The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a plan setting more stringent air emissions standards for U.S. heavy duty trucks and buses starting with the 2004 model year.
EPA, the California Air Resources Board, and leading manufacturers of heavy duty engines agreed on the plan. EPA will propose formal rules later this year.
Carol Browner, EPA administrator, said, "The consensus plan for limiting pollution from new heavy duty trucks and buses means we can accomplish the equivalent of taking 25 million cars off the road and help all Americans breathe easier."
Under the plan, manufacturers can choose one of two combinations of hydrocarbon (nonmethane) and nitrogen oxide standards.
EPA said the choice will give industry the flexibility to determine the engine families that comply with one of the combination of standards. It said the proposal also will harmonize federal and California heavy duty vehicle programs, resulting in significant reduction in nationwide emission levels.
The proposal aims to cut the nitrogen oxide standard in half while retaining particulate (dust, dirt, smoke) standards for heavy duty engines. Once the truck and bus fleet has turned over, about 2020, emissions reductions from the tighter nitrogen oxide requirement are expected to reach 900,000 tons/year.
"In addition," EPA said, "the parties have agreed to continue research on developing cleaner engine and fuel technologies. Engine manufacturers have already developed some engines that operate on cleaner alternative fuels such as natural gas and methanol."
Currently, 31 states exceed the ground level ozone (smog) standard, affecting about 80 million persons. Also, 18 states exceed the particulate standard, affecting more than 27 million persons.
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