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Development of Guidance for Zero-Emission Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Port Equipment, and Fueling Infrastructure Deployment Under the Inflation Reduction Act Funding Programs Publication: Federal Register Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Byline: Sarah Dunham Date: 8 May 2023 Subject: American Government  , The Environment, Trucking
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 88 (Monday, May 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29666-29670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-09802]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0216: FRL-10833-01-OAR]
Development of Guidance for Zero-Emission Clean Heavy-Duty
Vehicles, Port Equipment, and Fueling Infrastructure Deployment Under
the Inflation Reduction Act Funding Programs
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice; request for information (RFI).
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SUMMARY: To support development of potentially multiple funding
programs under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, EPA invites public
comment to inform the availability of zero-emission technologies in the
heavy-duty vehicle and port sectors. Although EPA already has
considerable information about the availability of certain types of
these technologies, in order to ensure that EPA has the most
comprehensive and current information available in this dynamic space,
EPA is inviting this comment. EPA is especially interested in comments
detailing the availability, market price, and performance of zero-
emission trucks, zero-emission port equipment, electric charging and
other fueling infrastructure needs for zero-emission technologies in
the near term (1-3 years, and 1-5 years for port equipment), and
whether the components of these systems are manufactured in the United
States. The Build America Buy America Act (BABA) requires iron, steel,
manufactured products, and construction materials used in
infrastructure projects funded by federal financial assistance to be
produced in the United States. While BABA provides the opportunity for
EPA to issue certain waivers to these requirements, approval depends on
many factors, including the price and availability of domestically
sourced materials and products. With responses to this RFI EPA seeks to
improve in particular the Agency's understanding of availability and
differences in zero-emission class 6 and 7 trucks, zero-emission trucks
that serve ports and port equipment as well as their related charging
and fueling infrastructure requirements. This information will enable
EPA to effectively design programs to expeditiously fund currently
available zero-emission technologies as well as consider allowances,
such as longer project timeframes, for specific technologies.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 5, 2023, to allow
for their consideration during development of these funding programs.
EPA may consider comments received after the due date to the extent
practicable.
ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No.
EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0216, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the online instructions for submitting
comments;
Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket
Center, OAR Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0216, Mail Code 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460;
Hand Delivery or Courier: EPA Docket Center, WJC West
Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004.
The Docket Center's hours of operation are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. EST.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0216. Comments received may be posted without
change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information provided.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Johnson, Manager, Technology
Assessment Branch, (202) 343-9278, or via email at
johnson.dennis@epa.gov. U.S. EPA, Room: WJC-North 5512DD,
[[Page 29667]]
Mail Code: 6406A, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In this RFI, the Agency provides a brief
background on the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Clean Ports Programs
under the IRA, background information on BABA provisions, and then
describes five areas of interest. The RFI then requests comments and
responses to specific topics in each of these areas of interest. This
RFI also includes guidance on submitting comments, procedures for
submitting confidential business information as well as where to find
additional information.
Responding to This RFI
Please indicate in your written comments the topic number(s) below
you are commenting on and provide specific examples or information to
illustrate your comments where possible. Please follow the instructions
on https://www.regulations.gov and the docket website for submitting
comments, but do not submit electronically any information you consider
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute as there are separate
instructions below for submitting CBI. Once submitted, comments cannot
be edited or removed from the docket. You do not need to address every
topic and should focus on those where you have relevant expertise or
experience. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public
docket or to https://www.regulations.gov without change, including any
personal information provided. Multimedia submissions (audio, video,
etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is
considered the official comment and should include discussion of all
points you wish to make. In all cases, to the extent possible, please
cite any public data related to or that support your responses. If data
are available, but non-public, describe such data to the extent
permissible. EPA will generally not consider comments or comment
contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web,
cloud, or other file sharing system).
