Engine makers: EPA 2007 compliance 'in jeopardy' unless emissions breakthroughs by mid-2003

Diesel Fuel News, Sept 16, 2002 by Jack Peckham

Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) warns U.S. EPA that "the ability to meet the applicable [heavy-duty highway diesel] standards by 2007 is in jeopardy" unless emissions control breakthroughs appear by mid-2003.

The warning comes just as EPA's "federal advisory committee act" (FACA) 2006/7 diesel rule review panel meets for the final time next week. While fuel end-users and engine makers urge EPA to reconvene its "progress review" next year, there's no guarantee that any EPA mid-2003 review would be public, or open to any and all questions.

The "progress review" this year has been hemmed-in by EPA's pre-determined "four questions" on diesel technology progress, all designed to revolve around EPA's "progress" report that industry has termed as excessively rosy.

State air regulators and environmental advocates on the other hand have stated they wonder why EPA even felt compelled to hold a public "progress review." Since industry has already had its "day in court" over the rules, industry should just get on with fixing problems without any more EPA action, the states and "greens" argue. They feel EPA's diesel rules already provide plenty of flexibility, and they don't understand why EPA hasn't yet imposed similarly tough fuels and emissions limits on non-road diesels, starting in the same 2006/7 time frame.

Meantime, engine makers tell EPA that they can't develop two separate NOx/PM control systems--one for 2007, and another for 2010. Rather, an integrated Nox/PM control system has to be ready by 2007 and then gradually upgraded to achieve the final 2010 limits at lowest cost and least fuel economy penalty.

As for integrated PM/NOx traps, "technical breakthroughs will be needed to address thermal durability and desulfurization issues," EMA tells EPA. "If the required breakthroughs have not occurred by mid-2003, [then] manufacturers will not have adequate lead-time" for 2007, they warn. Meantime, EPA and industry have to agree on a reliable, standardized system of emissions measurement, since past laboratory cross-check programs have found wide problems with measurement precision. "Additional breakthroughs in measurement system accuracy will be required to support emission system development work beginning in 2003," EMA warns. "By mid-2003, each of the elements that define feasibility--functionality, durability and cost--must have a demonstrated high probability of success and/or any unresolved issues must have a clear path to resolution."