Guidance document on Sulphur in Diesel Fuel Regulations: questions on section 1


Questions on Section 1 of the Regulations

Section 1: Interpretation

1.1 What is the "northern supply area"?

The regulations use the term "northern supply area" to denote some remote northern locations of Canada that have a later implementation date for the 15 mg/kg limit that applies to sales and offers to sell. Appendix B of this Guidance Document includes a map showing the northern supply area. The area includes: all of Nunavut, most of the Northwest Territories and some of the northern Yukon; a 50 km strip of land along the Hudson Bay and James Bay coast in northeast Manitoba and northern Ontario; northern Quebec, and all of Labrador. The area excludes primary roads in the North.


1.2 Why do the regulations include a definition of "northern supply area"?

Generally, it is difficult to supply these northern locations, especially in the winter. Fuel shipments to these areas take place from mid-May to September. Refuelling facilities in these areas are generally slow to turnover their diesel fuel stock. For these reasons, the regulations provide for a later implementation date for the 15 mg/kg sulphur concentration limit on sales of and offers to sell diesel fuel in these areas.


1.3 How was the region of the "northern supply area" arrived at?

The northern supply area includes remote northern regions of Canada that are supplied with fuel by barge. In defining this area, Environment Canada consulted with stakeholders including the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Industry Canada, Canadian Transportation Agency, Canadian Petroleum Products Institute (CPPI), Engine Manufacturers Association, Northern Transportation Company Limited, Sunoco, Imperial Oil, Shell, Friends of the Earth, the governments of Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec and Newfoundland, and the Cree Regional Authority.


1.4 Why is the definition of "diesel fuel" in the Sulphur in Diesel Regulations different from the CGSB definition?

CGSB defines diesel fuel as having a lower end boiling range of 150 °C. The Sulphur in Diesel Fuel Regulations have a modified definition with a lower end boiling range of 130 °C in order to encompass a broader range of distillate. The definition in the regulation was recommended by CPPI.

The definition of diesel fuel in the regulation also includes biodiesel fuel and blends of biodiesel fuel and diesel fuel. Biodiesel fuel is defined as "a fuel that is composed of or derived from plant or animal oils or plant or animal fats and is intended to be used in diesel engines".


1.5 Why was the definition of "diesel fuel" changed when the regulations were amended in October 2005?

Given the increasing use of biodiesel in Canada , the definition was changed to include biodiesel and blends of biodiesel.

A definition of Biodiesel was also added to the regulations.

" biodiesel fuel" means a fuel that is composed of or derived from plant or animal oils or plant or animal fats and is intended to be used in diesel engines.

Note that the definition of biodiesel under these regulations is broader than industry standards such as those from the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) and ASTM International.


1.6 Biodiesel is a clean fuel with naturally low sulphur levels. Why is it included in the regulations?

Though biodiesel is generally considered a clean fuel, it may have levels of sulphur greater than the regulated limit of 15 mg/kg. The source of the sulphur could be from production processes, inherent in the feedstock or from contamination during distribution.

Diesel fuel with sulphur less than 15 mg/kg is required for effective operation of advanced exhaust emission control technologies needed to comply with the new diesel vehicle and engine emission standards that are coming into effect, regardless of whether the fuel is produced from biomass or crude petroleum.

Therefore the regulations encompass biodiesel as well as conventionally produced diesel fuel.

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