The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public hearing next Tuesday, Nov. 2, to discuss stricter emissions standards for diesel engines.

Current rules call for a maximum 4 grams nitrogen oxides and 0.10 gram particulates per brake-hp hour. EPA wants a combined NOx and hydrocarbon standard of 2.4 grams per brake-hp on 2004 models. Provisions of the court settlement with engine manufacturers over emissions testing actually means diesel engines will have to comply by 2002. EPA estimates it would raise the price of a heavy-duty diesel engine by about $400.
The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. at Top of the Tower, 1717 Arch Street, 51st Floor, Philadelphia. The agency issued its recommendations Oct. 6 and says the formal proposal will be published in the Federal Register sometime before the meeting. Written comments are due Nov. 2.
More details can be found at http://www.epa.gov/oms/hd-hwy.htm.