Bush Urged to Keep EPA’s Low-Sulfur Fuel Rule Intact

Environmental groups and industry representatives met last week and urged the Bush administration not to change the low-sulfur rule for diesel fuel, according to Frank O’Donnell, executive director of the Clean Air Trust.

The Environmental Protection Agency wants to slash the amount of sulfur allowed in diesel fuel by 97%, starting in June 2006. The regulation was published to go into effect March 18, but the Bush administration decided to review it for 60 days, pushing a possible implementation date back to May 19 (1-20, p. 1).

O’Donnell said he is concerned about the delay, particularly since no one is saying anything more about the status of the administration’s review.

“The silence is deafening,” said O’Donnell. “We’ve heard a number of rumors that it might be relaxed, and we’re calling attention to it because we don’t want that to happen. We’re trying to set up a meeting with EPA Administrator Christine Whitman . . . to tell her to, ‘Please don’t change this at all.’ ”

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