Confidential Business Information
Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552),
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to
this RFI contain commercial or financial information that is
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and
that is relevant or responsive to this RFI, it is important that you
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Pursuant to 40 CFR
part 2, you may ask EPA to give confidential treatment to information
you give to the Agency by taking the following steps: (1) Mark each
page of the original document submission containing CBI as
``Confidential''; (2) send EPA, along with the original document, a
second copy of the original document with the CBI deleted; and (3)
explain why the information you are submitting is CBI. Unless you are
notified otherwise, EPA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this RFI. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Dennis
Johnson, Manager, Technology Assessment Branch, via email at
johnson.dennis@epa.gov or to Dennis Johnson, U.S. EPA, Room: WJC North
5512DD, Mail Code: 6406A, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC
20460. Any comment submissions that EPA receives that are not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this matter.
Background
In this section the Agency provides background information on two
programs in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA enacted as
Public Law 117-169 (August 16, 2022), includes important new programs
to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to
improve air quality through use of zero-emission vehicles and
equipment. Among these programs is a (1) Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Program, and (2) Grants to Reduce Air Pollution at Ports Program. These
programs provide funding that EPA will distribute to eligible
recipients.
The Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDV) Program directs the
Administrator to make awards of grants and rebates to eligible
recipients and to make contracts to eligible contractors for providing
rebates ($1 billion total). Eligible recipients include states,
municipalities, Indian Tribes, or nonprofit school transportation
associations. Eligible contractor means a contractor that has the
capacity; (A) to sell, lease, license, or contract for service zero-
emission vehicles, or charging or other equipment needed to charge,
fuel, or maintain zero-emission vehicles, or to contract for service an
eligible vehicle, or (B) to arrange financing for such a sale, lease,
license, or contract for service. Funding can be for up to 100% of the
costs for (1) the incremental costs of replacing an eligible class 6 or
7 heavy-duty vehicle with a zero-emission vehicle (2) purchasing,
installing, operating and maintaining infrastructure needed to charge,
fuel or maintain zero-emission vehicles; (3) workforce development and
training to support the maintenance, charging, fueling and operation of
zero-emission vehicles; and (4) planning and technical activities to
support the adoption and deployment of zero-emission vehicles.
The Grants to Reduce Air Pollution at Ports Program (hereafter
``Clean Ports Program'') provides the Administrator funding to award
rebates and grants to eligible recipients on a competitive basis ($3
billion total). Rebate and grant funding may be used: (A) to purchase
or install zero-emission port equipment or technology for use at or to
directly serve, one or more ports; (B) to conduct any relevant planning
or permitting in connection with the purchase or installation of such
zero-emission port equipment or technology; and (C) to develop
qualified climate action plans. Eligible recipients include: (A) a port
authority; (B) a state, regional, local or Tribal Agency that has
jurisdiction over a port authority or a port; (C) an air pollution
control agency; or (D) a private entity that (i) applies for a grant in
partnership with an entity described in (A) through (C) and (ii) and
owns, operates, or uses the facilities, cargo-handling equipment,
transportation equipment or related technology of a port. Zero-emission
port equipment or technology means a human-operated equipment or human-
maintained technology that; (A) produces zero emissions of any air
pollutant or any greenhouse gas other than water vapor; or (B) captures
100 percent of the emissions produced by an ocean-going vessel at
berth.
Zero-emission vehicles and equipment are increasingly being offered
for sale in the commercial truck and ports markets. Current options
include vehicles powered by electricity and hydrogen. The Agency is
aware of many of these product offerings. However, given the wide range
of potential vehicles and equipment that could be considered for
funding under the Clean HDV and Clean Ports Programs, EPA believes it
is critical to provide an opportunity for all stakeholders (e.g.,
manufacturers, distributors, installers, fleet operators, port
operators) to share information about their products and firsthand
experience with zero-emission technologies if they so choose, in order
[[Page 29668]]
to give EPA the broadest understanding possible of potential vehicles
and equipment eligible to fund.
