Railroads urge caution on fuel desulfurization

Diesel Fuel News, Sept 2, 2003

Railroads Urge Caution On Fuel Desulfurization: Association of American Railroads (AAR) tells EPA that "one of the locomotive manufacturers has expressed concern about the ability of older locomotives to operate on diesel fuel with a sulfur content under 500-ppm," because of potential gasket, O-ring or seal leaks, as well as potential lubricity problems.

"Should the manufacturer's concerns regarding diesel fuel with a 500-ppm limit prove correct, [then] AAR will submit further comments," the railroad association says. As for EPA's possible mandate of a 15-ppm sulfur limit on locomotive/marine fuel around 2011, this should be postponed until there's a proven locomotive exhaust catalyst system that could take advantage of such fuel, AAR says. "It would be discriminatory and cost-ineffective for EPA to depart from current practice and impose a 15-ppm sulfur cap on locomotive fuel independent of any technological need," AAR says. Without such a catalyst, the cost per ton of emissions reduced (switching to ULSD) would soar to $64,000 for PM and $10,300/ton for sulfur dioxide. More: leaving 500-ppm fuel for railroads beyond 2010 would give some small refiners more time to make upgrades to ULSD standards, and provide an outlet for off-spec ULSD fuel, AAR says.