Other Transportation-Related Issues: Comments and Reply

• Fuel Efficiency Standards for Vehicles
• Off-Road Diesel Fuel and Engines
• Promotion of Sustainable Transportation
• Modal Equity: Trucking and Railway Locomotives

• The City of Toronto stated: "One of the proposal's achievements will be to reduce the disproportionate impact that large vehicles are having on air quality. The regulations will require sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and large vans to meet the emission standards set for light-utility vehicles, effectively ending the pollution control holiday that these large vehicles have enjoyed. The federal government could build on this progress by requiring SUVs to meet high fuel efficiency standards or by creating new incentives to promote more sustainable means of transportation."

Reply:

The primary purpose of the Regulations is to establish stringent new standards to reduce emissions from on-road vehicles that contribute to the formation of smog and other pollutants including some, such as benzene, that are listed as "toxic" under CEPA 1999.

While the Regulations do not address greenhouse gases from vehicles (i.e., carbon dioxide), this action represents only one element of the Government's overall strategy for cleaner vehicles. It should be looked at in conjunction with the support and encouragement being given by the Government to new technologies and alternative fuels, such as fuel cells and ethanol, to improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles. As a component of the Government's Climate Change Plan for Canada, the Minister of Natural Resources will be initiating negotiations with the auto industry towards new fuel efficiency targets for 2010 applicable to all light vehicles, including SUVs, pick-up trucks and cars.

• The City of Toronto stated: " I urge you to accelerate progress on reducing off-road emissions, through both engine and fuel improvements, and I look forward to a detailed announcement. As I noted in my letter dated February 18, 2002, I recommend limiting the sulphur level in off-road diesel fuel to fifteen parts per million, that of on-road diesel fuel. This progress would allow the adoption of advanced emission-reduction technology and provide substantial health benefits."

Reply:

The Minister's Federal Agenda on Cleaner Vehicles, Engines and Fuels addresses off-road diesel fuel. It states:

• "Environment Canada plans to recommend a regulatory limit for sulphur in off-road diesel. The limit would be established in the same time frame that the EPA plans for developing limits for sulphur in U.S. off-road diesel (expected to be in 2001). In preparation for this, Environment Canada will gather information on where off-road diesel is used, the effects of sulphur reduction on emissions, and the costs of reducing sulphur in diesel for use in all off-road engines and vehicles, including rail and marine applications."

It is anticipated that the U.S. will move forward with proposing a sulphur limit for off-road diesel in early 2003. Environment Canada will continue to monitor U.S. activities in this regard.

Environment Canada is also developing proposed emission standards for engines used in a variety of off-road applications, consistent with the Federal Agenda.

• The City of Toronto stated: "Air quality improvements stemming from the proposed regulations will accumulate very slowly because the regulations apply to new vehicles. At the same time, vehicle use is expected to increase. Non-regulatory incentives to promote sustainable transportation and only the cleanest fuels could substantially accelerate air quality improvements, and I encourage you to further explore these options."

Reply:

Environment Canada encourages sustainable means of transportation in a number of ways. Environment Canada is currently leading the development of a Code of Practice for On-Road Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance Programs. In 1994, through the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, the Department led the development of a Code of Practice for Light-Duty Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance Programs, which was updated in 1998 to reflect changes in testing equipment and procedures. Such programs provide for periodic testing of vehicle emissions.

Public education is an important component of the government's Clean Air Strategy. Accordingly, Environment Canada regularly conducts voluntary vehicle emission inspection clinics across the country, to raise public awareness of proper vehicle maintenance and its effect on emissions. As well, the Department supports programs that encourage owners to scrap older, higher-polluting vehicles in favour of newer and cleaner vehicles or alternatives such as public transit, bicycling and walking.

Additionally, Environment Canada is investigating advanced, cleaner and more efficient vehicle and engine technologies as potential replacements for conventional gasoline and diesel engines. Examples of these technologies include fuel cells, hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric systems. We are also continuing to support the development and use of alternatives to conventional fuels, such as renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel.

Finally, the Department recognizes that if the environmental impacts of transportation are to be fully addressed, all vehicle users must play a role. Accordingly, Environment Canada supports sustainable transportation policies, and encourages the use of car and van pooling, telecommuting, bicycling and other measures to reduce emissions. These types of initiatives, when combined with environmentally sound urban planning and public education, will significantly improve air quality.

The CTA stated:

• "CTA wishes to remind Environment Canada that no similar regulation of engine and fuel emissions exists in Canada with regard to railway locomotives, creating a competitive imbalance in the freight transportation marketplace and a significant health-emissions gap."
• "A 2001 study for the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation on the impact of increased trade on emissions concludes: "in all corridors, because of the decline in truck emissions, rail will contribute a much larger share of trade-related NO_x and PM10 emissions."
• "The Government of Canada must begin to make the railway industry reduce their health-related emissions."

Reply:

The authority for regulating railway locomotive emissions lies with Transport Canada under the Railway Safety Act. Environment Canada monitors locomotive emissions through information provided under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding locomotive emissions, signed by Environment Canada and the Railway Association of Canada in 1995. The MOU sets a cap on annual NO_xemissions from railway locomotives operating in Canada of 115,000 tonnes per annum. Going forward, Environment Canada will be working with Transport Canada to develop a strategy to address locomotive exhaust emissions. Among the measures being considered is regulatory action to align with U.S. emission standards for railway locomotives.

The Federal Agenda on Cleaner Vehicles, Engines and Fuels, published in February 2001 includes plans "to recommend a regulatory limit for sulphur in off-road diesel... in the same time frame that the EPA plans..." The Notice indicates that information gathering in support of a regulation would include an examination of rail applications.