The earth's PROTECTIVE ozone layer is thinning - this is a big problem
Ground level ozone (smog) is a BAD thing - burns the eyes, irritant, etc. On 3/30/07, R A Bennell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hey I'm not a chemist or whatever one might need to be, but don't they keep telling us there is a shortage of ozone?? Randy -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of ernest breakfield Sent: Friday, March 30, 2007 3:14 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] From Greenwire -- AIR POLLUTION: EPA issues guidance fordiesel engine NOx controls huh? i had a little difficulty with this one line: "NOx is a primary component of ground-level ozone, the nation's leading air pollution threat, and is also a precursor pollutant in the formation of fine particulate matter, or soot..." sounds like they're trying to say particulate matter is caused by some reaction with NOx. am i misinterpreting this, or how's that work? cheers! e [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > This Greenwire story was sent to you by: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [1]Greenwire > An E&E Publishing Service > > Greenwire -- Friday, March 30, 2007 > > AIR POLLUTION: EPA issues guidance for diesel engine NOx controls > > Daniel Cusick, Greenwire reporter > > Tens of millions of tons of diesel fuel pollution, including nitrogen oxides > (NOx) and particulate matter, could be reduced under new U.S. EPA guidance > that allows automakers to install selective catalyst reduction (SCR) > technology on diesel-powered cars and trucks, the agency said today. > > The [2]guidance, issued this week in a 10-page memo from Karl J. Simon, > EPA's acting compliance and innovative director, to automakers, will help > manufacturers comply with tough new emissions standards for NOx emitted from > diesel engines. > > The standard, set at 0.20 grams of NOx per brake horsepower-hour, is being > phased in between model years 2007 to 2010, according to EPA. NOx is a > primary component of ground-level ozone, the nation's leading air pollution > threat, and is also a precursor pollutant in the formation of fine > particulate matter, or soot, that affects millions with asthma, bronchitis > or other lung ailments. > > Since EPA published its diesel engine NOx standard in 2001, engine makers > have experimented with a variety of technologies to control the pollutant. > Selective catalytic reduction, which is already widely used to control NOx > from area source emitters such as industrial plants, ultimately won favor > with EPA and manufacturers because it can achieve as high as 90 percent > reductions in NOx. > > In a release, EPA said the new guidance on emission certification procedures > for on-road diesel engines using SCR technology "helps pave the way for > putting more innovative and fuel-efficient clean diesel cars and trucks on > America's roads." > > While endorsing the move toward greater use of SCR on diesel engines, Simon > noted that the technology "is still evolving" and added that EPA "reserves > the right to make any necessary changes" to the guidance as conditions > warrant. > > One concern about SCR's use in motor vehicle engines is that the technology > requires regular replenishment of a NOx reducing agent, usually ammonia or > urea, to be effective. If an engine were to run out of its reducing agent > while in use, its NOx reduction capability would drop to zero, according to > EPA. > > "Because the NOx efficiency and thus the NOx emissions performance of an SCR > system is so dependent upon a nitrogen-containing reducing agent, it is > critical than a vehicle using SCR never operate without the reducing agent," > Simon wrote in the guidance letter. > > Yet many manufacturers have warned that they would not be able to store > sufficient volumes of ammonia or urea on a motor vehicle to allow for > federally recommended maintenance intervals of between 100,000 and 150,000 > miles. > > As such, "It may be appropriate for EPA to approve an industry-wide > scheduled maintenance change, as we have done previously in similar > situations," the guidance states. > > Manufacturers will need to gain approval for their SCR strategies as part of > the EPA certification process. Among the other requirements for > certification are driver warning systems and inducement measures, a track > record of system durability and reliability, and reducing agent quality and > availability, EPA said. > > Diesel engine manufacturers, represented by the Diesel Technology Forum, > have assured that all new engines being produced for highway use will meet > EPA's air pollution standards, including for NOx and particulate matter. > > In January, the group announced that all new big rigs are equipped with > innovative new PM-trapping filters and that NOx emissions have also been > significantly cut due to improved technology. The enginemakers said model > year 2007 trucks are 90 percent cleaner than the previous generation of > trucks. > > Allen Schaeffer, director of the Diesel Technology Forum, said this morning > that the new SCR guidance comes after nearly two years of conversations > between EPA and enginemakers over how to make further reductions in NOx > emissions. He said it "sets the stage closer to a time when we'll have even > cleaner diesel engines that are delivering even higher fuel efficiency." > > Dieter Zetsche, chairman of DaimlerChrysler and head of its Mercedes car > division, also issued a statement saying his company "welcomes and supports" > EPA's guidance on SCR technology for on-road diesel engines, adding it > "serves to reinforce diesel's benefit as a viable alternative to help reduce > fuel consumption and ultimately, reduce oil imports." > > [3]Click here to read the diesel engine guidance memo. > > Want more stories like this every day? Sign up for a free trial and get the > best environmental and energy policy coverage available. Go to > [4]http://www.eenews.net/trial/ > > About Greenwire > > Greenwire is written and produced by the staff of E&E Publishing, LLC. The > one-stop source for those who need to stay on top of all of todays major > energy and environmental action with an average of more than 20 stories a > day, Greenwire covers the complete spectrum, from electricity industry > restructuring to Clean Air Act litigation to public lands management. > Greenwire publishes daily at Noon. > > [eepubs_logo.gif] E&E Publishing, LLC > 122 C St., Ste. 722, NW, Wash., D.C. 20001. > Phone: 202-628-6500. Fax: 202-737-5299. > [5]www.eenews.net > > All content is copyrighted and may not be reproduced or retransmitted > without the express consent of E&E Publishing, LLC. 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