Purchasing Resources Diesel Fuels

‌

In 2007, CARB passed the Off-Road regulation to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) from off-road diesel vehicles operating within California. The Off-Road regulation imposes, among other requirements, limits on idling, requires a written idling policy, restricts the adding of older vehicles into fleets starting on January 1, 2014; and requires fleets to reduce their emissions by retiring, replacing, or repowering older engines, or installing Verified Diesel Emission Control Strategies, VDECS (i.e., exhaust retrofits). 

Passed in 2011, Chicago’s Clean Diesel Construction ordinance bans pre-Tier 1 vehicles from City of Chicago construction sites, unless such vehicles use particulate filters.  The ordinance also applies a scoring system to contractors’ vehicles based on engine model year, use of a diesel emission control retrofit device, fuel type, and other factors.  Chicago applies minimum clean fleet scores to its construction contractors; the minimum score established for 2014 increases in 2017 and again in 2020. 

Pursuant to Executive Order 1-07, construction contractors must minimize idling and use retrofits or vehicles meeting the Tier 4 emissions standard.

‌

Developed stringent contract specification to limit diesel emissions on construction sites in 2011.   

Adopted in 2009, contractors must install Level 3 verified PM retrofits (minimum 85% reduction in diesel PM) on any on-road or off-road engines used in publicly funded projects or insure that the engine out emissions for PM are equal to or less than 0.01 g/bhp-hr. 

‌

‌

Information, training and tools to improve driver and operator handling of heavy duty trucks with the goal to reduce fuel consumption.

Flexibility Provisions in 2014 amendments to EPA's nonroad diesel engine regulation

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) will only use greener, less polluting construction equipment and vehicles; and implement best practices to meet or exceed air quality emission standards in all construction projects performed on LACMTA properties and rights-of-way.

Signed in 2011, this directive requires that construction equipment meet the Tier 4 emissions standard.

NYC Local Law 77 implementation report published in 2004

Local Law 77 (December 2003) mandates the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and best available technology (BAT) by non-road construction equipment on all city construction contracts. 

‌

‌

Only to the extent permissible under any applicable Federal or State law or regulation, all State-funded road construction contracts for areas that are in non-attainment with the federal 8-hour ozone standard or the particulate matter (PM) 2.5 standard for air quality are required to use clean construction practices. These include, where feasible: idling limitations, use of ultra-low sulfur diesel, erosion control, dust control, and on all off-road vehicles the installation of a verified diesel emission control device that achieves a particulate matter emission reduction of 50 percent or more from uncontrolled engine emission levels.

Developed a diesel retrofit specification in 2005 that has been included in all Highway Division contracts advertised for bid.   As of 2014, the retrofit specification requirements also extend to all State Revolving Fund projects. 

(Clean Air Center, 2009)

‌

Implemented a contract specification that requires all new and used construction equipment to meet Tier 4 emissions standard.  

The Council created a clean construction pilot credit that can be used for LEED (Twenty four projects in 12 states and 3 countries outside the U.S. are using this protocol to date.). This credit provides a framework for projects to develop and implement a plan to reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions from non-road diesel engines, equipment and vehicles used during construction projects.