New NJDEP Air Pollution Rules Will Reduce Dirty & Dangerous Diesel Truck Pollution

Trenton — — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has proposed the “Low NOx” Omnibus air diesel pollution reduction rule based on California’s Model Year 2027 or Later Heavy-Duty New Engine and Vehicle Standards and Requirements, known as the Omnibus Rule.

The proposed rule will reduce toxic air pollution to ensure that medium and heavy duty trucks will be subject to the most stringent emission standards that are technically feasible for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). The proposal will ensure that all heavy-duty vehicles are subject to the same emission inspection procedures and standards, amend the definition of gross vehicle weight rating, and constitutes a revision to New Jersey’s State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the attainment and maintenance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground level ozone.

In addition to adopting the Advanced Clean Truck rule last December, New Jersey adopts requirements analogous to those adopted by California under the NOx Omnibus Rule. This rule requires an additional 75 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the engines in new gasoline and diesel trucks sold between model year 2025 and 2026, and a 90 percent reduction for trucks sold beginning in the 2027 model year. The proposed rule is modeled after California’s emission standards for new Model Year 2027 and later gasoline and diesel engines and vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 pounds, commonly known as medium and heavy duty trucks.

Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey, released the following statement upon the release of the NJDEP rule:

“Dirty diesel trucks are a public health scourge on our roads and in our neighborhoods, and deliver toxic air pollution directly to the lungs of residents, primarily in overburdened communities. For close to 20 years, the standards for toxic pollution from large medium and heavy duty trucks have stood still. It’s time to work to reduce diesel pollution by more than 90% using the best available technology and we strongly support the NJDEP and the Murphy Administration’s actions to propose this rule.

We need to electrify our truck fleet through the Advanced Clean Truck rule, but during the transition to electrification we need to reduce toxic particulate matter pollution from new diesel vehicles as much as possible. We urge NJDEP to adopt this rule as quickly as possible especially because this rule is adopting by reference California’s truck pollution rule. There is a clear public health benefit when we clean up the truck pollution that harms the air quality of our urban neighborhood. NJDEP should move forward with this rule and work to adopt by reference the Advanced Clean Cars II rule, which will accelerate the transition to light duty electric vehicles. New Jersey residents deserve cleaner air and this rule will make that day closer.”

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