EPA Proposes Cuts in Diesel ExhaustBy JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
9:01 AM PST, March 2, 2007
WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to reduce diesel exhaust from trains and ships, a move supported by some environmentalists.
EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson on Friday issued proposed emission standards for diesel locomotive engines, tugs, barges, ferries and recreational marine engines. The toxic chemicals and soot in diesel exhaust contribute to smog and can cause cancer.
“By tackling the greatest remaining source of diesel emissions, we’re keeping our nation’s clean air progress moving full steam ahead,” Johnson said in a statement.
The standards, when adopted and fully phased in, would reduce particulate pollution from these engines by 90 percent and smog-forming nitrogen oxides by 80 percent, the EPA said.
The EPA proposes tightening pollution standards for remanufactured locomotives, newly built locomotives and marine diesel engines and longer-term technology upgrades to them. The standards for rebuilt trains would apply as early as next year, while those for new locomotive and marine diesel engines would be phased in starting in 2009 and take full effect a decade from now.
Costs of the new pollution requirements are estimated at $600 million by 2030, adding less than 3 percent to the price of a locomotive and 1 percent to 3.6 percent to the price of boats using the cleaner engines.
Health benefits are estimated at $12 billion by 2030, including 1,500 fewer premature deaths, 1,100 fewer hospitalizations and 170,000 more work days by people breathing easier.
“EPA is clearly on the right track in proposing to address the dangerous diesel exhaust from trains and ships,” said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense, who was joining Johnson in announcing the proposal at Port Elizabeth, N.J.
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