[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11864-11866]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5959]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6308-7]
Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year
Urban Buses; Public Review of Cost Information Related to the
Certification of Retrofit/Rebuild Equipment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of EPA receipt of cost information related to
certification of equipment and initiation of 45-day public review and
comment period.
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SUMMARY: Johnson Matthey, Incorporated (JM) has submitted to EPA, life
cycle cost information that applies to the existing certification of
their CCTTM Upgrade kit.
A Federal Register notice dated December 3, 1998 (63 FR 66798)
announced that EPA certified the JM CCT Upgrade Kit
to comply with the 0.10 g/bhp-hr particulate matter (PM) standard of
the Urban Bus Rebuild Program (40 CFR part 85, subpart O). The kit is
applicable to 1985 through 1993 model year Detroit Diesel Corporation
6V92TA DDEC II urban bus engines having electronic fuel control. That
certification is not based on the optional compliance with life cycle
requirements of the program.
In documents dated January 26, 1999, JM provided life cycle cost
information to EPA for the CCT kit, as it applies to engines of model
years 1988 through 1993. Copies of the JM information is available for
review in the public docket located at the address indicated below.
Pursuant to Sec. 85.1407(a)(7), today's Federal Register notice
announces that the information is available for public review and
comment, and initiates a 45-day period during which comments can be
submitted. EPA will review the information submitted by JM, as well as
comments received during the public review period, to determine whether
certification of the JM equipment should be expanded to include the
basis of life cycle cost. If JM's certification is expanded to include
the life cycle cost basis, then it may ``trigger'' the 0.10 g/bhp-hr
standard for the applicable engines, to the extent a trigger is not
already in existence. This is discussed below in additional detail.
Comments should be provided in writing to Public Docket A-93-42,
Category XXI, at the address below. An identical copy should be
submitted to William Rutledge, also at the address below.
Category XXI of Public Docket A-93-42, entitled ``Certification of
Urban Bus Retrofit/Rebuild Equipment'' contains JM's notification of
intent to certify, new cost information, and other materials
specifically relevant to it. This docket is located at the address
below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 26, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Submit separate copies of comments to each of the two
following addresses:
1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Public Air Docket A-93-42
(Category XXI), Room M-1500, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.
2. William Rutledge, Engine Programs and Compliance Division (mail
code 6403J), 401 ``M'' Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.
The JM notification of intent to certify, as well as other
materials specifically relevant to it, are contained in the public
docket indicated above. Docket items may be inspected from 8:00 a.m.
until 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. As provided in 40 CFR part 2, a
reasonable fee may be charged by EPA for copying docket materials.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Rutledge, Engine Programs and
Compliance Division (6403J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401
M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-9297.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On April 21, 1993, EPA published final Retrofit/Rebuild
Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year Urban Buses (58 FR 21359).
The retrofit/rebuild program is intended to reduce the ambient levels
of particulate matter (PM) in urban areas and is limited to 1993 and
earlier model year (MY) urban buses operating in metropolitan areas
with 1980 populations of 750,000 or more, whose engines are rebuilt or
replaced after January 1, 1995. Operators of the affected buses are
required to choose between two compliance options: Program 1 sets
particulate matter emissions requirements for each urban bus engine in
an operator's fleet which is rebuilt or replaced; Program 2 is a fleet
averaging program that establishes specific annual target levels for
average PM emissions from urban buses in an operator's fleet. In
general, to meet either of the two compliance options, operators of the
affected buses must use equipment which has been certified by EPA.
A key aspect of the program is the certification of retrofit/
rebuild equipment. Emissions requirements under either of the two
compliance options depend on the availability of retrofit/rebuild
equipment certified for each engine model. To be used for Program 1,
equipment must be certified as meeting a 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard or,
if equipment is not certified as meeting the 0.10 PM standard, as
achieving a 25 percent reduction in PM. Equipment used for Program 2
must be certified as providing some level of PM reduction that would in
turn be claimed by urban bus operators when calculating their average
fleet PM levels attained under the program. For Program 1, information
on life cycle costs must be submitted in the notification of intent to
certify in order for certification of the equipment to initiate (or
trigger)
[[Page 11865]]
program requirements. To trigger program requirements, the certifier
must guarantee that the equipment will be available to all affected
operators for a life cycle cost of $7,940 or less at the 0.10 g/bhp-hr
PM level, or for a life cycle cost of $2,000 or less for the 25 percent
or greater reduction in PM emissions. Both of these values are based on
1992 dollars and are increments above costs associated with a standard
rebuild. If EPA determines that the life cycle cost limit is met, then
certification would be based on ``life cycle cost'' in addition to
reducing PM emissions.
Under program 2, operators calculate their average fleet emissions
using specified engine PM emission levels (as well as other factors).
As described in a Federal Register notice on September 21, 1998 (63
FR 50225), EPA certified the ETX-2002TM Emissions Rebuild
Kit supplied by the Engelhard Corporation. The ETX kit applies to 1988
through 1993 model year Detroit Diesel Corporation 6V92TA DDEC II
engines having electronic fuel control and rated at either 253 or 277
horsepower (hp). That notice states that certification of the ETX kit
means that transit operators using compliance program 1 must use
rebuild kits certified to the 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard when rebuilding
or replacing the applicable engines after March 22, 1999.
