Companion legislation has been introduced in both the Senate and House to exempt existing stationary engines from two final rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, called the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines. The bills’ authors believe that unless these EPA rules are stopped, by 2013 farmers and ranchers will face retrofiting existing engines with expensive emission control technology and for the first time be subject to mandatory EPA recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
In the Senate, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts of Kansas have introduced S. 1702; and in the House, Representative Bob Latta of Ohio has introduced H.R. 3185.
Agriculture producers utilize stationary diesel, gasoline and natural gas engines to pump water necessary for crop and livestock production. And municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives use stationary diesel and natural gas engines to generate electricity during periods of high demand or during emergency situations – typically operating no more than 100 hours in a given year. |