Hello,

This is from the EPA site on our fuel and sulfur content.


\9\ Such 500 ppm fuel can only be used in model year 2006 and
earlier highway diesel engines.
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The nonroad diesel program requires that beginning June 1, 2007,
diesel fuel produced for use in nonroad, locomotive, and marine diesel
engines (NRLM diesel fuel) must meet a 500 ppm sulfur standard.\10\ The
nonroad program also provides for the generation of early credits for
the production of 500 ppm NRLM diesel fuel beginning June 1, 2006.
Thus, from June 1, 2006 through December 1, 2010, we expect that there
will be both 500 ppm NRLM and 500 ppm highway diesel fuel in the diesel
fuel distribution system. While 500 ppm highway diesel fuel may be used
in highway or nonroad engines or other suitable distillate fuel
applications without restriction, the nonroad rule closely controls how
much 500 ppm diesel fuel that is designated as NRLM may be shifted for
use in highway vehicles, in order to maintain the integrity of the
highway program (by ensuring the production of 15 ppm diesel fuel).
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\10\ The nonroad program includes small refiner and credit
provisions that provide for the limited production of high sulfur
(>500 ppm) NRLM diesel fuel until June 1, 2010.
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In the 1993 highway diesel rule, EPA generally required that any
diesel fuel that does not show visible evidence of red dye would be
subject to all of the requirements applicable to highway diesel fuel.
To comply with this requirement, refiners add a visible trace of red
dye to non-highway diesel fuel prior to it leaving the refinery gate.
If this requirement were maintained, there would be no difficulty in
differentiating 500 ppm highway diesel fuel from other diesel fuel.
During the development of the nonroad diesel rule, fuel distributors
requested that EPA provide that 500 ppm NRLM fuel not be subject to the
refinery gate red dye requirement. This would allow for the fungible
shipment of 500 ppm NRLM and 500 ppm highway diesel until the point in
the distribution system where NRLM diesel fuel must be dyed red to
indicate its non-tax status (that is, prior to leaving the
terminal).\11\ Commenters stated that there would be a substantial
savings in fuel distribution costs if the two grades of 500 ppm diesel
fuel could be fungibly mixed until they leave the terminal.\12\
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\11\ Pursuant to Internal Revenue Service Requirements (26
U.S.C. 4082).
\12\ This is primarily due to the reduced need for segregated
storage tanks prior to leaving the terminal.
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In considering this request from distributors in the nonroad diesel
rule, EPA recognized that in the absence of the refinery gate red dye
provisions, 500 ppm sulfur highway diesel fuel allowed under the
highway diesel fuel program's TCO and 500 ppm NRLM diesel fuel would be
physically the same up to the point where the NRLM leaves the terminal
and is dyed for tax purposes. Therefore, maintaining the benefits and
integrity of the highway diesel fuel"

From this we learn that;

1. Red dye is only for tax purposes and can be used in any legal fuel formulation.

2. The highway and nonroad fuel up to the 500ppm level is identical except for the red dye.

3. Nonroad fuel exceeding 500ppm is allows by some refineries in limited quantities.

4. Highway diesel at the local pump can be meet the 15 or 500 ppm spec and the pump should be labeled appropriately.

5. Nonroad fuel can be the 15, 500 or >500ppm spec and should be labeled appropriately.

Damon

 

BAMCIS! ladies and gentlemen.