WASHINGTON — A United States senator and an official of a diesel engine manufacturer proposed to put the brakes on a environmental rulemaking that would reduce the level of sulfur in diesel fuel by 97% as of June 1, 2006.
That is the day the ultra-low sulfur fuel of 15 parts per million is supposed to be available. But doubts persist that everything will occur without a hitch. The current on-road cap for sulfur in diesel is 500 ppm, a level established in 1993 as “low-sulfur” diesel.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Clean Air, Wetlands, Private Property and Nuclear Safety subcommittee, said at a hearing Sept. 21 that he would take steps to kill the rule unless he gets some answers from the Environmental Protection Agency on the economic impacts of the measure. He said he wants those answers in the final document that EPA intends to issue by year-end.
Christine Vujovich, vice president of Environment Policy and Product Strategy for Cummins Inc., which claims to be largest maker in the world of diesel engines over 200 horsepower, recommended gradual action that she said should not delay ultra-low-sulfur diesel. She asked that EPA provide an additional 18 to 24 months to study the rule. She said no one has the answers yet on how the fuel and the aftertreatment devices that are needed to make the engines run cleaner will affect performance.
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