ULSD Use May Spawn More Retrofit Programs

ASHINGTON — As ultra-low-sulfur diesel becomes available to meet federal engine emission standards scheduled to take effect in 2007, state and local governments will have an opportunity to run more retrofit programs to clean exhaust emissions of older trucks and buses, air quality officials said.

An official from the Environmental Protection Agency said EPA did not have the authority to require retrofits, but that the federal agency would support state and local programs.

Emissions of particulate matter, or soot, can be removed from the engine exhaust of older vehicles by retrofitting the vehicles with particulate filters. But without ULSD, clogging will occur, so retrofit programs have been limited, said officials at the National Clean Diesel policy summit here Dec. 8-9.