Truckers see huge holes in EPA's 2006/7diesel rule 'progress review' report: cost factors missing

Diesel Fuel News, August 19, 2002 by Jack Peckham

U.S. EPA's "progress review on technology to hit 2006/7 emissions limits and the ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) mandate fails to explain the cost impact on truckers, American Trucking Associations (ATA) complains.

Given that truckers are being whalloped with new-engine cost increases over 10 times the original estimate for EPA's October 2002 low-emissions engine deadlines, an even worse situation seems likely to arise in 2007, the truckers warn.

"The commercial development demands for the 2007 heavy-duty diesel engines and [ultra] low sulfur fuel in 2006 are many times more complicated and costly than the 2002 engine emissions standards," ATA says.

Because no engine company has yet integrated a real-world combined PM/NOx trap and generated significant data for 2007 compliance feasibility, the current diesel rule "progress review" isn't meaningful. "Next year is the first critical date where statements about progress can be measured with reality," ATA tells EPA.

So, EPA should renew the current "federal advisory committee act" (FACA) diesel review panel again next year, the truckers urge.

EPA also should provide its upcoming "pre-compliance report" questionnaires on refiner ULSD production intentions to the FACA panel. Similar questionnaires should be required of emissions control makers, engine makers and heavy-duty truck makers, ATA says.

These questionnaires should require refiners, emissions control makers, engine makers and truck makers to report annually or semi-annually on the status of compliance development, production levels or expected production dates, production quantities, equipment capabilities and the impact on end-user costs including fuel consumption, maintenance and reliability, ATA said.