A three judge federal panel on Friday upheld tougher emissions rules for heavy duty truck engines as well as reductions in the sulfur content in diesel fuel.

News services report the unanimous decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected claims by truck engine makers the technology does not exist to meet tougher emissions requirements set to take effect in 2007.
The court decision does not affect emissions rules scheduled to take effect this October.
Meantime, the court also sided with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over rules that require refiners in 2006 to begin producing diesel fuel that contains a 97 percent reduction in the amount of sulfur.
Refiners as well as other groups have argued in the past the tougher rules could lead to shortages of diesel fuel down the road.
Both the regulations covering diesel engine emissions and cleaner diesel fuel were unveiled during the final weeks of the Clinton administration.