ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE WELCOMES CLEANER DIESEL FUEL

NEW YORK — On June 1, 2006, cleaner diesel fuel will be introduced nationwide, clearing the way for far-reaching human health benefits.   This cleaner fuel reduces harmful pollution and is essential for getting state-of-the-art diesel engine technology onto new buses and freight trucks manufactured in model year 2007 and later.   These new diesel buses and trucks will slash soot and smog-forming pollution by 90 percent. Diesel engine exhaust is associated with thousands of premature deaths annually from lung cancer as well as asthma attacks and other respiratory disease.   Starting June 1, 80 percent of the diesel fuel produced in America or imported from other countries must be “ultra low sulfur,” meeting a 15 parts per million (ppm) standard. Because it takes several months for that fuel to reach diesel consumers, however, EPA estimates the new low sulfur fuel won’t be available until October, 2006. 

“Cutting the pollution from diesel engines is one of the most important steps America can take to address the death and disease from air pollution,” said Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp.   “This new clean air program will help save thousands of lives and demonstrates American ingenuity in tackling pressing human health and environmental challenges.” For many years, Environmental Defense has worked with government officials, refiners and diesel engine manufacturers in advocating measures to lower the harmful pollution from diesel fuels and engines

 

Diesel exhaust contains a host of harmful contaminants that together pose a cancer risk greater than that of any other air pollutant.  Under the program required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in parallel, the nation is embarking on the transition to cleaner diesel fuel for construction and agricultural equipment, locomotive, and marine engines. This fuel is often referred to as “nonroad” diesel fuel. Nationally, the sulfur content of nonroad diesel fuel has traditionally averaged 3000 ppm. By June 1, 2006, nonroad diesel fuel produced or imported must meet a 500 ppm low sulfur fuel standard. By 2010, nonroad diesel fuel must meet a 15ppm ultra low sulfur diesel fuel standard. 

 

EPA has adopted modern clean engine standards for all major diesel engine applications except locomotive and marine engines. Environmental Defense is encouraging EPA to adopt pollution control standards for locomotive and marine engines to fully leverage the human health and environmental benefits from the nation’s transition to cleaner diesel fuels.   

 

The widespread availability of ultra low sulfur highway diesel fuel has important collateral public health and environmental benefits.   Diesel engines are long-lasting.   Modern pollution control technologies are available today for cost-effective application to existing diesel engines.   These retrofit solutions can have important human health benefits in curbing harmful pollution from the diesel engines.   The nationwide availability of cleaner diesel fuels will help communities across the country take sensible steps to reduce harmful soot from the fleet of diesel engines operating today.  

Environmental Defense has issued several major reports calling for clean air solutions including: “Closing the Diesel Divide: Protecting Human Health from Diesel Air Pollution,” available at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/2738_DieselDivide.pdf; “Smog Alert: How Commercial Shipping is Polluting our Air” available at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentid=3812; “Cleaner Air for America: The Case for a National Program to Cut Pollution from Today’s Diesel Engines” available at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/4488_cleanerairamerica.pdf.

 

Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 400,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. www.environmentaldefense.org