FLANGE 1545558 - Caterpillar

Truck Engines:
AllTruck Engine News SEBD6718, December 1999, "Smoke Emissions from On-Highway Diesel Engines and Roadside Testing". Disregard this article. See the replacement article that follows.Northeast States Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Introduction:
In an effort to reduce the emission of excess smoke from heavy-duty diesel engines used in highway applications, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the States of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont was signed June 16th 1999. The states propose to adopt and coordinate smoke opacity testing programs in the Northeast. Any other state wishing to join in this MOU may do so by accepting the terms of the agreement. At least fifteen (15) states are currently in various stages of discussing and implementing smoke opacity testing.The MOU coordinates five elements of the state roadside programs:
Consistent smoke standards,
A smoke testing method,
Penalties for tampering with heavy-duty engines,
Sharing of data among the states, and a
Regional compliance period.The MOU also establishes a date for implementation of all the programs.Acceptance of Agreement:
States with current smoke inspection programs or laws requiring the establishment of smoke inspection programs (Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York) will use best efforts to modify said testing programs to be consistent with the elements outlined in the MOU on or before July 1, 2001. States currently without legislation (Rhode Island, Vermont ) will use best efforts to adopt and implement smoke testing programs consistent with the elements outlined in the MOU on or before July 1, 2001.Purpose:
A study conducted for the State of California showed that if all trucks operating in the state were in good repair, diesel particulate and hydrocarbons would be reduced by half. The coordination of the programs will ensure, among other things, that consistent smoke standards are enforced throughout the region. In addition, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) states that truck drivers would be permitted to finish their routes without incurring multiple penalties in the region. The states program requires that trucks and buses emitting high levels of smoke be brought into compliance (adjusted, and/or repaired, and retested) within 30 days before the vehicle is subject to a second violation.Some states are currently ticketing trucks and buses that emit heavy smoke. Five others have adopted legislation and will begin their programs within the next year. This plan is designed to catch super-polluters. Anyone operating a properly maintained vehicle has little to fear from this new standard. The American Trucking Association (ATA), in a statement, endorsed emissions testing of "excessively smoking vehicles as an environmentally responsible practice".Background
A pilot smoke testing program conducted in the Northeast States showed that as many as 20% of vehicles on the road emit levels of smoke above the federal standards for this pollutant. One the lowest cost and most effective methods of reducing pollution from existing diesel vehicles is to ensure that the engines are properly maintained. An added benefit is increased fuel efficiency.Model Cutpoints / Smoke Standards:
Table 1
H-D Model Year    Smoke Opacity Cutpoint    
1991 and