EPA proposes plan for more stringent emission standards

EPA proposes plan for more stringent emission standards U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson on Friday announced a plan to implement more stringent exhaust emission standards for locomotive and marine diesel engines.
   Johnson, at a press conference in Newark, N.J., repeatedly pitched the slogan that the country’s progress towards cleaner air was going “full steam ahead.”
   The proposed EPA plan is built upon the foundation of ultra-low sulfur diesel, and the availability of engine technologies to reduce emissions. The agency said the plan would result in 90 percent reductions of particulate matter (PM) and about 80 percent reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
   The proposal comprises a three-part emission control:
   * Adopt more stringent standards for existing locomotives when they are remanufactured. They are also requesting comment on similar requirements for marine diesel engines when they are remanufactured.
   * Set near-term engine-out emission standards, referred to as Tier 3 standards, for newly built locomotive and marine diesel engines. These standards would reflect the use of technologies to cut engine-out PM and NOx emissions, with phase-in starting in 2009.
   * Set long-term emission standards for newly built locomotives and marine diesel engines. Referred to as Tier 4, this phase would begin in 2014 for marine diesel engines and 2015 for locomotives and would reflect the more advanced after-treatment technologies.
   The EPA is also looking at eliminating emissions from unnecessary locomotive idling, and is asking for comment on a concept to reduce emissions from existing marine diesel engines when they are remanufactured.
   The Association of American Railroads said Friday it is committed to working with the EPA and locomotive manufacturers 'to do everything practical to make the nation's freight railroads even cleaner and greener.
   'Railroads are already the cleanest, most environmentally friendly mode of surface transportation, on average three times cleaner than trucks. And the industry is constantly pushing for more fuel efficient technologies to even further improve its environmental record,' said Edward R. Hamberger, president and chief executive officer of AAR, in a statement. 'On its own initiative, the industry worked with manufacturers to develop and deploy technology that reduces locomotive idling and the resulting emissions. Thousands of locomotives are now equipped with this energy efficient technology.'
   The association also pointed to deploying hybrid and 'gen-set' locomotives that reduce emissions as much as 90 percent, particularly in railyards.
   This proposal for marine diesel engines does not apply to foreign vessels. It is restricted to tugboats, harbor traffic, U.S.-flag ocean-going vessels, and all U.S. locomotives. According to the EPA, these transports are responsible for 60 percent of the diesel particulate matter in the United States. The agency expects the proposal to be completed by the end of the year and will take effect in 2008.
   The EPA said the proposal would result in cleaner air and in turn cause annual health benefits of $12 billion. Since the plan will cost $600 million, the EPA said that the return on investment is 20-1.
   “Diesel locomotives and barges are America’s economic workhorses,” Johnson said. “Today, they are transforming into America’s environmental workhorses.”
   The EPA in May 2004, as part of its Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule, set requirements for nonroad diesel fuel to decrease the amounts of sulfur used in marine vessels by 99 percent. The fuel improvements are rolling into effect this year.