Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Media Contact: Mark Sulzbach 651-296-7768 Technical Contact: Jeff Buss 651-297-8659 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 St. Paul, Minn. -- According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) the unmistakable black plume and odor from 18-wheelers will become a much rarer sight and smell in Minnesota and the United States. This is welcome news, especially after recent air alerts. Diesel engines have long been known as the dependable, durable workhorses of the industrial age, supplying trucks, trains and heavy equipment with the muscle and efficiency needed for heavy lifting and towing. However, the exhaust from diesel vehicles contains high levels of air pollutants that cloud the air and endanger our health. In coming years, the use of cleaner fuels coupled with new pollution control equipment on diesel engines will reduce emissions from new trucks and buses by up to 95 percent. --The future is bright Current diesel fuel in the U.S. can have a sulfur content of up to 500 parts per million - 20-times more than the current sulfur content of gasoline. Beginning in 2006, federal law will require the use of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) with just 15 ppm for all highway vehicles. The cleaner fuel also allows for the use of new emission control technologies on diesel engines, which means less particulate matter or soot exiting the exhaust pipe. When the new ULSD fuel is combined with the new technologies required on diesels starting in 2007 models, these new trucks and buses will emit up to 95 percent less than current diesel vehicles. In addition, older engines can also be retrofit with pollution control equipment to remove many harmful air pollutants. Similar to catalytic converters, these devices when coupled with cleaner fuels can reduce tailpipe emissions from older engines by as much as 60 to 70 percent. "For years, people have had concerns about the harmful pollutants in the black smoke emitted from diesel trucks," says MPCA policy analyst Jeff Buss. "While some of the changes won't have a visible effect for a while, in the next decade there will be a noticeable reduction in diesel smoke and emissions as older engines are retrofit or replaced." --Minnesota ahead of the pack Some Minnesota organizations are ahead of the curve when it comes to adopting cleaner diesel technologies. In the summer of 2004, the Metropolitan Council contracted to purchase four-million gallons of cleaner burning ULSD fuel - enough to power about 400 buses for a year. They hope to see a smooth transition to fleet-wide use by 2006. Two Minnesota school districts have opted to retrofit their buses with emission-reducing equipment. The South Washington County school district retrofitted 62 of its buses in 2003, and the Mankato School District will give its fleet of 25 buses a similar treatment in 2005. --Minnesota supports two-percent biodiesel Thanks to state legislation passed in 2003, all Minnesota diesel fuel sold for highway diesel vehicles will have two percent biodiesel beginning in July 2005. Biodiesel fuel burns cleaner because of lower sulfur content, and like ethanol products, reduces dependence on foreign petroleum because it is made from vegetable oils or animal fats. Two percent won't make big changes in air quality but it's a good start. About 10 counties in Minnesota are already using biodiesel blends in buses, trucks and snowplows. --Emissions from diesel engines Among the 40 toxic chemicals found in diesel exhaust, fine particulate matter or soot may be the worst. About one-fiftieth the diameter of a human hair, it penetrates so deep into the lungs that it can enter the bloodstream, and health studies have linked it to serious heart problems. It also triggers asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Children are especially susceptible because they breathe deeper and more often per pound of body weight than adults. To help reduce this health risk for children, Minnesota passed a law in 2002 that requires school buses to minimize idling near school entrances and to reroute bus parking zones away from air-intake vents. The MPCA is working with diesel fleet operators to reduce emissions. The goal is to share information about cleaner fuel availability and group purchasing, along with information on retrofit technology and possible grants. If you are a diesel fleet operator, call Jeff Buss for more information at 651-297-8659 or toll-free at 1-800-657-3864. The winter 2005 edition of "Minnesota Environment" magazine covers a wide range of diesel-related issues. Read more on the MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/mnenvironment/index.html.