National Fuel Quality Standards Regulation Impact Statement 1 ...

More documents

Recommendations

Info

4.6.1 Advantages and Disadvantages Management mechanisms to limit vehicle travel are more relevant for transport emissions, rather than fuel quality per se. While these mechanisms will have an important place in stabilising and reducing transport air emissions, they are beyond the scope of the objectives specified for this <strong>Statement</strong>. Summary Mechanisms to limit vehicle travel are not directly related to fuel quality. They do not ensure the fuel quality auto manufacturers require to meet ADRs on emission standards and improve fuel efficiency of vehicles, and are therefore unable to meet the assessment criteria outlined at the beginning of this section. 4.7 COMMONWEALTH REGULATION (Option 7) Commonwealth legislation will provide the framework for a national fuel standards regime with the levels for each of the parameters in petrol and diesel set in regulations under the Act. It is proposed, subject to any time constraints, that the framework legislation will be in place by the end of 2000. The primary legislation will also enable standards to be set for other fuels to be specified by regulation in the future (e.g. alternative road transport fuels such as LPG, biodiesel, or marine and aviation fuels), if this becomes a priority for the Government. The primary legislation will contain the following elements: a) a regulation making power to permit setting standards for fuels; b) provisions creating offences relating to the supply of fuel that does not meet standards specified in the regulations; c) monitoring and enforcement provisions, setting out record keeping and reporting requirements imposed on suppliers and providing authority for the Commonwealth to sample, monitor and enforce the fuel quality requirements; and d) administrative arrangements for granting of exemptions from the standards where this is in the public interest or in specified circumstances, for example to meet the requirement of different climatic conditions. The legislation will apply equally to fuel importers and domestic refiners. It will regulate the quality of fuel along the entire chain of supply, so that importers, domestic producers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers will be held accountable for fuel quality under the Act. The intention of the legislation is not to dictate the composition of fuel, but rather to establish standards for certain fuel parameters. The regulations will specify, for each fuel type, the level at which a particular fuel parameter, for example sulfur content, will be set and the timeframe by which the parameter standard must be met.
The Commonwealth proposal for fuel standards sets out a timeframe including the following key dates: * for diesel - harmonisation with Euro 2/3 diesel fuel specifications by 1 January 2002 ; and - harmonisation with Euro 4 diesel fuel specifications before 1 January 2006. * for petrol - harmonisation with Euro 2 petrol specifications (Euro 3 for sulfur content) by 1 January 2002; - harmonisation with Euro 3 petrol specifications by 1 January 2005 (Euro 4 for sulfur content); and - harmonisation with Euro 4 petrol specifications by 1 January 2008/2010. These dates are based on the timeframe for the introduction of new United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ("Euro") vehicle emissions standards as specified in the new ADRs gazetted in 1999. They are intended to ensure that the required fuel is available for the introduction of the ADRs and that sufficient lead-time is available to refiners to make the necessary investment to produce the fuels. Summary The introduction of Commonwealth legislation would provide the national consistency necessary for the introduction of fuel quality standards to avoid competition problems and ensure that fuel of the appropriate quality is widely available in Australia in line with the timetable for the introduction of the new emissions control technology. The introduction of the legislation is also in line with preceding Government policy decisions on fuel quality. 4.8 COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT Commonwealth legislation is the only option which satisfies all of the specified assessment criteria, that is, it 1. provides a nationally consistent approach to fuel quality standards; 2. is consistent with preceding Government policy ; 3. can ensure that appropriate fuel is available in line with the timetable for the implementation of new ADRs; and 4. does not restrict competition and trade. Appendix 2 summarises the effectiveness of each option against the selection criteria. Options 6 and 7 on wider use of alternative fuels and limiting vehicle travel have not
Page 1 and 2: 1 Introduction National Fuel Qualit
Page 3 and 4: Table 2.2 Greenhouse gas emissions
Page 5 and 6: of fossil fuels. Another significan
Page 7 and 8: interactions with the terrestrial a
Page 9 and 10: enhance the quality of conventional
Page 11 and 12: Summary A business as usual approac
Page 13 and 14: 500ppm limit on the sulfur content
Page 15 and 16: protection to all Australians where
Page 17: 4.5.1 Advantages and Disadvantages
Page 21 and 22: Table 5.1: Net Benefits of adopting
Page 23 and 24: It is probable that these increased
Page 25 and 26: direct injection. It is claimed tha
Page 27 and 28: that modelled in the Fuel Quality R
Page 29 and 30: egion. It would appear that Euro 2
Page 31 and 32: taking into account the objectives
Page 33 and 34: sulfur for both petrol and diesel a
Page 35 and 36: Auto-Oil Programme (1995) Informal
Page 37 and 38: FORS (1997) LPG In-service Vehicle
Page 39 and 40: ______ (1999) Air Emissions Invento
Page 41 and 42: Table A3.2 Regular unleaded petrol
Page 43 and 44: Table A3.3: Premium unleaded petrol
Page 45 and 46: APPENDIX 2: Summary of Assessment o
Page 47 and 48: APPENDIX 4 LIST OF STAKEHOLDERS * A
Page 49: * NRMA * NSW Cabinet Office * Premi

National Fuel Quality Standards Regulation Impact Statement 1 ...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?