Tier IV Diesel Engine Requirements Announced
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June 2, 2004 -In May 2004, the EPA adopted a comprehensive national program to reduce emissions from future non-road diesel engines. The Tier IV Diesel Engine rules call for the integration of engine and fuel controls as a system. Once implemented, it is expected that emissions from these engines will decrease by more than 90 percent.
Because the emission-control devices can be damaged by sulfur, the final rule also reduces the allowable level of sulfur in non-road diesel fuel by more than 99 percent, which will result in immediate improvements in public health by reducing particulate matter from engines in the existing fleet of non-road equipment. Lowering sulfur in diesel fuel makes it possible for engine manufacturers to use advanced clean technologies which can be damaged by sulfur, just as lead was phased out of gasoline to prevent damage to catalytic converters.
Engine manufacturers will be expected to build engines meeting these cleaner requirements by 2008. During the rulemaking process, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and its member companies conveyed to the EPA the challenges associated with meeting these requirements, including the technological feasibility and cost-effectiveness for doing so.
"Our members are committed to meeting the market's demand for off-road equipment that also has reduced emissions," said AEM President Dennis Slater. "The EPA rule builds on the excellent progress achieved between industry and government, but will require continued collaborative efforts to ensure that fuel, engines, emissions controls systems, and equipment all come together to provide value to the owners and users of equipment."
The EPA has regulated off-road engine emissions since 2001, and over that period there has been an estimated 93% combined reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions for some equipment types when fully implemented.
AEM notes that once the Tier IV level is implemented, it will represent a 99.9% total combined emission reduction.
