The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a rule that would eliminate diesel exhaust fluid, or DEF, derate requirements on certain diesel-powered equipment. EPA South Central Regional Administrator Scott Mason says the proposal comes after months of feedback from farmers, ranchers and truckers, who identified DEF-related performance limitations as one of their biggest concerns.
“But our proposed rule would do away with all DEF deratements. So that means that now, instead of getting a deratement, you would just have an audible sound maybe that comes on in the cab of your tractor or your truck going forward to alert you that you’re low on DEF and you need to refill it with DEF. Or maybe it’s something similar to a check engine oil light or low fuel light that comes on in your vehicle. Whatever that looks like, the person driving the diesel-powered vehicle no longer have to worry that they’re going to go into a deratement of total shutdown, or 15, 20 miles an hour or something like that. They’re going to have time now to take it in on their own time and resolve the DEF issue and not be at the whim of the engine.”
The proposal is currently in a 45-day public comment period, and EPA officials say they’ll review public feedback before issuing a final rule. Mason says the proposal also includes changes aimed at reducing costs for truckers while keeping current emissions standards in place.
“I would also note that EPA is also specifically proposing to scale back the emissions warranty requirements that added the largest single cost to the trucking industry because truckers have been hampered by this just like farmers and ranchers. And so under this proposal, the Trump EPA would then maintain the underlying emission standards, including a nearly 90% of the nitrous oxide or NOx reductions while also sparing Americans from unnecessary warranty costs.”
Beyond diesel regulations, Mason says EPA is also continuing work on another issue closely watched by agriculture – the agency’s definition of Waters of the United States, or WOTUS.
“We have had listening sessions and roundtable discussions on WOTUS for the last several months, and so our headquarters team is still working on that. Know that this agency will come up with a proposal that, does have a proposal, that is durable, it is clear, it is concise, and it is in line with the Supreme Court’s decision on Sackett. So we’re still working on it, but it will be something that follows the law and is clear and it is durable, it is in plain English. No longer will you have to determine if your stock tank, as I often like to say at my farm in western Oklahoma, is not a Waters of the United States. So it will be a definition that is clear, concise, and durable and stand the test of time and the law.”