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EPA Announces Rule to Reduce Diesel Emissions on Farms

Release Date: 4/10/2003
Contact Information: Lisa Fasano (415) 947-4307

     On April 9, EPA issued a direct final rule that will give California farmers the option to replace existing stationary diesel-powered engines used in agricultural operations with cleaner engines certified to nonroad mobile source emission standards.  This rule only applies to California operations because California is the only state with both severe and extreme ozone nonattainment areas where agricultural engines have the potential to contribute emissions above major source thresholds.

     Replacing the current stationary engines with the certified nonroad engines will significantly improve emissions performance.  EPA expects that the financial incentives available to farmers through an existing state program, along with the anticipated funding assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will further encourage such engine changes in the next few years.  EPA estimates that approximately 2,200 older engines remain in use in California nonattainment areas and that replacing these engines would result in reductions of up to 4,400 tons of NOx annually -- nearly a 20 percent reduction in farm-related NOx emissions.

     A copy of the rule will be published soon in the Federal Register.  For additional information, visit https://www.epa.gov/otaq/equip-hd.htm .