Clean Diesel Programs
The Clean Diesel programs cover cleaner fuels and improved emis-
sion controls for nearly every type of diesel vehicle or equipment,
whether new or in use today. These Clean Diesel programs are made
possible by new technological developments and an unprecedented
level of collaboration with engine manufacturers and fuel refiners.
New, Stringent Standards for Diesel Nonroad Engines
Clean Air Diesel Nonroad Rule
May 10, 2004: Today, the Bush Administration announced one of the most dramatic
advancements in clean air protection since passage of the Clean Air Act Amend'
ments of 1990. EPA's Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule requires stringent pollution
controls on diesel engines used in industries such as construction, agriculture and
mining, and it will slash sulfur content in diesel fuel. By combining tough exhaust
standards with cleaner fuel requirements, the rule will cut emission levels from non-
road diesel equipment by over 90 percent. The new rule will also remove 99 percent
of the sulfur in diesel fuel used in nonroad equipment, resulting in dramatic reduc-
tions in particulate pollution from nonroad diesel engines. The program will have
dramatic health benefits each year, including preventinglZ thousand fewer premature
deaths and hundreds of thousands of incidences of respiratory problems. The overall
benefits ($80 billion annually) of this rule outweigh the costs by 40:1,
These environmental and public health benefits are made possible by new
sion control technologies and cleaner, low-sulfur fuels. Lowering sulfur in diesel fuel
directly reduces particulate matter emissions and enables manufacturers to install
emission control devices. The Clean Air Nonroad Diesel rule will reduce the sulfur
content of diesel fuel from its currently uncontrolled level of approximately 3000
parts per million to 500 parts per million (ppm) beginning in 2007 and then to 15
ppm (in 2010 for land-based nonroad diesel fuel and in 2012 for fuel used in locomo-
tives and marine vessels), a 99 percent reduction,
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Locomotives and Marine Engines
EPA is considering emission standards modeled after our 2007/2010 clean highway
and nonroad diesel engine program, with an emphasis on achieving large reductions
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA-420-F-04-039
May 2004
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in PM and NOx emissions as early as possible through the use of advanced emission control
technology. These standards, which could apply as early as 2011, would be enabled by the avail-
ability of clean diesel fuel. The low-sulfur fuel will be broadly available throughout the United
States in 2010.
Continued Progress: Clean Diesel Truck and Bus Rule
In 2000, EPA finalized the Clean Diesel Truck and Bus Rule. This rulemaking provides for the
cleanest-running heavy-duty trucks and buses in history. Due to new control technologies and
cleaner, low-sulfur fuel, these vehicles will be over 90 percent cleaner than today's trucks and
buses. EPA has closely followed industry progress toward meeting the new standards. Our review
has found that engine manufacturers are on target to introduce new engines in 2007 and that 15
ppm sulfur highway diesel fuel will be widely available nationwide. In fact, refiners are already
providing low-sulfur fuels to numerous areas across the nation, including parts of California and
the northeast.
Cleaning Up Vehicles on the Road Today
EPA also has developed a number of voluntary programs that complement these rulemakings by
addressing emissions from diesel vehicles on the road today,
Clean School Bus USA
EPA's Clean School Bus USA program brings together partners from business, education, trans-
portation, and public health organizations to work toward three goals: 1) eliminating unneces-
sary public school bus idling; 2) retrofitting buses with improved emission control technologies;
and 3) replacing the oldest buses in the fleet with new, less polluting buses.
President Bush's 2005 budget proposal includes a $65 million request for the Clean School Bus
USA Program. This funding, a $60 million increase over current levels, would greatly enhance
the ability of Clean School Bus USA partners to bring cleaner school buses to communities
across the nation,
Smart Way Transport
The Smart Way Transport Partnership is a collaborative voluntary program between EPA and
the freight industry that will increase the energy efficiency and energy security of our country
while significantly reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases. By 2012, this initiative aims
to reduce between 33 - 66 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and up to
200,000 tons of NOx emissions per year. At the same time, the initiative will result in fuel sav-
ings of up to 150 million barrels of oil annually,
Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program
The Voluntary Diesel Retrofit Program addresses pollution from diesel construction equipment
and heavy-duty vehicles in use today. The EPA, in partnership with state, local and industry
stakeholders, is working towards reducing emissions from existing diesel engines in 29 states
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and the District of Columbia. EPA recently announced $1.5 million in grant funding for retrofit
projects demonstrating innovative strategies for reducing emissions from diesel fleets, includ-
ing nonroad equipment. This funding is particularly focused on projects that address sensitive
populations, such as children, the elderly, and the chronically ill, who are more susceptible to
the effects of diesel exhaust,
For More Information
Additional information on EPA's Clean Diesel Programs is located at:
http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/
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