Control of Emissions From New Marine Compression-Ignition Engines at or Above 30 Liters per Cylinder

EPA is proposing emission standards for new marine diesel engines with per cylinder displacement at or above 30 liters (called Category 3 marine diesel engines) installed on U.S. vessels, under section 213 of the Clean Air Act (CAA or "the Act"). The proposed engine standards are equivalent to the nitrogen oxides (NO<INF>X</INF>) limits recently adopted in the amendments to Annex VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL Annex VI) and are based on the position advanced by the United States Government as part of those international negotiations. The near-term standards for newly-built engines would apply beginning in 2011. Long-term standards would begin in 2016 and are based on the application of high-efficiency aftertreatment technology. We are also proposing a change to our diesel fuel program that would forbid the production and sale of marine fuel oil above 1,000 ppm sulfur for use in the waters within the proposed U.S. ECA and internal U.S. waters and allow for the production and sale of 1,000 ppm sulfur fuel for use in Category 3 marine vessels. This proposal is part of a coordinated strategy to ensure that all ships that affect U.S. air quality meet stringent NO<INF>X</INF> and fuel sulfur requirements. In addition, on March 27, 2009, the U.S. Government forwarded a proposal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to amend MARPOL Annex VI to designate an Emission Control Area (ECA) off U.S. coasts. If this proposed amendment is not timely adopted by IMO, we intend to take supplemental action to control emissions from vessels affecting U.S. air quality. We project that in 2030 this coordinated strategy would reduce annual emissions of NO<INF>X</INF> and particulate matter (PM) from ocean-going vessels by 1.2 million and 143,000 tons, respectively. These reductions are estimated to annually prevent between 13,000 and 32,000 PM-related premature deaths, between 220 and 980 ozone-related premature deaths, 1,500,000 work days lost, and 10,000,000 minor restricted-activity days. The estimated annual monetized health benefits of this coordinated strategy in 2030 would be between $110 and $280 billion, assuming a 3 percent discount rate (or between $100 and $260 billion assuming a 7 percent discount rate). The annual costs would be significantly less, at approximately $3.1 billion. The proposed regulations also include technical amendments to our motor vehicle and nonroad engine regulations. Many of these changes involve minor adjustments or corrections to our recently finalized rule for new nonroad spark-ignition engines, or adjustment to other regulatory provisions to align with this recent final rule.