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Please note: This summary is provided to help you understand the regulations. Consult the references provided for links to the full text of the regulations.

Service Functions » Vehicles, Cargo » Operations

Aircraft Drinking Water Summary Full Text
Aircraft Refueling Summary Full Text
Alternative Fuels Summary Full Text
Alternative Fuels - State Regulations Summary Full Text
Ballast Water & Invasive Species Summary Full Text
Best Speed for Fuel Economy Summary Full Text
Bilgewater Summary Full Text
Biodiesel Summary Full Text
Drayage Trucks Summary Full Text
Engine Emissions (Auxiliary Marine Engines in Port) Summary Full Text
Freight Density - Impact and Cost Summary Full Text
Fuel Efficiency Summary Full Text
Greenhouse Gas Comparisons Summary Full Text
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Summary Full Text
Hazardous Waste Transport Summary Full Text
LNG Tank Venting Summary Full Text
Locomotive Coolant Discharge Summary Full Text
Placarding Summary Full Text
SmartWay Summary Exit TERC
Vessel General Permit Summary Full Text
Vessel Sewage Discharge Summary Full Text
Aircraft Drinking Water
Applies to: Aircraft that provide water for human consumption, and that serve an average of at least twenty-five individuals daily
Requires: Periodic monitoring of aircraft onboard drinking water systems for bacterial contamination, plus recordkeeping and notification requirements
See also:
  • Aircraft Refueling
    Applies to: Any facility that refuels commercial or general aviation aircraft.
    Requires: Fueling operations must comply with regulations covering potential contamination of stormwater runoff, as well as spill prevention and control measures covered under the SPCC rule.
    See also:
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
  • Diesel Fuel Storage Tanks
  • Spills and leaks, prevention (SPCC rule)
  • Spills and Leaks, Reporting
  • Stormwater
  • Tanks, Underground
    		•
    Alternative Fuels
    Applies to:

    All vehicles; future standards may specifically affect vehicles powered by alternative fuels.
    Requires:

    Current standards set minimum fuel efficiency and maximum emissions standards for gasoline and diesel vehicles.
    See also:
  • Alternative Fuels - State Regulations
  • Biodiesel
  • Engine Emissions (Truck, Tailpipe)
  • Fuel Efficiency
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    		•
    Alternative Fuels - State Regulations
    Applies to:

    Vehicles registered or operating in specific states.
    Requires:

    Some states require that transportation fuels sold in the state contain minimum amounts of alternative fuels. Other restrictions and incentives apply.
    See also:
  • Alternative Fuels
  • Biodiesel
  • Engine Emissions (Truck, Tailpipe)
  • Fuel Efficiency
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    		•
    Ballast Water & Invasive Species
    Applies to: Any vessel, except for military and recreational vessels, that discharges ballast water into U.S. waters
    Requires: Ballast water from any vessel must be discharged in according to the rules found in section 2.2.3 of the Vessel General Permit (even for vessels that do not require the permit to operate).
    See also:
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
  • Vessel General Permit (VGP)
    		•
    Best Speed for Fuel Economy
    Applies to: Any vehicle
    Requires: Potential for improved fuel economy can be estimated for any vehicle based on engine power and drag forces
    See also:
    Bilgewater
    Applies to: Any vessel 79 feet in length or greater, except for military and recreational vessels
    Requires: Bilgewater must either be retained on board and disposed of on shore, or must meet discharge requirements as specified in the Vessel General Permit (VGP)
    See also:
  • Ballast Water & Invasive Species
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
  • Vessel General Permit (VGP)
    		•
    Biodiesel
    Applies to: All diesel-powered vehicles operating in certain states
    Requires:

    Diesel fuel sold in certain states must contain a minimum percentage (typically 5-10%, depending on the state) of fuel derived from renewable sources.
    See also:
  • Alternative Fuels
  • Alternative Fuels - State Regulations
  • Diesel Fuel Requirements
    		•
    Drayage Trucks
    Applies to: Owners and operators of short-haul trucks that transport goods between ports, warehouses and local stores
    Requires:

    The voluntary SmartWay Drayage Program provides technical assistance, emission assessment tools and partnership recognition to port truck companies that commit to clean up their trucks
    See also:
  • SmartWay Program (exit TERC)
    		•
    Engine Emissions (Auxiliary Marine Engines in Port)
    Applies to: Vessels visiting California ports
    Requires: Vessels must turn off auxiliary power generators and switch to land-based power while in port
    See also:
  • Clean Air Act
  • Engine Emissions (Marine Engines)
    		•
    Freight Density - Impact and Cost
    Applies to: Allocating carbon dioxide emissions and fuel costs of transportation based on density
    Requires:

