Metro Vancouver is proposing amendments to
Metro Vancouver Regional District Non-Road Diesel Engine Emission Regulation Bylaw No. 1161, 2012 (Bylaw 1161) that will reduce harmful emissions from non-road diesel engines.
Fine particulate matter produced by the combustion of diesel, or diesel particulate matter (DPM), is associated with both short and long-term health effects, from aggravated asthma to heart and respiratory diseases to cancer. While diesel particulate matter is a primary air quality threat to human health in Metro Vancouver, it also contributes to climate change and reduced visibility.
Proposed Changes to Bylaw No. 1161
Proposed amendments to Bylaw 1161 would expand the scope of the bylaw to further reduce diesel PM emissions and address harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) produced by all tiers of non-road diesel engines. The current bylaw has reduced emissions from Tier 0 and Tier 1 engines. In order to further minimize the risk to public health, the local environment, and global climate from non-road diesel engine emissions, the following changes to Bylaw 1161 are proposed:
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Adding registration and labelling of Tier 2 and Tier 3 non-road diesel engines in 2022 and Tier 4 engines in 2025. While newer non-road diesel engines emit less diesel particulate matter and nitrogen oxides than Tier 0 and 1 engines, they still emit quantities considered a threat to human health and the environment.
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Adjusting economic instruments.
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Adding fees for NOx emissions – Recent science has identified that NOx is more harmful to human health and the environment than previously understood.
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Basing fees on DPM and NOx emission standards – Emissions standards, which vary depending on year of manufacture and size, better reflect actual emissions from a given engine than tier categories alone.
To see the impact of these changes on the fees you might pay, visit our Consultation Fee Calculator.
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Adjusting the rebate mechanism. Maximum rebates for engine retirements or upgrades would be based on fees paid in the previous 5 years, starting in 2025, rather than on just the previous 3 years.
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Adding a new moderate use
category.“Moderate use” engines that operate less than 500 hours per year could pay 60% of the annual operating fee, as long as quarterly hour meter readings are submitted.
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Prohibiting Tier 0 and Tier 1 engines within 50 metres of air intakes for a hospital or a care facility. Highly sensitive populations, such as the elderly and other at-risk individuals, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts from high emitting Tier 0 and Tier 1 engines.
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Adding requirements for some previously exempt emergency engines. Labelling and registration would not be required, but operators would have to demonstrate proper maintenance and possibly modify exhaust stacks to ensure nearby people are not impacted by diesel emissions.
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Adding requirements for some emission reduction measures (ERMs). Emission reduction measures with ongoing maintenance or activation needs would have additional reporting requirements.
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Adding fees for assessing novel emission reduction measures. A fee of $2,000, payable by the ERM manufacturer/supplier, would help recover the time required for Metro Vancouver assessment of novel emission reduction technologies.
Online Webinars
Webinars were hosted in November 2020. The webinar presentation and Q&A can be downloaded from the links below:
See additional related information linked at the right side of this page.
Timeline
