EPA Proposes Emissions Regs: New spark-ignited and marine diesel standards to cover snowmobiles, off-road motorcycles, ATV's; 2006 first model year

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EPA Proposes Emissions Regs: New spark-ignited and marine diesel standards to cover snowmobiles, off-road motorcycles, ATV's; 2006 first model year - Industry
Author: Diesel Progress North American Edition

The latest from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a proposal for new emissions regulations covering certain recreational marine diesel engines, along with industrial spark-ignition engines over 25 hp (19 kW), as well as recreational spark-ignition engines. The proposal is a first step in the process of developing regulations. Written comments to EPA may be submitted until December 19, 2001. Two public hearings on the subject were held in October.

Specific emissions levels and implementation dates can be found in the accompanying tables. According to EPA, these engines represent 13 percent of mobile source hydrocarbon emissions, 6 percent of carbon monoxide mobile emissions and 3 percent of [NO.sub.x] mobile source emissions. The regulations are expected to reduce CO emissions by 56 percent and HC+[NO.sub.x] by nearly 80 percent when the standards are fully implemented.

The three engine categories include what EPA calls large industrial spark-ignition engines over 25 hp typically used in commercial and industrial applications such as forklifts, generator sets, airport baggage transport vehicles, and a variety of construction, farm and industrial equipment.

The marine diesels to be regulated cover engines 50 hp (37 kW) and larger used in recreational applications. Sparkignited nonroad engines for off-highway motorcycles, ATVs and snowmobiles comprise the second group.

Spark-ignited marine engines and on-highway motorcycle regulations are expected to follow within a few months. Plus EPA said it is requesting comment on its intention to propose standards for spark-ignition sterndrives and inboard engines at some future date, after completion of a technology study currently underway in California and expected to be completed within several years.

EPA said it is using California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions standards engines as the basis for proposing federal standards for these. EPA added that further engine testing and a concern for off-cycle emissions led the agency to propose several provisions in addition to those adopted by CARB. Most notably, this includes more stringent emission to more accurately reflect the in-use deterioration of emission control; transient duty-cycle and associated emission standard; field-testing and emission standards; basic engine diagnostic requirements; and measures to reduce evaporative emissions from gasoline-fueled equipment.

By EPA'S estimates, complying with these standards will cost about $600 per engine for the recreational diesels and large spark-ignition engines and $50 to $200 per engine for snowmobiles and less than $100 for engines used in ATVs.

Proposed Emissions Standards For Spark-Ignited Engines                                        Emission                                        StandardsModel Year      Testing Type   HC + [NO.sub.x]   CO2004-2006        Duty-Cycle          4.0        50.02007 and Later   Duty-Cycle          4.0         2.5                Field Testing        5.6         4.0                        Alternative                         Emission                         StandardsModel Year      HC + [NO.sub.x]  CO2004-2006              --         --2007 and Later        1.3        25.0                      1.8        50.0Proposed Recreational Vehicle Emissions Standards                                  Emission Standard                                   HC            COVehicle        Model Year       g/k W-hr      g/kW-hr    Phase-InSnowmobiles       2006             100          275        100%                  2010             75           200        100%                             HC + [NO.sub.x]     CO                                  g/km          g/kmOff-Highway       2006             2.0          25.0        50%Motorcycles  2007 and later        2.0          25.0       100%ATVs              2006             2.0          25.0        50%             2007 and later        2.0          25.0       100%                  2009             1.0          25.0        50%             2010 and Later        1.0          25.0       100%Proposed Emissions Standards For Marine DieselsCategory         Implementation  HC + [NO.sub.x]  PM   CO                      Date0.5 - 0.9 disp.       2007             7.5        0.4  5.00.9 - 1.2 disp.       2006             7.2        0.3  5.01.2 - 2.5 disp.       2006             7.2        0.2  5.02.5 disp.             2009             7.2        0.2  5.0

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