Charging and Fueling Infrastructure: Through the Clean HDV and
Clean Ports programs, EPA may fund charging and other fueling
infrastructure as an eligible expense in supporting zero-emission
heavy-duty vehicle and port equipment projects. To this end, the Agency
seeks information on the manufacturing and assembly of electric
charging and other fueling infrastructure for zero-emission commercial
vehicles and port equipment, such as whether zero-emissions fueling
infrastructure manufactured in the United States can comply with
applicable BABA requirements. This RFI is intended to: (A) help EPA
better understand whether and to what extent domestic sourcing is
available now, or may be possible in the near future, for electric
charging and other fueling equipment and components; (B) ensure
domestic manufacturers have the opportunity to identify any electric
vehicle (EV) charger and fueling equipment meeting applicable BABA
requirements; (C) ensure domestic manufacturers have the opportunity to
identify any electric charging and other fueling equipment that could
meet a domestic final assembly condition, and identify the portion of
components that could meet a domestic manufacturing requirements; and
(D) highlight benefits of shifting manufacturing processes to the
United States.
Through this RFI, EPA seeks information regarding the availability
of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle and port equipment, electric
chargers and fueling equipment, such as for hydrogen, that is
manufactured and/or assembled in the United States, including whether
they comply with applicable BABA requirements. EPA is not aware of any
zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle or port equipment electric chargers or
fueling equipment that currently meets applicable BABA requirements for
steel and iron or manufactured products. The Agency is interested in
promptly obtaining more information on this issue and others discussed
in this notice to assess if sufficient quantities of equipment are
currently available to comply with BABA requirements or whether
sufficient equipment would be available in the near future.
Build America Buy America Act
In January 2021, the President issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14005,
titled ``Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of
America's Workers.'' 86 FR 7475 (Jan. 28, 2021). E.O. 14005 states that
the United States Government ``should, consistent with applicable law,
use terms and conditions of Federal financial assistance awards and
Federal procurements to maximize the use of goods, products, and
materials produced in, and services offered in, the United States.''
The EPA is committed to ensuring strong and effective Buy America
implementation consistent with E.O. 14005. At the same time, the EPA
must also consider how to ensure that electric chargers and fueling
equipment, such as for hydrogen, are widely available in the immediate
future to implement EPA-funded projects throughout the United States
and its territories in a timely and cost-effective manner.
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed into law the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (``IIJA''), Public Law 117-58,
which includes the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act. Public Law
117-58, sections 70901-52. The Act strengthens Made in America Laws and
will bolster America's industrial base, protect national security, and
support high-paying jobs. The Act requires that the head of each
covered Federal agency ensure that ``none of the funds made available
for a Federal financial assistance program for infrastructure,
including each deficient program, may be obligated for a project unless
all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction
materials used in the project are produced in the United States''
(Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act, Pub. L. 117-58, Sections 70911-
70917), unless a waiver is granted.\1\ This means that the manufactured
product was manufactured in the United States, and the cost of the
components of the manufactured product that are mined, produced, or
manufactured in the United States is greater than 55 percent of the
total cost of all components of the manufactured product, unless
another standard for determining the minimum amount of domestic content
of the manufactured product has been established under applicable law
or regulation. IIJA section 70912(6)(B). For all steel or iron
materials used in infrastructure projects that involve the obligation
of federal financial assistance, manufacturing processes, including
application of a coating, must occur in the United States. Coating
includes all processes which protect or enhance the value of the
material to which the coating is applied. Such projects involve both
the acquisition and installation of such equipment. These requirements
apply to the obligation of all federal financial assistance for
infrastructure projects, including IRA funds. EPA is committed to
ensuring strong and effective Buy America implementation consistent
with E.O. 14005. In implementing the IRA Clean HDV and Ports Programs,
EPA will ensure compliance with BABA requirements.
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\1\ OMB M-22-11, https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/M-22-11.pdf.
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Request for Comments and Information
In this section, the Agency describes general areas of interest to
be addressed in these topics. To inform development of the Clean HDV
and Clean Ports Programs, EPA requests comments and information from
the public on the following five areas of interest:
A. Technology Availability and Market-Readiness: EPA recognizes
that some zero-emission heavy-duty trucks are currently being marketed
for sale. Consequently, EPA requests current and expected near term
(within 1, 2, and 3 years) availability of potentially eligible zero-
emission class 6 (gross vehicle weight rating 19,501-26,000 pounds) and
class 7 (GVWR 26,001-33,000 pounds) vehicles, such as refuse haulers,
day cab tractors, cargo vans, school buses, and straight trucks.