    Not currently a regulatory requirement. This allocation method is mathematically required for consistent impact calculation and reporting.
    See also:
  • Freight density, carbon footprint, and fuel cost (PDF)
  • TERC Bulk Buster - Cost and emissions calculator for cargo, by density (spreadsheet)
    • Fuel Efficiency
    Applies to: The standards apply directly to engine, vehicle, and equipment manufacturers, rather than owners and operators of vehicles. But purchases of vehicles will be affected indirectly, since equipment purchased now will be in service during years when fuel costs may change significantly.
    Requires:

    New fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emission standards will be phased in through 2017-18 for vehicles including Class 7 and 8 combination tractors, heavy duty pickups and vans, and a variety of special purpose vehicles.
    See also:
  • Greenhouse gas emissions
    		•
    Greenhouse Gas Comparisons
    Back to Top
    Applies to: Any vehicle
    Requires: Calculators based on emission factors provide a useful but limited way to compare the greenhouse gas emissions of transportation modes
    See also:
  • Best Speed for Fuel Economy
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    		•
    Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    Back to Top
    Applies to: Applies directly to vehicle and engine manufacturers. Applies indirectly to the transportation sector by affecting the cost and performance of vehicles.
    Requires: Rule requires manufacturers to certify that new Class 7 and 8 combination tractors, and many heavy-duty special purpose vehicles, meet fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards.
    See also:
  • Clean Air Act
  • Engine Emissions (Truck, Idling)
  • Engine Emissions (Truck, Tailpipe)
  • Fuel Efficiency
  • SmartWay Program (exit TERC)
    		•
    Hazardous Waste Transport
    Applies to: Any person engaged in transporting waste that would be classified as "hazardous" according to criteria specified in rules developed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
    Requires:

    Hazardous waste transporters are required to obtain a federal ID number and to comply with recordkeeping and reporting regulations. Other regulations may apply in some states.
    See also:
  • Hazardous Waste
  • Hazardous Waste Determination
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
  • Universal Waste
    • LNG Tank Venting
    Back to Top
    Applies to: All liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tanks
    Requires: Both fuel level and internal tank temperature must be known to calculate how long an LNG tank can avoid venting fuel to the atmosphere.
    See also:
  • Alternative Fuels
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
    		•
    Locomotive Coolant Discharge
    Back to Top
    Applies to: Any discharge of locomotive coolant falls under the rules that apply to the discharge of any industrial wastewater.
    Requires: Wastewater discharged from locomotive cooling systems must be hauled to an appropriate treatment facility, or a permit must be obtained, either from local authorities to discharge to a municipal sewer system, or from the EPA to discharge directly to the environment.
    See also:
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
    		•
    Placarding
    Applies to:

    Any person who offers for transport or transports any materials that are regulated as "hazardous materials," including hazardous waste
    Requires:

    A diamond-shaped sign must be affixed to any motor vehicle that carries hazardous materials. The sign provides information about the type of hazard through special color, symbols, and indicator numbers, as specified in the regulations.
    See also:
  • Hazardous Waste
    		•
    SmartWay Program (exit TERC)
    Back to Top
    Applies to:

    Shippers, truck and rail transporters, logistics companies, truck stop operators, and others
    Requires:

    SmartWay is a voluntary program that provides resources to help achieve fuel efficiency improvements and emissions reduction, and identifies products and services that reduce transportation-related emissions
    See also:
  • Engine Emissions (Truck, Tailpipe)
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • National Clean Diesel Campaign (exit TERC)
    		•
    Vessel General Permit
    Applies to: Any vessel 79 feet in length or greater, except for military and recreational vessels; applies also to any non-recreational vessel under 79 feet that discharges ballast water into U.S. waters
    Requires: Vessel owners and operators must comply with requirements that include: assuring their discharges meet effluent limits, taking corrective actions to fix permit violations, and keeping and reporting records of inspections and monitoring data
    See also:
  • Ballast Water & Invasive Species
  • Bilgewater
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
  • Graywater
  • Ocean Dumping
  • Vessel Sewage Discharge
    		•
    Vessel Sewage Discharge
    Applies to: Any vessel with an installed toilet operating in U.S. waters
    Requires: Discharge must meet standards limiting bacterial level and solids content; discharge of sewage is prohibited entirely in some sensitive locations.
    See also:
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
  • Vessel General Permit (VGP)
    		•
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