Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, Ill., last week urged the United States Environmental Protection Agency to seek ways to standardize emissions regulations with Europe and Japan, as a way to assure more consistent global emissions reductions while minimizing the cost of new technology for consumers and manufacturers. The company presented its position during testimony at an EPA hearing in New York on Future "Tier 4" regulations for clean diesel engines used in non-road construction and mining machines, and industrial power equipment.
"Establishing consistent regulations with Europe and Japan would minimize the cost of developing lower emissions technology by providing universal technology solutions for customers who depend on machines for capital improvements on several continents," Said Richard Thompson, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for the company's engine division.
Tier 4 regulations are scheduled to be implemented for non-raod diesel engines beginning in 2008, and will be completely phased in by 2014. EPA has regulated engines used in non-road applications since 1996. Caterpillar has reduced emissions in non-road machines by more than 40 percent since 1995 and, by meeting the proposed Tier 4 regulations, would reduce emissions an additional 90 percent by 2014.