Additionally, EPA is seeking responses to these same questions with
respect to commercial trucks that may be used at ports, such as zero-
emission service trucks and class 7 and 8 (GVWR >33,000 pounds) dray
trucks. EPA requests responses to the questions regarding the current
state of zero-emission port equipment and related fuel infrastructure
availability, including commercial readiness and production volumes,
for near-term as current capabilities, as well as in the 1-, 2-, 3- and
5-year timeframes.
B. Performance: EPA requests information regarding current and
expected near-term characteristics of zero-emissions heavy-duty
vehicles (1 to 3 years) and port equipment (1 to 5 years) and related
fueling with regards to performance, reliability, and durability,
including standard and optional warranty information, and descriptions
of performance comparing the zero-emission truck or equipment to those
operating on conventional petroleum-based liquid fuels.
C. Pricing: EPA requests information regarding current and expected
near-term market prices of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles (1 to 3
years), port equipment (1 to 5 years) and related fueling
infrastructure, as well as the incremental costs relative to those
[[Page 29669]]
operating on conventional petroleum-based liquid fuels.
D. Domestic Materials Sourcing and Manufacturing: EPA requests
information regarding the extent to which materials are sourced from
the U.S. and if manufacturing occurs in the U.S. to comply with BABA
requirements currently, or in the near-term, especially with respect to
electric charging and other fueling equipment.
E. Other Practical Considerations: EPA requests information that
can inform implementation of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle, port
equipment, and related charging/fueling infrastructure projects. Please
provide information such as necessary training, maintenance facility
modifications, required safety equipment and the availability of
hydrogen from different sources that produce zero-emissions.
Topics for Areas of Interest
In this section, the Agency requests responses to specific topics.
Please indicate in your written comments the topic number(s) you are
commenting on and provide specific examples or information to
illustrate your comments where possible.
Topics
A. Technology Availability and Market-Readiness
1. Using the following categories as a guide, please identify
specific types of vehicles or equipment that you are providing
information about in response to this RFI. For each item you identify,
please provide a description, and specify the type of powertrain (e.g.,
electric [non-battery], battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell electric,
or other zero-emissions technologies).
a. Zero-emissions class 6 and 7 vehicles: including but not limited
to school buses, refuse trucks, utility trucks, box trucks, cargo vans,
and day cab tractors.
b. Zero-emission port equipment: including but not limited to port
dray trucks, cargo handling equipment, yard tractors, locomotives,
railcar movers, harbor craft, shore power, and technologies to capture
100 percent of emissions produced by an ocean-going vessel at berth.
c. Zero-emissions fueling infrastructure: including but not limited
to heavy-duty electric vehicle, equipment, and locomotive chargers, as
well as hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
2. For each of the items you identified in response to Topic 1,
please:
a. Describe the current and the expected availability of the
equipment based on sales volumes, number and size of manufacturers, and
other key industry factors.
b. Provide information on the near-term demand outlook for this
equipment. For entities that are eligible for funding, please describe
how many and what types of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles and port
technologies you anticipate purchasing in the near-term.
c. Provide information regarding whether the current and expected
near-term manufacturing capacity would be adequate to meet the expected
market demand, including anticipated federal funding. Please specify
any factors helping or preventing the industry from meeting the
expected demand today and in the near-term and provide information on
the availability of and materials used in key components such as
batteries, electric motors, high-voltage cables, storage tanks, pumps,
hoses, nozzles, enclosures, and required safety equipment.
d. Provide information on whether various duty cycles affect
available power levels at the installation site and dwell times needed
for charging, whether charging is anticipated to happen on site or en
route, and how expected needs for zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles and
zero-emission port equipment might differ from what is commercially
available today and in the near-term timeframes.
e. Please indicate to what extent it is human-operated equipment
and/or a human-maintained technology.
f. Provide information on the current and expected near-term
average customer delivery time.
