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Statement Regarding the Announcement of the Final Rule for Diesel Engines Used in Marine and Locomotive Applications

WASHINGTON, Mar. 14 /PRNewswire/ --

WASHINGTON, March 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, issued the following statement regarding EPA's final rule announced today covering locomotive and marine engines:

"Today's final rule marks yet another milestone in the clean diesel success story. EPA's new emissions standards for marine and locomotive engines are based on the same systems-based approach that is proving successful as implemented in 2007 for on-highway trucks and off-road machines and equipment: cleaner fuels, advanced clean diesel engines and high-efficiency emissions control technologies working together to dramatically reduce emissions.

"The final rule establishes new lower emissions standards for new engines and sets requirements for modernizing and upgrading existing and remanufactured engines. The new limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) will be technologically challenging and likely require the use of advanced emissions control technologies such as diesel particulate filters and NOx-control technology.

"Meeting EPA's new emissions standards will be no simple task. In addition to their broad size range, these engines offer additional complexities and challenges due to their unique operating conditions as well as space and safety considerations, particularly for marine applications. This will require applying technologies and lessons learned from the on-highway and off-highway engine market. The use of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel and the development of emissions control technology will be critical for success.

"Thanks to their unique combination of power density, reliability and economical operation, diesel engines are the power behind the nation's work boat and marine diesel industry and railroad locomotives. They power fire boats, tug boats and barges that serve ports around the world. These engines produce the equivalent of several thousand horsepower to move massive locomotives and work boats moving thousands of tons of goods, or 100 car unit trains moving bulk commodities and consumer goods cross-country. Diesel engines also power the nation's passenger ferry systems, such as those in New York, which thousands of commuters use to get to work every day.

"As evidence of the industry's success in other clean diesel technology applications, commercial trucks sold this year have 90 percent fewer emissions of fine particles as compared to trucks built at any point in the past 18 years. It would take 60 of today's trucks to equal the emissions of a single 1988 model. The key to this success is the nationwide availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, which according to EPA now comprises 90 percent of highway diesel in the U.S.

"Recent projects have demonstrated the feasibility of modernizing and upgrading some of the existing marine and locomotive applications with cleaner fuels, more modern engines with advanced combustion technology and advanced exhaust after treatment technologies."

More information about the EPA's proposed rule can be found at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/.

The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the economic importance and environmental progress of diesel engines and equipment. Forum members represent the three parts of the modern clean diesel system: advanced engines, cleaner diesel fuel and effective emissions control systems.

For more information, visit http://www.dieselforum.org.