Regulations to Restrict Idling of

Diesel-Powered Vehicles

Philadelphia Diesel DifferenceJune 18, 2007

Arleen ShulmanBureau of Air Quality, Pennsylvania

Department of Environmental Protection

Petition to EQB (and PennDOT)

October 18, 2006 -- Clean Air Board of Central PA, Inc.,

January 17, 2007, EQB accepted for study.

March-April 2007 CAB commented on draft study

May 2007 – EQB directed DEP to develop proposed regulation

All posted on EQB’s website.

Idling Concerns Identified in the Petition

Idling highway diesel engines are a significant source of diesel pollution, which include fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone precursors, and air toxics.

PM2.5 poses serious public health and environmental problems in many areas of the Commonwealth.

Statewide regulation of idling would prevent a patchwork system of regulations in Pennsylvania.

Idling diesel engines increase emissions and waste fuel.

Cost-effective technologies to reduce idling are available today.

The Department’s Study

Characterized and quantified heavy-duty diesel vehicle long-duration (>15 minutes) idling activity.

Estimated emissions impacts of idling activity.

Investigated legal authority and enforcement issues.

Used consultant assistance. Incorporated consultation with PennDOT

and State Police.

Health and Environmental Benefits

Agreed with CAB’s assessment of health effects of diesel emissions.

Effects include contribution to area-wide concentrations of fine particulates and ozone, and direct exposure to diesel emissions.

An anti-idling regulation would help the Commonwealth address local concentrations of PM2.5 and contribute towards attaining and maintaining the fine particulate and ozone standards.

Agreed that idling reduction can save energy and money for the industry and that cost-effective technology exists to reduce idling.

Idling Activity

Study looked at heavy-duty diesel idling from long-haul truck travel rest at truck/rest stops and at loading/unloading locations, transit and tour buses, school buses.

Truck travel rest idling accounts for nearly 80 percent of all heavy-duty diesel idling.

Most travel rest idling occurs at truck/rest stops. More than 13,000 truck parking spaces at about 300 stops

and rest areas in Pennsylvania

Idling Activity

Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle Idling

Total 27.2 million vehicle hours

statewide

Long-Duration (>15 min.) 22.3 million vehicle hours

Long-Duration due to long-haul travel rest

21.2 million vehicle hours

18%

78%

4%

Short-Duration (<15min)Long-Duration: Truck Travel RestLong-Duration: Other

Geography

Primary interstates carry the most truck volume.

= Daily Truck Volume > 10,000

= Daily Truck Volume >2,000 and <10,000

Total Annual Long Duration Idling (Hours)

0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000

CumberlandLuzerne

ErieBedfordCentre

ColumbiaSusquehanna

BerksDauphin

JeffersonWashington

ClintonNorthumberland

ClearfieldCarbon

WestmorelandVenango

JuniataFranklin

Lehigh

Co

un

ty

Hours of Truck/Bus Idling

Truck Stops & Rest Areas Other

Geography

Emissions from Heavy-DutyLong-Duration Idling (2005)

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and PM2.5 significant. Smaller but still significant impact on volatile organic

compounds, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Statewide; varies by county depending on activity.

Tons/year % of highway

NOx 3200 1.3%

PM2.5 88 2.0%

Enforcement

With a regulation, DEP inspectors and state and local police would have the ability to enforce.

DEP has authority for administrative penalties and summary offenses.

State and local police cannot use administrative penalties and generally cannot enter private property (eg. warehouses) without a warrant.

Since most idling is due to truck travel rest at truck/rest stops, targeted education campaigns in selected areas may be more effective in reducing idling emissions than responding to individual complaints.

Regulatory DevelopmentPROPOSED July 2007: meet with DEP advisory committees September 2007: EQB considers proposal October or November 2007: public comment

period opens (60 days with three public hearings)FINAL April/May 2008: meet with DEP advisory

committees on final rule September 2008: EQB considers final rulemaking October 2008: Independent Regulatory Review

Commission November 2008: publication/effective

Regulatory Development Considering petitioner’s language, EPA

model law, Philadelphia and Allegheny county laws.

Regulation itself will not contain penalty amounts.

State regulation would preempt local regulation only where more stringent, which creates consistency issues.

Issues Form of time restriction Who’s responsible? Sleepers, temperature

exemptions Expiration of sleeper

exemptions Loading/unloading, queuing 2007+ engines being cleaner

than auxiliary power units.

For information:www.depweb.state.pa.us

keyword: EQBor (coming soon)

keyword: diesel emissions

Arleen Shulman or Chris TrostleMobile Source Section, Bureau of Air

Qualityashulman@state.pa.usdtrostle@state.pa.us

717-787-9495