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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.
Engine Emissions (Nonroad and Auxiliary Equipment)
For information on other types of engines, see references in the More Resources section below.
Who is covered by the regulations? Engine manufacturers bear the primary responsibility for meeting the standards, but in many cases owners and operators are required to maintain the equipment so that it continues to meet the standards. In some states, including California, some types of engines must be registered with the state. What is the purpose of the regulations? Internal combustion engines generate:
In a 1991 study, various small nonroad engines were found to generate toxic emissions at about one to four times the rate per hour of operation as compared to the engine powering a standard passenger vehicle, and emission rates from larger equipment such as tractors and outboard motors could exceed ten times the rate from a vehicle. In densely populated regions, emissions from nonroad sources can add up to a significant burden. In several large metropolitan areas, the total contribution to the atmospheric concentration of some key pollutants from small and nonroad engines was found to be greater than the contribution of those pollutants coming from all of the heavy-duty highway traffic operating in the area. Nonroad engines are in widespread use in the transportation sector, as in many other sectors. This section provides an overview of regulations that apply generally, and includes some extra detail on forklift trucks, RICE engines (e.g., generators) and transport refrigeration units, engines that are commonly used in specifically transportation-related applications. General Overview: Engines can be classified in many different ways: spark-ignition vs. diesel, mobile vs. stationary, large vs. small, etc. Different types of engines can present different emission profiles and different control problems. Accordingly, several different sets of standards have been developed for various engine types and applications. Although the burden of compliance falls most directly on manufacturers, owners and operators are required to take steps to assure that the engines remain in compliance with the standards during their service life. The operator's obligations are somewhat different depending on the type of engine, the applications involved, the emissions status of the facility (stationary engines installed at facilities which are large emitters, termed "major sources", operate under more stringent rules), the model year of the engine, and other factors. In general, owners and operators of spark-ignition engines must keep maintenance records, and owners and operators of stationary diesel engines must use fuel compliant with fuel standards, and must install back-pressure monitoring devices on particulate filters. Some large engines require filing a notification with EPA. A comprehensive list of compliance requirements for stationary engines can be found at the Combustion Portal website. Here is additional information on three applications of special interest for transportation facilities: Forklift Trucks powered by large spark-ignition engines (over 25 horsepower) fall under a general federal regulation that also applies to such items as generators and air compressors. The rules apply most directly to manufacturers and importers, who are required to certify that engines sold in the United States comply with the relevant emissions standards. In California, anyone who operates four or more forklifts is considered a "fleet operator", and is required to maintain records documenting both that the engines comply with the rules, and that the fuel purchased for the engines is compatible with compliant operation. The records do not have to be reported, but can be requested at any time by the state for inspection. Operators of "medium fleets" (4 to 25 vehicles) and of "large fleets" (26 or more vehicles) are required to meet specific emissions targets as listed in the final regulation order (2011). Stationary Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE) are used by the transportation industry to drive process equipment such as compressors, pumps, and for standby generators. Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) are defined by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) as: "refrigeration systems powered by diesel internal combustion engines designed to refrigerate or heat perishable products that are transported in various containers, including semi-trailers, truck vans, shipping containers, and rail cars." Starting in 2009, all in-use TRUs based in California must be registered with the state. Over the next ten years, a series of increasingly stringent emission standards are being phased in. In some cases, operators will need emission controls to remain in compliance with the standards. CARB provides a compliance guide with additional details. Auxiliary Power Units (APUs), small engines used to provide power for in-cab temperature control and other amenities while the truck is stopped, operate with lower emissions than an idling truck engine. Detailed information on California regulations covering offroad diesel engines is provided by California Air Resources Board, as well as pages on forklift trucks and transport refrigeration units. The DieselNet website provides detailed summaries of federal and California emissions standards (as well as Canadian, Mexican, and global standards) applying to diesel engines. Emissions standards for stationary engines (both diesel and spark-ignition) are summarized on the Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE) page provided by the Combustion Portal website. The page lists the compliance obligations of owners and operators separately from the obligations of manufacturers. For regulations that apply to engines used to power road vehicles, see the TERC pages on:
More information on regulations applying to locomotives and marine engines can be found on the DieselNet website. For regulations that apply to engine fuels, see the TERC pages on:
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Compliance Summary Tool
