Low-Sulfur Diesel

* I see that the U.S. is going to take until 2007 to reduce the sulfur content of diesel (editorial, Nov. 21). The United Kingdom will have general availability of ultra-low sulfur diesel and petrol (gasoline) by the end of 2001. The two largest UK refiners, Esso and Shell, have indicated this will be no problem for them. In fact, some motorists are using it already. Is the U.S. so technologically backward or is its economy in such bad shape that it takes it seven years to achieve what the UK can do in one?

GRAHAM C. NORRIS

Port Hueneme