ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    July 19,
    1990
    IN THE MATTER OF:
    )
    DIESEL VEHICLE EXHAUST
    )
    R90-20
    OPACITY LIMITS
    )
    (Rulemaking)
    INQUIRY HEARINGS.
    ORDER OF THE BOARD
    (by J.D. Dumelle):
    A
    cortunon citizen complaint is that of Diesel—powered trucks
    and buses emitting dense black plumes
    of smoke
    in crowded city
    streets or on highways.
    These plumes are smelly,
    soiling, and
    visually offending.
    The IEPA Vehicle Emissions Program manager
    stated in February,
    1990 that they receive from 600
    to 900
    complaints a month on this subject.
    Illinois has an existing Diesel engine exhaust opacity rule
    but
    it applies only to pre—1970 engines.
    This rule, Section
    240.l22(a-d), was probably a
    ‘carryover”
    rule enacted by the
    former Illinois Air Pollution Board and retained by this Board at
    the time of the transition on July
    1,
    1970.
    A rulemaking
    for
    Diesel locomotives was enacted by the Board on January 31,
    1974
    (R723)
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    in a leaflet titled
    “Control of Emissions from Buses and Trucks” dated October,
    1988
    states:
    Diesel particulate matter
    is the small,
    solid and liquid particles emitted by
    a diesel
    engine.
    The size and chemical composition of
    diesel particulate matter are the chief
    reasons for concern about the effects on human
    health.
    The small size increases the
    likelihood that the particles will reach and
    lodge
    in the deepest and most sensitive areas
    of the human lungs.
    Particulate matter that accumulates
    in
    lungs can lead to severe lung problems and
    increased susceptibility to respiratory
    infection,
    such as pneumonia, and aggravation
    of acute and chronic bronchitis and asthma.
    Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are
    hundreds of organic chemical compounds emitted
    by diesel engines.
    These compounds attach
    to
    113-~4O5
    —2—
    diesel engine particulates and are carried
    into the lungs, where they can remain for
    significant periods.
    Some polynuclear
    aromatic hydrocarbons are known
    to cause
    cancer
    in animals.
    The USEPA on July 31,
    1987 promulgated particulate rules
    for
    material under
    10 microns in size.
    These are the same size as
    the particles contained
    in Diesel exhaust.
    Illinois has not yet
    enacted
    its own “particulate matter—lO
    (PM—lU)
    rules but must do
    so soon.
    A paper
    by David T. Jones of the South Coast Air Quality
    Management District dated May,
    1989 states:
    In 1985 heavy—duty diesel engines
    contributed 18.17
    tons per day of PM—lU
    particulates
    in the South Coast Air Basin
    which amounted
    to 30
    of
    the mobile
    source contribution.
    The Board has collected the existing Diesel vehicle opacity
    regulations
    from 6 States and three cities.
    They are as follows:
    GOVERNMENT
    OPACITY LIMIT
    TIME ALLOWANCE
    1.
    Arizona
    20
    10 seconds
    2.
    ChIcago
    30
    See Note
    3.
    Colorado
    40
    5 seconds
    4.
    Florida
    20
    5 seconds
    5.
    Illinois
    30
    15 seconds
    6.
    Los Angeles
    (SCAQMD)
    20
    10 seconds
    7.
    Louisville,
    KY
    10
    None
    8.
    New Jersey
    20
    Not known
    9.
    Wisconsin
    20
    Not known
    NOTES~:
    No.
    2.
    Chicago
    An exception of
    40
    opacity
    for
    4
    minutes out of
    30 minute period may
    be applicable.
    No.
    4
    Florida
    The data listed are for dynamometer
    testing.
    Diesel—powered motor
    I 3~-~Y~(
    —3—
    vehicles
    in cruise mode (constant
    speed)
    or idling shall have no
    visible emissions after
    5 seconds.
    No.
    5
    Illinois
    Applies only to pre—1970 diesel
    engines.
    No.
    6
    Los Angeles
    Applies
    to 1971 and later vehicles.
    (SCAQMD)
    No.
    7
    Louisville,
    KY
    Idle mode.
    No.
    8
    New Jersey
    Diesel—powered autobuses must meet a
    12
    opacity standard.
    In analyzing the above rules it would appear that newer
    rules
    (omitting Chicago’s and Illinois’)
    are predominantly at 20
    opacity limits.
    Colorado
    is at 40
    and
    is an exception.
    The
    Louisville limit
    of 10
    is for vehicles
    in an idle mode,
    not
    moving.
    The Board will conduct inquiry hearings on a possible Diesel
    vehicle exhaust opacity limit but excluding Diesel locomotives.
    Comments and testimony are requested on the following topics.
    What should an opacity limit be?
    Is
    20
    a limit that is
    achievable with reasonable engine maintenance?
    Should a time exemption be given?
    If
    so,
    for what length of
    time?
    What
    is the contribution in tons per day of all Diesel
    vehicles (excluding diesel locomotives)
    to the PM—b
    loading
    of the Chicago and Metro East areas?
    How much of this might
    be controlled by enforcement of an opacity standard?
    Are there human allergic or asthmatic
    reactions to Diesel
    particulate matter?
    If so,
    are they severe?
    Are there any risk assessments
    for any types of illness as
    relates to Diesel vehicle exhaust?
    IT IS SO ORDERED.
    I,
    Dorothy M.
    Gunn, Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
    Board, do hereby certif
    th~above Order was adopted on
    the
    /~ti
    day of
    ‘—U_•
    ,
    1990 by a vote
    of
    —~)
    .-‘
    I.
    3—4(17

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