My home state of Connecticut faces serious air quality challenges, as do many of the states in New England. Some Northeastern states need to make drastic reductions in both nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in addition to those anticipated from current and planned stationary source and motor vehicle emission control programs in order to fulfill the requirements of their state implementation plans. There are also significant challenges for some northeastern states in attaining EPAs National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone. Ambient toxic pollutant concentrations are a further concern: measured annual average concentrations of benzene, formaldehyde, and other toxics have been shown to exceed cancer risk thresholds in all monitoring locations in this regi on.
With challenges of this nature, the Northeast appreciates EPAs action on diesel sulfur. The proposed regulation on diesel sulfur will significantly reduce the cap on sulfur in diesel fuel. It is sorely needed, for heavy-duty vehicles are significant contributors to elevate d levels of ozone, fine particulate matter (PM), and the primary emissions of several key toxic air pollutants of concern in the region. Together, highway and non-road heavy-duty engines are responsible for roughly 33% of all nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, 75% of motor vehicle related PM, and 60% of aldehyde emissions in the northeast corridor. Diesel exhaust has also been classified as a probable human carcinogen by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in 1988, the International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC, 1989) and t he US EPA (US EPA draft, 1994).
For these reasons, I feel that this proposed regulation is a beneficial one. I realize, however, that there are concerns about the implementation of the regulation, and I am interested in finding out more about these concerns. I look forward to hearing from the witnesses.