3. For each of the items you identified in response to Topic 1.c.,
please describe the current and expected availability or unavailability
of components, such as, electrical plugs, transformers, electrical
switchgear, hydrogen storage tanks, pumps, hoses, nozzles, enclosures,
and required safety equipment.
4. For each of the battery-electric and charger items you
identified in response to Topic 1, please describe the standard and
optional equipment specifications. Please specify the type of charging
included, e.g. whether it uses the SAE J1772 connector for AC charging
(also known as the Jplug), if it provides DC Fast Charging, if it uses
the Combine Charging System (CCS) connector, if it uses the CHAdeMO
connector, if it uses the Megawatt Charging System (MCS), and or
whether it uses an additional connector technology and what type,
whether it uses inductive charging, and other relevant information such
as maximum power rating (kW) and standards to which the equipment is
certified.
5. For each of the battery-electric items you identified in
response to Topic 1, please describe whether and how the batteries can
be upgraded or replaced.
B. Performance
6. For each item you identified in response to Topic 1, please:
a. Describe the expected service life and long-term operation and
maintenance requirements relative to those operating on conventional
petroleum-based liquid fuels.
b. Describe charging or fueling requirements. Potential items to
consider include: connections to the electric grid, including electric
distribution upgrades; vehicle-to-grid integration, including smart
charge management, bi-directional charging or other protocols that can
minimize impacts to the grid, alignment with electric distribution
interconnection processes; potentially unique charging systems (such as
for vessels or locomotives), multi-use charging stations to charge
different types of equipment, potential to charge multiple systems
concurrently; on-site energy storage; and potential use of renewable
energy sources to power charging, energy storage and/or hydrogen
production.
c. Describe the original manufacturer's warranty. Please include
all applicable parameters, such as years, hours or miles of operation,
and number of charging cycles and as well as whether the warranty
covers the damage from any potential charger malfunction.
d. Describe differences in performance and operational
characteristics between the zero-emission HDV or port equipment and the
comparable conventionally fueled counterpart. Please fully explain all
differences in capacity, speed, operating range, impacts on operation
due to ambient conditions or limitations in capabilities.
7. For each of the battery-electric items you identified in
response to Topic 1, please:
a. Identify all charger manufacturers or charger models with which
this item has been verified to have full technology compatibility or
other EV charging standards and how compliance was demonstrated. Please
provide information on how the technology compatibility was verified.
b. Please describe what type of safety mechanisms are used to
protect battery packs from water intrusion, corrosion due to flooding
and salt, thermal runaway events, and/or other hazards.
[[Page 29670]]
C. Pricing
8. For each of the items you identified in response to Topic 1,
please:
a. Specify the current market price (or price range) and what is
included in that price. For example, in the case of chargers, please
specify whether it is for a complete charger pedestal, power equipment
and associated electrical system capable of charging one or more
vehicles. Please also specify if additional costs for installation and
commissioning are included.
b. Provide information on the price outlook through calendar year,
and, where applicable, through the near-term future. Please identify
and describe any opportunities for reducing prices.
c. Please also discuss the incremental and lifecycle costs as well
as the payback period relative to similar equipment or vehicles
operating on conventional petroleum-based liquid fuels. In addition to
the total cost, where possible, please provide cost information
itemized by category (for example: purchase of vehicles or equipment,
installation, maintenance, fuel/charging, insurance, other operating
expenses) and include the key assumptions used to estimate them.
d. Please identify and describe any opportunities for reducing
prices of zero-emision technologies.
e. Provide information regarding global supply chain constraints,
local permitting, safety requirements and needs that may increase
costs, impact delivery timeframes, or extend installation time.
9. EPA is interested in better understanding the current lifetime
costs/Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) gap between electric and diesel
school buses as well as how that gap is expected to change over time.
