Columbus, Ind.-Competitor Cummins says Navistar International Corp. is “grasping at straws” in its court battle with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over selective catalytic reduction for reducing diesel engine exhaust. Navistar’s case is important to U.S. truck and engine makers, along with fertilizer producers who will provide the urea solution to reduce nitrogen-oxide pollution, because SCR is the preferred approach in the industry for meeting the EPA’s 2010 emissions standards for diesel engines. In its latest move, Navistar is objecting to the delay of its court challenge of federal guidelines for complying with new, tougher standards for diesel-engine exhaust. EPA late last month asked a federal appeals court to postpone proceedings on Navistar’s case for 60 days while the agency reconsiders its compliance guidelines. “Essentially what Navistar is seeking is a delay in the 2010 regulations and … they are grasping at straws and looking for ways to slow it down,” said Cummins’ President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Linebarger. “It’s our view that the case has no merit and will not succeed in any way, and by the time the case is even heard we’ll be making engines and customers will be selling trucks.” According to press reports, Navistar, which is the only U.S. truck maker not planning to use SCR on its engines next year, particularly objects to an EPA provision allowing commercial trucks with SCR to operate for up to 1,000 miles once the urea solution has been used up. Navistar contends truckers could undermine the effectiveness of the new emissions regulations by repeatedly invoking the 1,000-mile exemption on SCR-equipped engines.
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