EPA increases regulations for nonroad diesel engines and fuel.

In May 2004, EPA adopted a comprehensive national program to reduce emissions from future non-road diesel engines by integrating engine and fuel controls as a system to gain the greatest emission reductions. Exhaust emissions from these engines will decrease by more than 90 percent. Because the emission-control devices can be damaged by sulfur, the final rule also reduces the allowable level of sulfur in nonroad diesel fuel by more than 99 percent, which will result in immediate improvements in public health by reducing particulate matter from engines in the existing fleet of nonroad equipment. These emission reductions in nitrogen oxides and particulate matter will provide enormous public health benefits, including preventing 12,000 premature deaths, 8,900 hospitalizations and one million work days lost by 2030.

The new rule will impact private clubs who currently utilize diesel tractors and dump trucks on their golf courses. For more information on the new regulations, please visit the EPA Clean Diesel Programs website, http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.