June 1, 2007: Refiners will begin producing low-sulfur diesel fuel for use in locomotives, ships, and nonroad equipment (those used in industries such as agriculture and construction). Low-sulfur diesel fuel must meet a 500 parts per million (ppm) sulfur maximum. This is the first step of EPA’s Nonroad Diesel Rule, with the eventual goal of reducing the sulfur level of fuel for these engines to meet an ultra-low standard (15 ppm) to enable new advanced emission-control technologies for engines used in locomotives, ships, and other nonroad equipment.
Nonroad diesel engines contribute greatly to air pollution in many of our nation's cities and towns. In recent years, EPA has set emission standards for the engines used in most construction, agricultural, and industrial equipment. We have also adopted nonroad diesel fuel requirements to decrease the allowable levels of sulfur, which can damage advanced emission control technologies. The most recent nonroad engine and fuel regulations complement similarly stringent regulations for diesel highway trucks and buses and highway diesel fuel for 2007. This site provides general and technical information on EPA's current and past regulations for nonroad diesel engines and fuel.
EPA has adopted a comprehensive national program to reduce emissions from future nonroad diesel engines by integrating engine and fuel controls as a system to gain the greatest emission reductions. To meet these emission standards, engine manufacturers will produce new engines with advanced emission-control technologies similar to those already expected for highway trucks and buses. Exhaust emissions from these engines will decrease by more than 90 percent. Because the emission-control devices can be damaged by sulfur, we are also adopting a limit to decrease the allowable level of sulfur in nonroad diesel fuel by more than 99 percent.
These reductions in NOx and PM emissions from nonroad diesel engines will provide enormous public health benefits. EPA estimates that by 2030, controlling these emissions would annually prevent 12,000 premature deaths, 8,900 hospitalizations, and one million work days lost.
Related Topics
The following page links help you to:
- Basic Information: Provides background information on air pollution from nonroad engines and EPA actions to address nonroad diesel emissions. For samples of many types of equipment, visit our Photo Gallery of equipment page.
- Newsroom: Has press releases about EPA regulations for nonroad diesel engines and fuel.
- Regulations/Standards: Has all the proposed and final rules (including technical amendments) for regulating emissions from nonroad diesel engines and fuel.
- Compliance Help: Provides guidance for the regulated community on how to comply with EPA regulations.
- Publications: Provides technical papers, reports, guidance documents, and fact sheets.
- Diesel Milestones: Lists actions EPA has taken to reduce emissions from diesel engines since the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
- Related Links: Offers related sites for further information and assistance.
For further information or assistance regarding this Web page, please contact the ASD Information Line at (734) 214-4636 or email: asdinfo@epa.gov.