chooses to do so to meet their
attainment needs.
Historically, California programs have not required emissions from
engines used in agricultural applications to be controlled. Therefore,
replacing these engines with cleaner nonroad engines will improve
emissions performance more quickly than standard traditional regulatory
programs. EPA believes the strong voluntary economic incentives made
available through cost-sharing programs with USDA, and the opportunity
to qualify for an appropriate environmental review will result in owners
voluntarily upgrading their engines.
EPA estimates that approximately 3,700 stationary diesel engines are
used in agricultural applications in California, primarily for powering
irrigation pumps such as those used for crop irrigation and for tending
livestock. In major agricultural areas like the San Joaquin Valley, NOx
emissions from stationary diesel engines represent approximately 5
percent of the total NOx emissions inventory, thus significantly contribut-
ing to the ozone and PM-10 nonattainment status of the area.
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EPA estimates that approximately 2,200 older engines remain in use in
California. Replacement of these engines over the next two years would
result in a reduction of up to 4,400 tons of NOx annually from agricul-
tural operations, resulting in nearly a 20 percent reduction.
This rule is intended to encourage farmers in California to reduce emis-
sions from their existing stationary diesel-powered engines. EPA be-
lieves farmers will replace existing non-certified engines with engines
certified to meet the emission standards for nonroad engines, or switch
to a cleaner burning fuel, or replace with electric powered engines,
thereby greatly reducing NOx emissions from these engines.
For More Information
You can access documents on the reclassification of nonroad engines
used in the state of California on the Office of Transportation and Air
Quality Web site at:
www.epa.gov/otaq/equip-hd.htm
You can also contact us at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Assessment and Standards Division
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Voice-mail: (734) 214-4636
E-mail: asdinfo@epa.gov
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