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The diesel fuel tax will increase in a number of states across the nation  July 1, while Virginia and Maryland will begin charging new sales taxes that also will increase the cost of fuel.

Retail diesel prices slipped 0.3 cent to $3.838 last week, the fifth straight drop, while the gasoline average fell almost a nickel as prices tumbled nearly 20 cents in the Midwest, the Department of Energy reported.

More than 28% of all trucks registered in the United States — 2.5 million of 8.6 million trucks — are now equipped with advanced new technology clean diesel engines, according to new data compiled by R.L. Polk and Co. for the Diesel Technology Forum.

The California Air Resources Board has stepped up enforcement of its stringent diesel truck regulations to ensure that trucks traveling from Mexico to the state’s ports and rail yards are compliant.

The average price of a gallon of U.S. retail diesel dipped 0.8 cent to $3.841 last week, the lowest level since July, the Department of Energy reported, while crude oil briefly reached a nine-month high.

Three Northwest ports said they plan to reduce their diesel emissions by 75% per ton of cargo by 2015 as part of an updated Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy.

U.S. retail diesel prices continued their downward slide, dipping 2 cents more a gallon last week, the third straight decline, pushing the national average down to $3.849, the Department of Energy reported.