EPA cited Conrail, Inc., Todesca Equipment Co., Inc., Arlex Oil Corp. and Lyons Fuel, Inc. for using high sulfur diesel fuel in its motor vehicles.
Federal law limits the sulfur content of fuels used in on-road vehicles to control air pollution.
The violations were discovered during inspections and fuel sampling conducted by EPA late last year. The Clean Air Act prohibits use of motor vehicle diesel fuel which contains sulfur in concentrations exceeding 0.05 percent. Use of high-sulfur diesel fuel in motor vehicles increases emissions of small particulate matter that is easily inhaled and can cause bronchitis, asthma, and respiratory infections. Small particulates also have been identified as probable human carcinogens.