The American Trucking Associations has submitted formal comments opposing the Environmental Protection Agency scientific model for calculating emissions benefits from varying certain diesel fuel parameters. ATA says the agency's efforts to produce a diesel fuel emissions model will encourage other states to depart from the national fuel standard and develop their own fuel formulations.
Efforts by the trucking group to validate EPA's model revealed that it does not accurately predict the impact on emissions from varying diesel fuel parameters. Saying the current model is scientifically inaccurate and inadequate for regulatory purposes, ATA asked EPA to develop a new model based on tests of today's engines. That includes adequate representation of future engine technology such as exhaust gas recirculation, which will be required for heavy-duty diesel engines beginning next year, and aftertreatment equipment expected in 2007.