2006年NPR美国国家公共电台六月-Clean Trucks, Clean Emissions（在线收听） |
| Diesel fuel in the US and the fumes from diesel engines are about to get a whole lot cleaner. As of today, the Environmental Protection Agency is requiring much of the diesel in the country to have 97% less sulfur in it. It's the start of a project that will change not only diesel fuel, but the trucks, cars and eventually ships and trains that burn it. NPR's Jeff Brady has the story. The EPA is requiring 2 things the companies that make diesel fuel will have to reduce the amount of sulfur in that fuel to almost nothing and the manufactures that make diesel engines will have to install new pollution control devices. Margo Oge with the EPA says once the project is fully implemented in 3 years everyone will breathe easier. "If you have ever driven behind a large truck or a bus, you are very familiar with the smell and smoke and the clouds that come out from those, you know, trucks and buses. This is going to be a thing of the past." Oge says this is one of the most significant programs the EPA has undertaken. She says it's on par with the agency's program to eliminate lead from gasoline in the 1970s. That allowed carmakers to install catalytic converters which have dramatically reduced vehicle pollution. In diesel engines, Oge says sulfur is just like lead. "Sulfur in diesel fuel poisons catalytic converters." With less sulfur in diesel engine, manufactures would be able to put catalytic converters on those engines too. The EPA estimates the reduced pollution will prevent more than 8000 premature death each year and reduce the incidents of breathing problems for asthma suffers. The European Union has been using low sulfur diesel for years. But within just a few months the US will have lower sulfur standards than what the EU requires. C.D. is with the National Petrol Chemical and Refiner's Association. He says it is not easy to meet the new EPA standards and he says it's costing the industry about 9 billion dollars. " Not to get too technical, when you get down to those ultra,ultra low levels of sulfur in the fuel. There are only a few molecules of sulfur left and the easy ones to take out are already gone and those three are left in there. They just don't want to come out of the crude.” The industry sued the EPA a few years back to block these standards they wanted the level set a bit higher, but they lost in court. Refiners aren't the only ones that have to change the way they do business. Starting in 2007 truck manufactures will have to put catalytic converters on their engines. Most truck drivers at a fueling stop near Denver said they didn't even know the rules were on the way. Scotten Colon from Las Vegas says he learnt about the rules from a sticker on a fuel pump, but he doesn't think it is fair that truckers are forced to comply with new regulations while competitors are not. "Well, I look at the ocean liners sitting out at the dock, sitting there idling away with them engines. Oh, that doesn't matter. On the locomotives, you and I see everyday, you know, pumping diesel out of them. They haven't upgraded them yet, have they?” That is true but the EPA says their time is coming. New emission rules for diesel burning ships and trains are expected within the year. Still truck drivers worry the new rules will push up diesel prices and that is a possibility. Companies that manage large fleets of trucks say they are also worried the supply of diesel might be interrupted as the new fuel is phased in over the coming month. Jeff Brady, NPR News, Denver. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- diesel:a type of heavy oil used instead of petrol in engines, especially in trucks, buses, and trains;柴油 sulfur:a common light yellow chemical substance that burns with a very strong unpleasant smell, and is used in drugs, explosives, and industry;硫磺 be on par with:to be at the same level or standard; 等同于,相同于...水平或标准 catalytic converter:a piece of equipment fitted to a car's exhaust system that reduces the amount of poisonous gases the engine sends out; 触媒转化器 asthma:a medical condition that causes difficulties in breathing;哮喘 ultra:extremely;过激的, 极端的 fuel pump:燃油泵 ocean liner:a large ship for passengers; 远洋定期客轮 sit out:to stay where you are and do nothing until something finishes, especially something boring or unpleasant ;袖手旁观, 比...坐得久, 坐到结束, 坐在户外 idle away:to spend time in a relaxed way, doing nothing; 荒废, 浪费 locomotive:a railway engine;火车头,机车 push up:increase;增加, 提高 phase:to make something happen gradually in a planned way;逐渐稳定(发生) |
| 原文地址：http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/NPR2006/40833.html |