For each of the TCO cost categories (a-c) listed here, please provide
cost estimates using the following parameters: a period of analysis of
10 years; a fleet size of 50 buses; and a 5-year straight line
depreciation schedule (please clearly state what alternative
assumptions have been made). Also, please clearly state what
assumptions have been made on geographic region of analysis and/or
specific districts; average vehicle life expectancy; sales tax; and
annual days of operation. To the extent other HD vehicle types, such as
dray trucks, can address the TCO in this fashion, please provide a
similar description for those vehicle types.
a. Capital cost (CAPEX) categories: Vehicle, charging/fueling
infrastructure, residual value.
b. Operating cost (OPEX) categories; Operating expense, fuel/
electricity, insurance, registration.
c. Other (please specify).
D. Domestic Materials Sourcing and Manufacturing
10. For each of the applicable items you identified in response to
Topic 1, please specify whether the product meets BABA requirements or
is currently manufactured in the United States to meet a domestic final
assembly condition. (Yes or No)
11. If you answered ``Yes'' to Topic 10:
a. Please identify all manufacturers that can either meet BABA
requirements or can currently manufacture equipment in the United
States.. For those that meet the condition of manufactured in the
United States, but do not meet the domestic content requirement, please
identify the percentage of components manufactured in the United States
as calculated by cost of components (if known).
b. How many of each equipment type meeting BABA requirements or
manufactured in the United States conditions can be manufactured per
year during the next 5 years?
c. What portion of the total market supply for each equipment type
do you estimate to be BABA compliant?
d. What is the typical cost for the steel and iron used in this
equipment type?
e. What percent of the total cost is typically represented by the
steel and iron used to manufacture this equipment type? If you cannot
provide the percent, please describe if it is more or less than 50% of
the total cost.
f. Can the origins of the steel and iron used in this equipment
type be certified by documentation? If so, how?
12. If you answered ``No'' to Topic 10:
a. What steps can manufacturers take to increase equipment that
meets BABA requirements?
b. What additional support is needed ensure a sufficient supply of
equipment that meets BABA requirements?
c. How long might it take to undertake those steps?
d. What is the volume of equipment that could be shifted to
manufacture in compliance with BABA requirements?
e. Can that volume be ramped up over time, and if so at what annual
growth rate?
13. For available zero-emission technologies, please describe any
differences between domestically manufactured or assembled and non-
domestic equipment. Please address any differences in supply
availability, price, replacement part delivery, functionality,
security, etc.
E. Other Practical Considerations for Program Design
14. For each of the items you identified in response to Topic 1,
please provide examples of best practices relating to project
development, installation, and adoption of zero-emissions equipment and
related electric, hydrogen, or other fueling infrastructure you
identified in response to Topic 1.
15. For each of the fueling infrastructure types you identified in
response to Question 1, please provide examples of the phases and time
required for planning, permitting, sourcing, delivering, and installing
this equipment.
16. Please identify any unique factors for states, municipalities,
utilities, ports authorities, Indian Tribes, or nonattainment areas to
consider in developing zero-emission projects including necessary
charging or other fueling infrastructure.
17. If known, please describe opportunities and best practices to:
a. Maximize environmental benefits such as replacing the oldest,
highest use, highest emitting equipment with available zero emission
technologies.
b. Maximize benefits with technologies to service one or more ports
and intermodal facilities to potentially share or coordinate charging/
fueling infrastructure.
c. Leverage or improve zero-emission transport corridors.
d. Maximize benefits for workforce development and jobs training
outcomes.
e. Maximize benefits for disadvantaged communities and/or advancing
other environmental justice objectives.
18. Please describe what specialized workforce expertise, including
key occupations, is needed to support the installation, use, and
maintenance of (1) clean heavy-duty vehicles, and (2) zero-emission
port equipment. What (if any) challenges do you anticipate in meeting
your expertise and capacity needs? How can these challenges be
effectively addressed?
May 3, 2023.
Sarah Dunham,
Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality.
[FR Doc. 2023-09802 Filed 5-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P