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Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel will be the primary
highway diesel fuel produced.

The full transition to ULSD fuel is complex and involves coordination at many levels. Under the new EPA standards:

  • Refiners and importers nationwide must ensure that at least 80 percent of the volume of the highway diesel fuel they produce or import is ULSD-compliant by June 1, 2006.
  • Diesel fuel classified as ULSD must reach distribution and marketing points downstream from refineries (i.e., pipelines, distributors, terminals and transporters) by September 1, 2006 (July 15, 2006 in California).
  • ULSD fuel is expected to be available at many retail locations by October 15, 2006
    (September 1, 2006 in California).
  • Diesel fuel classified as Low Sulfur Diesel fuel may still be sold at retail locations outside of California between October 15, 2006 and December 1, 2010.
  • The State of Alaska has received an extension of the highway fuel 15 ppm requirement.
Effective Dates for Highway ULSD Fuel
Who
What U.S. California
Refiners &
Importers		 Import/produce at least 80% ULSD for on highway use 6/01/06  
Import/produce at least 100% ULSD for on highway use 6/01/10 6/01/06
Downstream from
Refineries through
Fuel Terminals 		Facilities that choose to carry ULSD must meet 15 ppm
sulfur specification		 9/01/06  
All highway diesel must be ULSD 10/01/10 7/15/06
Retail Outlets Facilities that choose to carry ULSD must meet
15 ppm sulfur specification 		10/15/06  
All highway diesel must be ULSD 12/01/10 9/01/06

Although ULSD fuel will be the dominant highway diesel fuel produced, EPA does not require service stations and truck stops to sell ULSD fuel. Therefore, it is possible that ULSD fuel might not be available initially at every service station or truck stop and that a diesel retailer may choose to sell Low Sulfur Diesel fuel instead of ULSD fuel. The industries involved in the transition are doing all they can to minimize potential inconveniences during the conversion to the new diesel fuel.

Federal regulations require the labeling of all diesel fuel pumps to specify the type of fuel dispensed by each pump (except in California where all diesel fuel must be ULSD by June 1, 2006). Similar instrument panel and fuel inlet/fill cap labeling is being mandated for 2007 and later model year highway engines and vehicles that require ULSD fuel.* Consumers are advised to check the pump and vehicle labels to ensure they are refueling with the proper diesel fuel consistent with their vehicle warranties.

The new standards provide strong incentives for suppliers to provide the proper ULSD fuel formulation. Civil penalties of up to $32,500 per violation per day can be assessed for non-compliance with EPA’s ULSD fuel standards, or for misrepresentation of the sulfur level of diesel fuel.

Click here for downloadable pump labels in TIF, JPG and EPS formats.

 

*Exception – Some 2007 model year medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks may be equipped with 2006 engines and emission systems. These vehicles are not required to use ULSD fuel.

 
  
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