The September Federal Register notice states that certification of
Engelhard's ETX kit, as it applies to engines of model years 1988
through 1990, is conditional pending demonstration by Engelhard that
any replacement engine control module (ECM) or any replacement ECM
program used in conjunction with the kit would not adversely impact the
emissions of NOx. As a result of revisions necessitated by the
demonstration, Engelhard has expressed concerns regarding the ability
of the ETX kit, regardless of model year, to meet life cycle cost
requirements of the regulation. In view of Engelhard's concerns, EPA is
currently reviewing the status of the 0.10 g/bhp-hr standard for 1988--
1993 6V92TA DDEC II engines. In general, certification lacking
compliance with the cost requirements does not restrict use of a kit by
operators. However, a program emissions standard can only be triggered
when equipment is certified to life cycle cost requirements.
If the JM CCT kit is certified to comply with the life cycle cost
requirements, then it may establish requirement on operators that
choose to comply with compliance option 1, depending upon the ultimate
status of the Engelhard certification. This is discussed further in
Section III below.
II. Information Concerning Cost and Availability
EPA announced certification of the JM CCT Upgrade Kit in the
Federal Register on December 3, 1998 (63 FR 66798). That certification
is based on compliance with the 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard, without
determination of compliance with the life cycle cost requirements of
the urban bus program. In view of the uncertain nature of the current
0.10 g/bhp-hr standard that applies to the 6V92TA DDEC II engines, JM
has submitted cost information to EPA for evaluation.
In documents signed January 26, 1999, JM presents life cycle cost
information in a revised section 6 of their notification of intent to
certify the CCT Upgrade Kit. JM also guarantees to make the equipment
available to all operators for less than the applicable life cycle cost
ceiling. JM presents data in support of their claim that the life cycle
cost of the CCT kit is less than $7,940 (in 1992 dollars) incremental
to the cost for a standard rebuild.
The life cycle cost analysis is based on JM's first supply option.
In the first supply option, as described in the December 3, 1998
Federal Register notice, JM is to provide the following parts: CEM II
catalytic muffler, patented engine camshafts, CCT cylinder kits, 0.015
offset key, fuel injectors, 40T blower gear, turbocharger, blower
assembly, blower bypass valve, and if necessary, the ECM program (also
known as the ``certification word code''). The cylinder heads and
gasket kit are not included with the CCT kit.
III. Potential Impact on Transit Operator
Today's Federal Register notice announces that life cycle cost
information for the JM CCT Upgrade Kit is available for public review.
If certified to comply with the life cycle cost requirements of the
Urban Bus Rebuild Program, then affected urban bus operators who choose
to comply with compliance program 1 would be required to use this or
other equipment certified to meet the 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard. If
this certification triggers compliance with the 0.10 g/bhp-hr standard
for these engines, then this requirement would be effective for any
applicable engine that is rebuilt or replaced six months from the date
such certification is announced in the Federal Register. However, to
the extent the requirement has already been triggered, then the
previous trigger date would apply. See 63 FR 50225 (September 21, 1998)
concerning the certification of the Engelhard equipment.
The Johnson Matthey CCT kit is currently certified to comply with
the 0.10 g/bhp-hr standard and can be used by all operators towards
compliance with the urban bus program requirements. Operators who use
this equipment and choose to comply with compliance program 2, would
claim the PM certification level for the CCT kit (0.10 /bhp-hr) when
calculating their Fleet Level Attained (FLA).
Today's Federal Register notice initiates a 45-day period during
which EPA will accept written comments relevant to whether or not the
information in the JM notification of intent to certify complies with
the life cycle cost requirements of the urban bus rebuild regulations.
To determine whether the JM notification complies with the requirements
of the urban bus rebuild regulations, EPA will review the information
provided by JM and the comments received on life cycle costs during the
45-day period, and attempt to resolve or clarify issues as necessary.
EPA will review the available information to determine whether there is
adequate demonstration of compliance with the life cycle cost
requirements of 40 CFR 85.1403(b) and 85.1407(a), including whether the
data provided by JM complies with the life cycle cost requirements.
EPA requests that those commenting also consider the regulatory
requirements, plus provide comments on experience and/or knowledge
related to the JM CCT Upgrade Kit, and rebuilding Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
DDEC II engines, including the specific emissions-related parts,
respective frequency of usage in rebuild, and costs.
If EPA certifies JM's CCT Upgrade Kit on the basis of life cycle
cost, then it may trigger program requirements for bus operators that
have chosen to comply with program 1 to use equipment certified to the
0.10 g/bhp-hr standard when applicable engines are rebuilt or replaced.
Interested parties are encouraged to review the notification of
intent to certify and provide comment during the 45-day period. Please
send separate copies of your comments to each of the above two
addresses.
Copies of the JM notification, and other related material, are
available for review in the public docket located at the address
indicated above. During the review process, EPA may add additional
documents to the docket as a result of the review process. These
documents
[[Page 11866]]
will also be available for public review and comment within the 45-day
period.
Dated: February 26, 1999.
Robert Brenner,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 99-5959 Filed 3-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
