EPA sets new train and marine diesel standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Friday announced new emission standards for locomotive and marine diesel engines that the federal government believes will cut pollution from the sources by up to 90 percent when fully implemented.
“Today EPA is fitting another important piece into the clean diesel puzzle by cleaning emissions from our trains and boats,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.
The EPA’s Clean Diesel Locomotive and Marine program rule cuts emissions from all types of diesel locomotives, including line-haul, switch, and passenger rail, as well as from a wide range of marine sources, including ferries, tugboats, Great Lake freighters and all types of marine auxiliary engines.
When fully implemented in 2030, the EPA said the new standards would reduce diesel particulate matter, often seen as soot in exhaust, by 90 percent and reduce nitrogen oxides, a component of smog, by 80 percent.
According to the agency, the new rule will help prevent 1,400 premature deaths, and 120,000 lost workdays annually when fully implemented. EPA estimates project that annual health benefits will be $8.4 billion to $12 billion.
For the first time, according to the agency, the new rule requires remanufacturing standards for marine engines, reductions in engine idling, and the use of after treatment technology that will further reduce diesel emissions.
Tighter long-term standards for particulate matter and NOx will be phased in starting in 2014 for marine diesel engines and in 2015 for locomotive engines. Advanced after-treatment technology will apply to both types of engines.
EPA sets new train and marine diesel standards
