vvEPA United States Environmental Protector Agency Office of Transportation and Air quality EPA420-F-04-041 May 2004 Regulatory Announcement Clean Diesel Program for Locomotives and Marine Engines The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting comment from all interested parties on a plan to propose more stringent emission standards and other provisions for new and existing locomotives, and new marine diesel engines. EPA is issuing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to gather information and determine how to proceed. Engines Addressed in the ANPRM Locomotives EPA is considering more protective standards for new and existing locomotives. This approach would address the long service life of loco- motive engines. Marine EPA is considering standards for new marine diesel engines with per Diesel cylinder displacement below 30 liters. The standards would apply to Enginies marine diesel engines used in all applications: commercial (excluding ocean vessels), recreational, and auxiliary. They would also apply to engines at or below 37 kW, which were previously included in the non- road standards. ------- Exhaust Emission Standards EPA is considering emission standards modeled after our 2007/2010 clean highway and nonroad diesel engine program, with an emphasis on achieving large reductions in PM emissions as early as possible through the use of advanced emission control technology. These locomotive and marine standards, which could apply as early as 2011, would be based on the application of high-efficiency catalytic aftertreatment enabled by the availability of clean diesel fuel with a sulfur content capped at 15 parts per million (ppm). The low-sulfur fuel is already being produced in some U.S. markets, and refiners will be required to produce ultra-low sulfur fuel for locomotive and marine engines in 2012. EPA had origi- nally proposed a less stringent fuel standard of 500 ppm. In EPA's Clean Diesel Truck and Bus Program and Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Program, EPA estimated that NOx and PM emissions could be reduced by 90 percent. EPA expects that similar levels of NOx and PM reductions could be achieved by applying similar technologies to loco- motives and marine diesel engines. In addition to standards for new engines, EPA is interested in ideas for voluntary provisions and initiatives that could encourage cleaner engines and retrofits, or accelerate replacement of existing engines. Locomotive and Marine Diesel Engines Emissions Need to be Reduced Locomotive and marine diesel engines are significant contributors to air pollution in many of our nation's cities and ports. Locomotive and marine diesel engines produced today are required to meet relatively modest emission standards. This means that they continue to emit large amounts of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), which contribute to serious public health problems. The relative contribution of these diesel engines is expected to grow due to the expected future growth in the use of these engines. By 2030, EPA estimates that, without new controls, locomotives and marine diesel engines will contribute about 27 percent of mobile source NOx and 45 percent of mobile source fine diesel parti culate matter (PM25) emissions. Millions of Americans continue to live in areas with unhealthy air quality that may endanger public health and the environment. Because of this, federal, state, and local governments are working to bring ozone ------- and particulate levels into compliance with the new more protective health standards for ozone and particulate matter. The reductions EPA is considering in this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) will play a critical part in improving the air quality for states and local communities. Exhaust from diesel engines contributes to unhealthy concentrations of fine particles and ozone which are linked to serious problems, including premature death, increased risk of lung cancer, heart disease, aggravated asthma and other respiratory conditions. In addition, PM, NOx, and ozone adversely affect the environment in various ways including visibility impairment, crop damage, and acid rain. Public Participation Opportunities EPA welcomes comments on this ANPRM. For instructions on submit- ting written comments, please see the Federal Register notice. It is available from the EPA Air Docket by calling 202-566-1742; please refer to Docket No. OAR-2003-0190. Information is also available at: www.epa.gov/nonroad You can also contact EPA at: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Assessment and Standards Division 2000 Traverwood Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48105 Voicemail: (734)214-4636 E-mail: asdinfo@epa.gov ------- |