By 2007, we estimate that heavy-duty trucks and buses will account
for as much as 30 percent of nitrogen oxides emissions from
transportation sources and 14 percent of particulate matter emissions.
In some urban areas, the contribution will be even greater.

 

 

The standards for heavy-duty vehicles proposed in this rule would have a
substantial impact on the mobile source inventories of oxides of
nitrogen and particulate matter.

 

Beginning the program in the 2007
model year ensures that emission reductions start early enough to
counter the upward trend in heavy-duty vehicle emissions that would
otherwise occur because of the increasing number of vehicle miles
traveled each year.

   

This proposed program would result in particulate matter and oxides
of nitrogen emission levels that are 90% and 95% below current
standards levels, respectively.

 

 

 in addition to their
inherent advantages over gasoline vehicles with respect to fuel
economy, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and lower evaporative
hydrocarbon emissions. We are also proposing more stringent standards
for heavy-duty gasoline vehicles.
   

The clean air impact of this program would be dramatic when fully
implemented. By 2030, this program would reduce annual emissions of
nitrogen oxides, nonmethane hydrocarbons, and particulate matter by a
projected 2.8 million, 305,000 and 110,000 tons, respectively. We
project that these reductions and the resulting significant
environmental benefits of this program would come at an average cost
increase of about $1,700 to $2,800 per new vehicle in the near term andabout $1000 to $1600 per new vehicle in the long term, depending on thevehicle size.

 

In comparison, new vehicle prices today can range up to
$250,000 for larger heavy-duty vehicles. The cost of reducing the
sulfur content of diesel fuel would result in an estimated increase of
approximately four cents per gallon.

DATES: Comments: We must receive your comments by August 14, 2000.
    Hearings: We will hold public hearings on June 19, 20, 22, 27, and
29, 2000. See ADDRESSES below for the locations of the hearings.

ADDRESSES: Comments: You may send written comments in paper form and/or
by e-mail. We must receive them by the date indicated under ``DATES''
above. Send paper copies of written comments (in duplicate if possible)
to the contact person listed below. Send e-mail comments to
diesel@epa.gov.
    EPA's Air Docket makes materials related to this rulemaking
available for review in Docket No. A-99-06 located at U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Air Docket (6102), Room M-1500,
401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460 (on the ground floor in
Waterside Mall) from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
on government holidays. You can reach the Air Docket by telephone at
(202) 260-7548 and by facsimile at (202) 260-4400. We may charge a
reasonable fee for copying docket materials, as provided in 40 CFR part
2.
    Hearings: We will hold five public hearings at the following
locations:

    June 19, 2000, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1605 Broadway, New York, NY,
10019
    June 20, 2000, Rosemont Convention Center, 5555 N. River Rd.,
Rosemont, IL 60018
    June 22, 2000, Renaissance Atlanta Hotel, 590 W. Peachtree St, NW,
Atlanta, GA, 30308
    June 27, 2000, Hyatt Regency, 711 S. Hope Street, Los Angeles, CA,
90017
    June 29, 2000, Doubletree Hotel, 3203 Quebec St., Denver, CO, 80207

    We request that parties who want to testify at a hearing notify the
contact person listed below ten days before the date of the hearing.
Please see section X, ``Public Participation'' below for more
information on the comment procedure and public hearings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Borushko, U.S. EPA, National
Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, 2000 Traverwood, Ann Arbor MI
48105; Telephone (734) 214-4334, FAX (734) 214-4816, E-mail
borushko.margaret@epa.gov.