Last week, EPA announced a new voluntary initiative called the "Diesel Retrofit Program" to clean up older diesel engines, trucks, buses and construction equipment.
EPA's initial goal is to get commitments from owners by the end of the year to retrofits 10,000 older heavy-duty diesel engines over the next two years.
The agency anticipates that these commitments will come from state and local governments, fleet operators and industry groups who can use available technology and other methods to reduce pollution from these engines.
Each year, diesel engines contribute millions of tons of soot, smog-forming and toxic pollution that can cause adverse health effects such as lung damage, respiratory problems and cancer.
Retrofitting 10,000 engines would eliminate roughly 15,000 tons of harmful pollution each year, according to EPA.
EPA hopes to work with other federal agencies, state governments, environmental groups and industries to encourage retrofitting of older diesel engines.
More information on EPA's diesel program can be found at www.epa.gov/oms/hd-hwy.htm.