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In January 2001 and in June 2004, EPA finalized the Highway Diesel and Non-road Diesel Rules, respectively, which will implement more stringent standards for new diesel engines and fuels. The rules mandate the use of lower sulfur fuels in diesel engines beginning in 2006 for highway diesel fuel, and 2007 for non-road diesel fuel. These fuels will enable the use of after treatment technologies for new diesel engines, which can reduce harmful emissions by 90 percent or more.
The first phase of these changes occurred last year when all diesel fuel used in highway equipment was reduced from 500 parts per million (PPM) sulfur content to 15 PPM sulfur content.
The second phase effective 10/1/07 will require all diesel fuel delivered into off road equipment not to exceed 500 parts per million (PPM) sulfur content.
In the past, heating oil was used as off road diesel fuel. Since heating oil sulfur content level can exceed 2,000 PPM, heating oil can no longer be delivered and used as off road diesel fuel.
You may visit the EPA website at www.epa.gov/nonroad-diesel for more information on these new regulations.
In order to convert as many tanks over to the 500 PPM diesel fuel by the 10/1/07 deadline, we began delivering the new diesel fuel starting in early September.
Learn more at www.clean-diesel.org.
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