v>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation
and Air Quality
EPA420-F-06-037
May 2006
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77)e /ow su/ft/r cf/ese/ fuel portion ofEPA's Heavy-Duty Highway Diesel
rule (the "2007 Highway Rule"), which was finalized in January 2001,
is now taking effect. Refiners will start producing the cleaner-burning
diesel fuel, called Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), for use in highway
vehicles beginning in June 2006. EPA estimates that this new diesel fuel
will cost an additional 4 and 5 cents per gallon to produce and distribute.
ULSD enables advanced pollution control technology for heavy-duty
trucks and buses so that engine and vehicle manufacturers can meet
the 2007 emission standards. As a result, each new truck and bus will
be more than 90 percent cleaner than current models. The introduction
of ULSD will also enable light-duty passenger vehicle manufacturers
to make use of similar technologies on diesel-powered cars, SUVs and
light-trucks.
Overview
EPA's Clean Air Highway Diesel final rule requires a 97 percent reduc-
tion in the sulfur content of highway diesel fuel, from its current level of
500 parts per million (ppm), to 15 ppm. ULSD will be available at retail
stations beginning this summer. Cars, trucks and buses with advanced
pollution control will be available beginning in the autumn of 2006.
By addressing diesel fuel and engines together as a single system, this
program will provide annual emission reductions equivalent to removing
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the pollution from more than 90 percent of today's trucks and buses, or
about 13 million trucks and buses, when the current heavy-duty vehicle
fleet has been completely replaced in 2030. This is the greatest reduction
in harmful emissions of soot, or particulate matter (PM), ever achieved
from cars and trucks.
Public Health
Once this action is fully implemented, environmental benefits include:
• 2.6 million tons of smog-causing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emis-
sions will be reduced each year.
• PM will be reduced by 110,000 tons per year.
In the long term, this program will result in more than $70 billion annu-
ally in environmental and public health benefits at a cost of $4 billion
per year.
Health benefits will include the annual prevention of:
8,300 premature deaths
• 5,500 cases of chronic bronchitis
• 17,600 cases of acute bronchitis in children
• 360,000 cases of respiratory symptoms in asthmatic children
• 1.5 million lost work days
7,100 hospital visits
• 2,400 emergency room visits for asthma
Smog causes a range of health problems related to breathing, including
chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath. Soot is deposited deep in
the lungs and causes premature death, increased emergency room visits,
and increased respiratory symptoms and disease. With both smog and
soot, children and the elderly are most at risk. Smog and soot also ad-
versely affect the environment in various ways, including crop damage,
acid rain, and visibility impairment.
Time
EPA provided significant lead time for refiners and other parties through-
out the fuel production and distribution industry to ensure a smooth tran-
sition to ULSD. Although the fuel provisions go into effect in June 2006,
they will be phased in through 2009. EPA also provided special hardship
provisions for small refiners to minimize their economic costs.
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Stakeholder Outreach
Since the standards were finalized in 2001, EPA has worked with the reg-
ulated community and other stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition.
We co-sponsored and participated in numerous workshops and technol-
ogy review panels, and issued progress reports, and guidance documents.
Where necessary, we have also issued several technical amendments to
the regulations to ensure a smooth introduction of the program.
In late 2005, EPA began participating with the Clean Diesel Fuel Alli-
ance, a group of more than 20 industry, government, and consumer orga-
nizations that are working together to provide information on the benefits
of ULSD and cleaner-burning diesel cars, trucks and buses.
For More information
For more information on this program, please visit the following Web
sites:
• 2007 Heavy-Duty Highway Rule: www.epa.gov/otaq/highway-diesel/
regs/2007-heavy-duty-hi ghway.htm
• EPAs National Clean Diesel Campaign: www.epa.gov/cleandiesel
• Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance: www.clean-diesel.org
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