AGC Releases Findings on Low-Cost Ways to Reduce Air Emmissions from Nonroad Construction Equipment

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) released the findings of a joint study with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focused on low-cost ways to reduce air emissions from nonroad construction equipment. 

The report examines a variety of equipment operation and maintenance measures, fuel strategies and technologies that companies can employ. AGC collaborated with EPA's Sector Strategies Program and the Office of Transportation and Air Quality to document the costs and benefits of the strategies and discuss practical implementation issues. 

The findings suggest that operating practices such as reduced idling, improved preventive maintenance and operator training will produce both business and environmental benefits. Reducing emissions from the existing "legacy" diesel fleet is an important component of EPA's Clean Diesel Campaign. EPA presently does not mandate retrofits, but instead clean up their equipment. 

AGC hopes states will use the findings in this report to develop workable clean air plans that balance industry economic interests with environmental goals. The full report, titled Cleaner Diesels: Low Cost Ways to Reduce Emissions from Construction Equipment, is available on AGC's environmental web page under "Hot Topics" at www.agc.org/hottopics.