Control of Air Pollution From New Motor Vehicles; Revisions to Motor Vehicle Diesel Fuel Sulfur Transition Provisions; and Technical Amendments to the Highway Diesel, Nonroad Diesel, and Tier 2 Gasoline Programs

Résumé

The highway diesel fuel sulfur program, finalized in 2001, is resulting in the nationwide transition in 2006 of most diesel fuel from low-sulfur diesel (LSD) to ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD). Some in the diesel fuel production and distribution industries indicated that they may be unable to complete the transition to ULSD by the current deadlines at the very furthest reaches of the distribution system. In response, today's action makes limited changes to the transition provisions for entities in the highway diesel distribution system. These changes finely balance the concerns of the fuel industry and the critical need for ULSD to be available for 2007 diesel vehicles and engines. The impacts of the recent hurricanes along the Gulf Coast of the U.S. are not a contributing factor in taking today's action, and there is no change in the June 1, 2006 start date for refiners to be producing ULSD (15 ppm sulfur). In today's action, we extend the ULSD implementation dates for terminals and retail outlets by 45 days. Thus, terminals will have until September 1, 2006 (vs. July 15) and retailers will have until October 15, 2006 (vs. September 1) to complete their transitions to ULSD. We also