proposed amendment to the off-road compression-ignition engine emission regulations emissions from off-road compression-ignition engines hereinafter referred to as off-road diesel engines contribute towards the problem of air pollution in canada. air pollution leads to health-related problems such as cardiovascular ailments and respiratory distress as well as causes acid rain reduced vegetation productivity and building soiling and corrosion. these emissions are currently regulated under the off-road compression-ignition engine emission regulations hereinafter referred to as the regulations . the objective of the proposed regulations amending theoff-road compression-ignition engine emission regulations hereinafter referred to as the proposed amendments is to further reduce emissions from off-road diesel engines in canada by establishing more stringent canadian off-road diesel emissions standards and test procedures. the proposed amendments would align canadian emission standards with those of the united states environmental protection agency u.s. epa . the u.s. epa introduced interim tier 4 and tier 4 emission standards in 2004 and began phasing in these standards for the 2008 to 2015 model years and beyond. the proposed amendments apply to off-road diesel engines used in machines such as tractors bulldozers and log loaders. the proposed amendments would reduce emissions from off-road diesel engines by setting new standards for emissions of volatile organic compounds vocs nitrogen oxide nox particulate matter pm and other pollutants listed as toxic substances in schedule 1 of the canadian environmental protection act 1999 cepa 1999 . in addition the proposed amendments would minimize the regulatory burden on manufacturers and importers by recognizing u.s. epa certificates as evidence of compliance. furthermore the proposed amendments would allow companies to use the transition engine provisions and these provisions would also be available to companies that sell exclusively to canada.