DIESEL exhaust emissions from mining industry vehicles have emerged as one of the biggest threats to the health of Upper Hunter communities in the past decade.
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Air emissions inventory data shows that off-road diesel emissions, which include those from locomotives, have risen in direct relationship to the mining boom.
The emissions predominantly contain the finest particulate particles, which pose the greatest threat to human health.
In addition, the World Health Organisation elevated diesel fumes to the category of a "known carcinogen" from its previous classification of "probably carcinogenic" in 2012.
While emission limits for non-road diesels exist in many other countries, no such standards exist in Australia.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority is pushing for the introduction of tighter controls in NSW in an effort to protect communities, such as those in the Hunter.
‘‘The EPA has identified a need for leadership on non-road diesel emissions in light of the lack of national standards, growth in emissions from this sector, increasing evidence of adverse health impacts from diesel, and the availability of standards and proven technologies to reduce diesel emissions,’’ EPA chief environmental regulator Mark Gifford said.
The EPA hopes to have a diesel emission management strategy in place by the end of the year.
The authority is also working with the Commonwealth government to develop national measures to reduce diesel emissions. This includes the development of a national clean air agreement by 2016.
As with non-road engines, no regulations apply to limit exhaust emissions from diesel locomotives in Australia.
A report into reducing locomotive emissions in NSW estimated about 80per cent of Australian locomotives do not meet any US emission standards. The NSW fleet is generally older than the national average and is less fuel efficient.
The evaluation of studies of particle emissions from rail in the Hunter have highlighted the contribution that locomotives make to particulate levels. This data is the subject of further analysis.
‘The age of a locomotive used in Australia does not necessarily reflect its emission performance because even new locomotives are not required to meet any standards,’’ Mr Gifford said.
‘‘The diesel emission management strategy will contain actions that the EPA will be taking to address the air emissions from locomotives.’’
