First and foremost, the direct emission effects of sulphur in gasoline, regardless of effects caused by damage to emission control systems, justify lowering sulphur content to 30 ppm. Given this justification, there is no need to delay adoption of a 30 ppm standard pending determination of whether it is needed to support future vehicle technology. It might, however, cause unnecessary costs to the refining industry if Canada adopted a 150 ppm standard now, only to replace it with a 30 ppm standard once the needs of future vehicle emissions technology became clear. It is illogical to hinge Canadian gas standards on a US vehicle standard which is becoming irrelevant. Sulphur in gasoline may already be causing permanent degradation of the emission control systems of Canadian cars, and this is likely to become more significant over the next few years.
Immediate action is needed to guard against any such degradation of emission control systems.
It is imperative that standards be uniform national standards for several reasons. Second, a uniform national standard will ensure the highest degree of air quality in areas experiencing the most acute air quality problems, i.e. the Lower Fraser Valley and Windsor Quebec corridor. As noted above, there is some evidence that damage to emission control systems from sulphur is permanent. Since, vehicles typically move between areas with acute air quality problems and other areas, lower standards in the other areas could lead to damage to the emission control systems of vehicles used in poor air quality areas. We are disappointed by the recommendation of the Government Working Group regarding delaying adoption of a low sulphur diesel standard pending further study.