NYSERDA-funded program establishes protocol and leads off-road field testing efforts for diesel emission controls on construction equipment used by the New York City Department of Sanitation BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and MORRISVILLE, N.C., July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Southern Research Institute today announced that it has completed the first round of installations and testing of clean diesel technologies for the Clean Diesel Technology/Off-Road Field-Testing Program at the New York City Department of Sanitation in Maspeth, Queens, NY. Under a three-year contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Southern Research has developed and assembled a testing protocol and is also managing the testing efforts for the project with the goal being to reduce air pollution in New York State. This universal testing protocol can be adopted and utilized by other state and federal agencies for in-use emission testing. The project is sponsored by NYSERDA in collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) and supplemented by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Clean Diesel Campaign. The purpose of the program is to evaluate and improve diesel emissions from off-road equipment, generate emission factors with and without control technologies and assess the performance of the control technologies tested using a standard in-use testing protocol developed under the program. "NYSERDA is eager to have these results from Southern Research, as increased scrutiny and emphasis on reduction of diesel exhaust pollution is critical," said Paul D. Tonko, president and CEO, NYSERDA. "This focus on off- road vehicles, typically used in construction, is an important element in understanding how emission-control technologies can play a role in improving air quality in the New York City Metropolitan Area and statewide. We are pleased to cooperate with several government agencies in this project." "Reducing the emissions of diesel pollution is a crucial component of EPA's strategy for cleaner air and healthier Americans," said Alan J. Steinberg, Regional Administrator, EPA. "Diesel emissions are a significant source of pollution and a risk to public health, but together with our partners, we are moving America toward a cleaner, healthier, more productive future." Southern Research, together with Environment Canada and NYSDEC, has completed nine of the 15 planned tests on diesel construction equipment operated by the New York City Department of Sanitation. In addition to the 15 planned in-use emission tests, Southern Research and its partners, Environment Canada and Emisstar, are managing the demonstration of 13 additional technologies. Nett Technologies, Clean Air Systems, Engine Control Systems, Extengine, Airmeex, Donaldson, HUSS, DCL, Airflow Catalyst Systems and Johnson Matthey (via Caterpillar) have all provided technologies for the project. "The Department of Sanitation is pleased to participate in this off-road field testing project especially since the department is nationally known for using innovative technology," said John J. Doherty, Commissioner, New York City Dept. of Sanitation. "We are always looking for new ways to improve our services while reducing truck emissions and being environmentally friendly to the areas we serve." The demonstration and in-use testing of a variety of passive, active, and flow through diesel particulate filters, diesel oxidation catalysts, and a selective catalytic reduction system on the DSNY non-road construction equipment will provide needed information on the effectiveness of these technologies in novel applications, in addition to providing significant reductions in emissions from the DSNY fleet. "This is an important initiative to help control air pollution caused by emissions from existing diesel engines," said Stephen Piccot, director of Environment and Energy Research at Southern Research Institute. "Our collaborative approach will provide important performance, economic, and operational information that will be invaluable in designing future diesel retrofit programs, not to mention developing better air quality policies and equipment usage guidelines." More information will be available about this program in a report that will be issued at the conclusion of all testing. An event to discuss the project and its results with others interested in emissions control and new technologies is tentatively being planned for the spring in 2008.
