Transcript Health Impacts of Diesel Exhaust

VOLUNTARY DIESEL
RETROFIT PROGRAM
“Partnerships for
Pollution Prevention”
Outreach and Planning Group
Certification and Compliance Division
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
1
What is the Voluntary Diesel
Retrofit Program?
• A voluntary program designed to install
pollution-reducing technology on existing
diesel vehicles and equipment
2
Diesel Retrofit Partners
• The diesel retrofit program brings together a
variety of partners:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
owners/operators of diesel fleets
manufacturers of retrofit technologies
air quality planners in state/local governments
manufacturers of diesel engines
EPA
Diesel Technology Forum
the general public
3
Retrofit Program Background
• Program announced in March, 2000
• Goal was to secure 10,000 commitments by
the end of 2000
• Encourages retrofits for both highway and
nonroad engines
4
Why Retrofits Are Necessary
• Diesel Engines last a long time
– Existing engines may last another 20-35 years
– Diesel powered vehicles may last over a million miles
• Benefits of 2004/2007 regulations are long-term
– Requirements are phased in between 2007 & 2010
– Benefits are 10 to 15 years away
• Benefits from retrofits are immediate
• Retrofit technology is available now
5
Why Retrofits Are Necessary
• Health Reasons
– Diesel exhaust contains air toxics:
• Particulate matter is a likely human carcinogen
– Respiratory Effects
• Children and elderly are more vulnerable
• Exhaust from idling infiltrates the indoor air
contributing to driver unrest and potential health
problems
• Visibility
– Diesel smoke is an eyesore
6
Retrofit Goals: 2000
• Meet calendar year 2000 goal of 10,000 retrofits:
– As of 12/31/00 official count was over 13,000
• Create and encourage demonstration projects:
Washington D.C.
U.S. Navy
Cleveland
Seattle
Houston
New Jersey
Portland
Boston
Philadelphia
• Create a retrofit Web site:
www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit
• Create a verification process for retrofit
technology
7
Retrofit Goals: 2001
• Calendar year goal of 100,000 retrofits
• Expand the program to address emissions and
fuel savings from idling trucks
• Investigate funding options and incentives
– Tax incentives at federal and state level
– Continued growth of CMAQ funding
– Offsets for new source review
8
What is Retrofit Technology?
• Retrofit technology can be:
any change to an engine system above and beyond
what is required by EPA regulations that improves the
engine’s emission performance. Examples are:
• Catalyst or filter
• Engine upgrade
• Early engine replacement
• Use of cleaner fuels or additives
• Combination of above
• Retrofit Web site maintains a list of
manufacturers and verified technology
9
Retrofit Technology Examples
Buy new lowemission vehicle
Repower older
vehicle with newer
engine
Retrofit vehicle with
exhaust catalyst
Use a low-emission
emulsified fuel
10
The Role of Diesel Fuel
• The foundation of many retrofit projects will be the
fuel supply
– Some technologies require Ultra Low Sulfur Fuel (ULSF)
– Some technologies can operate on current fuel but can not
achieve full emission reduction potential
– Generally, PM filter with ULSF achieve PM reductions over
90 percent
• ULSF is becoming more widely available
throughout the country
– British Petroleum, Equilon, Tosco, RAD Energy
– Retrofit Web site maintains a list of fuel companies
11
Seattle Pilot - A Model to Follow
• Introduce ULSF to the Seattle, King County area
for transit, school bus, government and private
fleets
• Introduce retrofit devices
• Partners:
EPA
King County
Detroit Diesel
Cummins Engine
Tosco Refining
City of Seattle
Diesel Technology Forum
MECA
Everett School District
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
12
How to Participate
• Review the perspectives on the retrofit Web site
at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit/overview.htm
• Contact an EPA Retrofit Team Member
13
For Further Information...
• Retrofit web site: www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit
• Project Leader: Mitch Greenberg
– [email protected]
(202) 564-9269
• Technical Contact: Jim Blubaugh
– [email protected]
(202)564-9244
• Outreach Contact: Gay MacGregor
– [email protected]
(734)214-4438
14