![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090513072407im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Background - Reducing Diesel Emissions
What are some actions being taken to reduce diesel emissions in the Midwest?
Regulating Diesel Emissions Nationally:
EPA has developed regulations to reduce diesel emissions. The
Clean Diesel Trucks and Buses and Low Sulfur Diesel Rule requires
cleaner heavy duty engines beginning in model year 2007, and also mandates
clean fuels like ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) in October 2006.
In May 2004, EPA promulgated the Clean
Air Non-Road Diesel Rule that will result in dramatic pollution reductions
from non-road, heavy-duty diesel engines in construction, agriculture
and industrial equipment. In 2030, when these rules are fully implemented,
harmful pollution will be cut by 95 percent.
- Legislative Provisions: The Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorized funding for a variety of energy-related activities, including Diesel Truck Retrofit and Fleet Modernization Program. For highlights of this Act, visit the U.S. Department of Energy's Website.
- Diesel Emissions Reduction - Section 791-796 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (PDF, 7 pgs., 673 KB About
PDF)
- Diesel Emissions Reduction - Section 791-796 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (PDF, 7 pgs., 673 KB About
PDF)
- National Clean Diesel Campaign Voluntary Efforts: The National
Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC) is focused on reducing diesel emissions
nationally and is committed to successfully implementing the diesel
engine emission rules as well as promoting the reduction of emissions
for existing diesel engines through cost-effective and innovative
strategies, including the use of cleaner fuels, retrofiitting and
repairing existing fleets and idling reduction among others.
EPA determined that general sectors for exisiting fleets provide the best opportunity to obtain significant reductions: school buses; ports; construction; freight; and, agriculture. Each program provides technical and financial assistance to stakeholders interested in reducing their fleets' emissions effectively and efficiently.
Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative: While complementing
the activities that NCDC will be focusing on nationally, Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative (MCDI) is
working with its key stakeholders throughout Region 5 to focus on
voluntary efforts to reduce diesel emissions in focus areas that
rail, ports, agriculture-freight and Border Crossing areas between the U.S. and Canada.
MCDI will leverage financial and technical resources and work to
reduce diesel engine emissions with stakeholders in focus areas
including the trucking industry, rail companies, port authorities,
and agricultural companies. We will continue to work with partners
in municipalities and school
districts to reduce emissions from bus fleets and publicly-owned
vehilces. Furthermore, MCDI will work with partners in educating
key groups about diesel technologies, fuels, and actions that can
minimize diesel engine emissions.
Midwest Clean Diesel Initiative
Overview (PDF, 4 pgs., 2,683 KB About
PDF)
In addition, the following voluntary diesel emisison reduction efforts are occuring in other regions of the U.S.:
Northeast Diesel Collaborative 
Mid-Atlantic Diesel Collaborative
Southeast Diesel Collaborative
West Coast Diesel Emissions Reductions Collaborative