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Battling against diesel

The state of California in the us has declared the most stringent standards for heavy-duty diesel-driven vehicles in the world. Now 13 other states have joined California in their campaign against diesel. This multi-state clean-diesel initiative include New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Delaware, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and Nevada. Air-quality officials from the Northeast and Sunbelt of usa announced that they will require that diesel engines meet stringent test protocols to cut particulate exhaust between 2004 and 2007.

The proposal by the states would cut emissions from diesel trucks by 27 tonnes per year in California and New York alone. Some of the diesel engine manufacturers to be affected by this include Detroit Diesel Corporation, Cummins Engine Co Inc, Caterpillar Inc, Mack Trucks Inc, Volvo Truck Corp and Navistar International. The move, according to The Los Angeles Times , marks the first-ever initiative by the states to act independently of the federal government to reduce exhaust from heavy-duty diesel engines.

Specifically, the agreement imposes a testing requirement until 2004 to ensure that engines perform cleanly on the open road. After October 2004, engine makers no longer have to meet that test.

Then, in 2007, new federal requirements take effect. Air-quality officials fear emissions will shoot up between 2004 to 2007 and, consequently, are pursuing their own regulations to ensure that new engines sold in those jurisdictions continue to meet the requirement. Emissions from heavy-duty diesel engines have not been controlled as extensively as the emissions from cars or many industries because of their reliability, fuel efficiency, and service to us commerce.

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