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New York State Diesel Retrofit Law |
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News from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
For more information contact: Yancey Roy, 518-402-8000
NYS Environmental Board Approves Diesel Retrofits for All Heavy-Duty State-Owned and Contractor Vehicles
Requirement Will Significantly Reduce Harmful Pollutants Spewing from Exhausts
ALBANY, NY (06/17/2009)(readMedia)-- The New York State Environmental Board today unanimously approved regulations that will lead to a major reduction in air pollution emitted by heavy-duty diesel trucks. The regulations require that all such vehicles owned by New York State agencies and authorities and by contractors working on behalf of the state be retrofitted to decrease emissions by Dec. 31, 2010.
Diesel exhaust is associated with a number of health issues, such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and even premature death. In addition to harmful particles that can lodge in the lungs, diesel exhaust contains a number of toxic contaminants and is a contributor to the formation of ground-level ozone. Installation of retrofit control technology on the diesel engines in New York State will reduce emissions of both the particulate matter (PM), as well as the associated toxic contaminants. Roughly 30,000 state-owned vehicles will be impacted.
"Reducing these emissions is another step in the right direction to improve air quality in New York State and protect the health of our residents," said Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis, who also chairs the Environmental Board. "Diesel engines are a major source of harmful particulate matter in New York State and while new engines are subject to stringent requirements for particulate matter, older, existing engines are not. Since diesel engines are very durable and function for many years, it is important to reduce emissions from these vehicles as well. These new regulations address this issue by requiring that older engines become equipped with the latest retrofit technology."
Flexibility Provide
The regulations require vehicles use the "Best Available Retrofit Technology," which can vary with vehicle type. Depending on type, retrofitting can reduce a heavy-duty diesel's PM emissions by 25-85 percent.
Because the state recognized that no retrofit technology exists for some vehicles, the regulations allow for owners of such vehicles to apply for a waiver from the requirements. The ability to retrofit an engine depends on a number of factors, including the engine age, engine technology and the duty cycle of the vehicle. The regulations also require the same vehicles to use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, which will further reduce harmful emissions.
Major state agencies directly impacted by the regulations include the Department of Transportation, Office of General Services, Thruway Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Capital District Transportation Authority, Niagara Frontier Regional Transportation Authority, Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority, Central New York Regional Transportation Authority and DEC, as well as their contractors.
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What Is Diesel Exhaust?
 Diesel exhaust contains a mixture of thousands of different chemical substances. Many of the components of diesel exhaust, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxides, hydrocarbon gases and diesel particulate matter (soot), arsenic and benzene, can cause health problems. Diesel exhaust contains 20-100 times more harmful particles than gasoline exhaust.
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Health Effects of Diesel Exhaust
Due to expanding use of diesel equipment, more and more workers are exposed to diesel exhaust. More than one million workers are exposed to diesel exhaust and face the risk of adverse health effects, ranging from headaches and nausea to cancer and respiratory disease. Such workers include mine workers, bridge and tunnel workers, railroad workers, loading dock workers, truck drivers, material handling machine operators, farm workers, longshoring employees, and auto, truck and bus maintenance garage workers.
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