Regulations Proposed to Ensure Cleaner Air from Off-Road Construction and Farming Equipment

OTTAWA, May 10, 2004 – The Honourable David Anderson, Minister of the Environment, today announced draft regulations to help reduce smog emissions from off-road diesel engines that power construction, mining, farming and forestry machines. The regulations have been published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, for a 60-day public comment period. They are expected to become final in early 2005 and apply to 2006 and later year engines.

Emissions from these engines contain substances such as hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO), which are harmful to human health and to the environment. These regulations will reduce the maximum allowable emissions of these substances by up to 70%, and therefore improve the quality of our air and reduce acid rain and smog.

“The pollutant reductions that will result from these regulations are important to our overall Clean Air Strategy to protect human health and environment,” said Minister Anderson. “Our regulations are aligned with those in the United States and will ensure that the clean air benefits from cleaner engines are available to Canadians as well.”

In 2000, emissions of nitrous oxides and volatile organic compounds from the diesel engines that powered construction, mining, farming and forestry machines were equivalent to those produced by about 480,000 heavy duty diesel trucks and buses. As well, these engines contributed about thirteen percent (13%) of the total nitrous oxides emissions in Canada, and, when compared to other off-road sources, the bulk of Sulphur Oxides, and Particulate Matter (PM₁₀) emissions.

“We are supportive of the move to harmonize regulations with those in the U.S. The proposed changes will facilitate free trade and free movement of our machines and will reduce the cost of our product,” said Brian Taschuk, Vice President of Hammer Equipment Sales Limited.

“Engine manufacturers are investing millions of dollars in new technology and working hard to reduce emissions from off-road engines,” said Jed Mandel, President of the Engine Manufacturers Association. “To the extent that Canada seeks additional emission reductions, aligning new off-road emission standards and diesel fuel requirements with those of the United States and Europe will help manufacturers meet the significant challenge of cost-effectively reducing emissions from such equipment. Harmonized standards greatly assist efforts to achieve our common goal of cleaner air.”

The proposed regulations are part of the 10-year Federal Agenda on Cleaner Vehicles, Engines and Fuels announced in February 2001. To date, the rules for cleaner gasoline, diesel fuel and engines are reducing harmful emissions of smog and other pollutants by 60-90 percent. The next step in the federal agenda is to put in place measures to ensure cleaner outboard engines, personal watercraft and recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles.

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