U.S. court rejects call to extend Oct. 1 emissions deadline

WASHINGTON (Sept. 10, 2002, via truckinginfo.com) — A U.S. federal court last week rejected requests by Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel to postpone lower emission diesel engine requirements.

The ruling by the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., upholds steep penalties for engine makers who do not meet the requirements, which are set to take effect Oct. 1.

The two companies asked the court to alter a 1998 agreement between engine makers and the federal government so they would have more time to comply. The manufacturers said “unanticipated cost increases” have made it more difficult to comply with the new requirements.

Caterpillar has said it will not be able to meet the lower engine requirement until next year. The company will be selling truck diesel engines, albeit with a heavy penalty.

Detroit Diesel has yet to have its engines certified by the federal government. Last month, the company submitted its application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to have the Series 60 certified as meeting the new requirements. Company official say they will be ready by the Oct. 1 deadline.

So far only Cummins and Mack have gotten certification that their engines meet the new lower emissions standards.

Just over a month ago, the federal government announced how much in penalties they would assess against diesel engine makers whose equipment does not meet the new rules — as much as $12,000 per engine.

At the time, John Graham, who oversees regulatory review within the Office of Management and Budget, said that postponing the penalties would be unfair to engine manufacturers that have developed engines that meet the 1998 agreement.