EPA extends Texas diesel sulfur waiver through Nov. 13 for older engines

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that on October 5, 2026, it issued a temporary Texas diesel fuel waiver, after consulting the U.S. Department of Energy under the Clean Air Act, in response to a state request about extreme and unusual diesel supply disruptions. EPA’s fuel-waivers page says the waiver lifts Texas Low Emissions Diesel standards and ultra-low sulfur diesel (15 ppm) requirements so higher-sulfur diesel can be used in certain older highway and nonroad diesel equipment designed for that fuel, and that it ends on October 24, 2026, which EPA notes is as long as the Clean Air Act permits for this kind of waiver (20 days). Updated Oct. 30: EPA renewed the waiver Oct. 20. It runs from Oct. 25 through Nov. 13, 2026 and allows diesel with up to 500 ppm sulfur in highway engines built before model year 2007 and nonroad engines built before Tier 4. The waiver applies only within Texas.

Transport Topics adds that the Texas request cited a diesel price of $5.97 a gallon and was signed by Governor Greg Abbott to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. Transport Topics says distributors must warn customers against misuse in newer emissions systems, and that Cummins said damage from using the wrong fuel in newer engines would not be covered under warranty.