By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 5 -- The US Environmental Protection Agency will hear the industry's viewpoints regarding EPA's pending 2006 highway low-sulfur diesel regulations (OGJ, Oct. 14, 2002, p. 20) during a Nov. 20-21 workshop in Houston.
Ed Murphy, the American Petroleum Institute's downstream general manager, said industry has raised concerns regarding the availability of adequate retail supplies of diesel fuel when the program begins in mid-2006.
Last week, EPA formally presented a clean diesel review panel report updating information on the technical advances being made to comply with the rule. Last month, API and the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association endorsed the independent panel's work.
The panel found technology issues would not prevent regulators from proceeding with the rule. The panel acknowledged some refiners' concerns about the impact that the rule might have on distribution, but most panel members agreed those issues were beyond the panel's charter (OGJ Online, Sept. 26, 2002).
"API and its member companies strongly support the goals of EPA's highway diesel sulfur rule—to reduce diesel engine emissions by reducing diesel fuel sulfur content and to require more advanced emissions control systems," Murphy said.
"Now, we look forward to working with EPA and all stakeholders," Murphy added of the upcoming meeting. "We do not seek to change the rule or the schedule for its implementation but potentially significant implementation problems need to be addressed to help ensure that adequate ultra-low sulfur and low sulfur highway diesel fuel supplies are available to consumers in mid 2006."
The NPRA also said its members have concerns about diesel supply and distribution issues regarding the 2006 highway diesel rule.
"As the manufacturers of highway diesel, the nation's premier commercial transportation fuel, we have a keen interest in working to understand and address any potential difficulties in implementing the ambitious rule," said Bob Slaughter, NPRA president.
Noting that the downstream sector is experiencing difficult economic times, Slaughter said, "It is important that (the refining industry's) limited investment capital is efficiently spent to maintain both a secure national energy supply while sustaining environmental progress."
Six industry trade organizations, including the NPRA and API, are hosting the meeting in Houston along with the EPA.
