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Jun 2, 2005 2:54 PM

To facilitate the transition to the ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel, the Environomental Protection Agency (EPA) announced plans to issue a rule later this year that will take two actions.

The first action will shift the retail compliance date from September 1 to October 15, 2006, to allow more time for distribution terminals and retail outlets to comply with the 15 ppm ULSD standard.

During this extended transition period, diesel fuel meeting a 22 ppm level can be marketed as ULSD downstream in order to speed the transition.

The action will help ensure nationwide transition to 15 ppm ULSD prior to the introduction of new clean diesel trucks and buses. The second action will establish a test program, in cooperation with the fuel industry, to collect the data necessary to determine if the current two part-per-million testing tolerance is sufficient.

These transitional steps will not interfere with the planned introduction of clean diesel vehicles and engines anticipated in the autumn of 2006, according to EPA officials. Nor will they reduce the environmental benefits that will be achieved by this historic Clean Diesel Program.