1. Petition to Adopt Regulations to Restrict Idling of Diesel-Powered Vehicles
Environmental Quality Board
May 16, 2007
Thomas K. Fidler, Deputy Secretary
Office of Waste, Air and Radiation Management

2. Petition for Rulemaking: Restricting the Idling of Diesel-Powered Vehicles
On October 18, 2006, the Clean Air Board of Central PA, Inc., (CAB) submitted a petition for rulemaking to the EQB to adopt a statewide regulation restricting the idling of commercial diesel-powered vehicles.
On January 17, 2007, the EQB accepted the rulemaking petition for study.
A draft study by the Department was provided to CAB for comment on March 20, 2007.
CAB provided comments on April 18, 2007.
The final study and recommendations addresses those comments.

3. Idling Concerns Identified in the Petition
Idling highway diesel engines are a significant source of diesel pollution, which include fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone precursors, and air toxics.
PM2.5 poses serious public health and environmental problems in many areas of the Commonwealth.
Statewide regulation of idling would prevent a patchwork system of regulations in Pennsylvania.
Idling diesel engines increase emissions and waste fuel.
Cost-effective technologies to reduce idling are available today.

4. The Department’s Study: Scope
Characterized and quantified heavy-duty diesel vehicle long-duration (>15 minutes) idling activity.
Estimated emissions impacts of idling activity.
Investigated legal authority and enforcement issues.
Used consultant assistance.
Incorporated consultation with PennDOT and State Police.

5. Health and Environmental Benefits
Agreed with CAB’s assessment of health effects of diesel emissions.
Effects include contribution to area-wide concentrations of fine particulates and ozone, and direct exposure to diesel emissions.
An anti-idling regulation would help the Commonwealth address local concentrations of PM2.5 and contribute towards attaining and maintaining the fine particulate and ozone standards.
Agreed that idling reduction can save energy and money for the industry and that cost-effective technology exists to reduce idling.

6. Idling Activity
Study looked at heavy-duty diesel idling from long-haul truck travel rest at truck/rest stops and at loading/unloading locations, transit and tour buses, school buses.
Truck travel rest idling accounts for nearly 80 percent of all heavy-duty diesel idling.
Most travel rest idling occurs at truck/rest stops.
More than 13,000 truck parking spaces at about 300 stops and rest areas in Pennsylvania

7. Idling Activity Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicle Idling Total
27.2 million vehicle hours statewide
Long-Duration (>15 min.)
22.3 million vehicle hours
Long-Duration due to long-haul travel rest
21.2 million vehicle hours

8. Geography Primary interstates carry the most truck volume.
= Daily Truck Volume > 10,000
= Daily Truck Volume >2,000 and <10,000

9. Geography

10. Emissions from Heavy-Duty Long-Duration Idling (2005)
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and PM2.5 significant.
Smaller but still significant impact on volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.
Statewide; varies by county depending on activity.
Tons/year
% of highway
NOx
3200
1.3%
PM2.5 88
2.0%

11. Enforcement
With a regulation, DEP inspectors and state and local police would have the ability to enforce.
DEP has authority for administrative penalties and summary offenses.
State and local police cannot use administrative penalties and generally cannot enter private property (eg. warehouses) without a warrant.
Since most idling is due to truck travel rest at truck/rest stops, targeted education campaigns in selected areas may be more effective in reducing idling emissions than responding to individual complaints.

12. Petition’s Suggested Provisions
Idling restrictions would apply at locations where commercial diesel vehicles load, unload, or park.
An idling limitation of 5 minutes in any 60-minute period unless exemptions apply.
Exemptions for operating during maintenance, for safety reasons, or in cold or hot temperatures are provided. The transitional temperature exemptions would expire in
April 2010.
The rulemaking would not affect the operation of auxiliary power units, generator sets, or other mobile idle-reduction technology.
The recommended program would apply to all highway diesel-powered commercial vehicles as defined in 40 CFR §390.5.
Applies at locations where commercial diesel vehicles load, unload or park.
Establishes an idle limitation of 5 minutes in any 60 minute period.
Exemptions for operating during maintenance, for safety reasons or in cold or hot temperatures are provided. The temperature exemption would expire in April 2010.
Does not apply to the operation of auxiliary power units, generator sets, or other mobile idle reduction technology.

13. Recommendations
A statewide idling rule would eliminate some diesel emissions and contribute to progress towards meeting and maintaining air standards as well as have fuel benefits.
DEP is authorized to adopt a regulation; law enforcement agencies could also enforce.
A few counties are disproportionately affected by idling, but the state and national trucking industry prefer statewide consistency.

14. Recommendations (con’t)
Proactive, educational enforcement would be most effective, including drivers, fleet owners, and property owners.
The Department should move forward with development of a proposed regulation within six months, considering the petitioner’s suggested language as well as the EPA model.

15. Deputy Secretary, Office of Waste, Air and Radiation Management
Thank You
Thomas K. Fidler
Deputy Secretary, Office of Waste, Air and Radiation Management
Thank you for your consideration, and we would be glad to answer any questions you may have.
Joyce E. Epps
Bureau of Air Quality
Arleen Shulman
Bureau of Air Quality