Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year Urban Buses; Public Review of an Application for Certification of Equipment Publication: Federal Register Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Byline: Mary Nichols Date: 16 September 1994 Subject: American Government • Buses • The Environment Topic: Engelhard

[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 179 (Friday, September 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-22976]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 16, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 85

[FRL-5073-1]

 

Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year 
Urban Buses; Public Review of an Application for Certification of 
Equipment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of agency receipt of an application for equipment 
certification, and initiation of the 45 day review and comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Agency has received an application for certification of 
urban bus retrofit/rebuild equipment, and it is available for public 
review and comment. Engelhard Corporation has applied for certification 
of equipment applicable to both 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines used in 
urban buses for all model years up to and including 1993. The 
application states that the candidate equipment provides a 25 percent 
or greater reduction in emissions of particulate matter (PM) for 
petroleum fueled diesel engines relative to an original engine 
configuration with no after treatment devices installed. A 25 percent 
reduction is also claimed for engines that have been retrofit/rebuilt 
with certified new rebuild kits that do not include after treatment 
devices. The application states that this equipment will be offered to 
all parties for $2,000 or less (in 1992 dollars). The application would 
apply to all urban bus operators nationwide that are subject to the 
urban bus rebuild/retrofit program.
    The date of this notice initiates a 45 day period during which EPA 
will accept written comments relevant to the potential certification of 
the equipment included in this application. Comments should be provided 
in writing to the address listed under ADDRESSES.
    The Engelhard application, as well as other materials specifically 
relevant to it, are contained in Public Docket A-93-42, entitled 
``Certification of Urban Bus Retrofit/Rebuild Equipment''. This docket 
is located in room M-1500, Waterside Mall (Ground Floor), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.
    Docket items may be inspected from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., 
Monday through Friday. As provided in 40 CFR Part 2, a reasonable fee 
may be charged by the Agency for copying docket materials.

DATES: Comments must be received by October 31, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Anthony Erb, Technical Support 
Branch, Manufacturers Operations Division (6405J), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Erb, Telephone: (202) 233-
9259.

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: Option 1 sets 
particulate matter emissions requirements for each urban bus engine in 
an operator's fleet which is rebuilt or replaced; Option 2 is a fleet 
averaging program that sets out a specific annual target level for 
average PM emissions from urban buses in an operator's fleet.
    A key aspect of the program is the certification of retrofit/
rebuild equipment. To meet either of the two compliance options, 
operators of the affected buses must use equipment which has been 
certified by EPA. Emissions requirements under either of the two 
options depend on the availability of retrofit/rebuild equipment 
certified for each engine model. To be used for Option 1, equipment 
must be certified as meeting a 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard or as 
achieving a 25 percent reduction in PM. Equipment used for Option 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.
    Under Option 1, additional information regarding cost must be 
submitted in the application for certification, in order for 
certification of that equipment to initiate (or trigger) program 
requirements for a particular engine model. In order for the equipment 
to serve as a trigger, the certifier must guarantee that the equipment 
will be offered to affected operators for $7,940 or less at the 0.10 g/
bhp-hr PM level, or for $2,000 or less for the 25 percent or greater 
reduction in PM. Both of the above amounts are based on 1992 dollars 
and include life cycle costs.

II. Application for Certification

    Engelhard Corporation has applied for certification of equipment 
applicable to petroleum fueled diesel engines used in urban buses for 
the 1993 and earlier model years. The application states that the 
candidate equipment provides a 25% or greater reduction in emissions of 
particulate matter (PM). Life cycle costs for operators are stated to 
be less than $2000 (in 1992 dollars) for all affected operators. The 
use of the equipment by transit operators to meet program requirements 
is discussed further below.
    The equipment being certified is a catalytic converter that also 
functions as the muffler and takes the place of the original muffler 
installed in the engine exhaust system.
    The application indicates that the equipment is applicable to all 
1993 and earlier model year 2-stroke and 4-stroke petroleum fueled 
diesel engines that are used in urban buses and are not equipped with 
after treatment devices.
    Engelhard Corporation presents data from testing the equipment on a 
2-stroke 1985 model year Detroit Diesel 6V92TA engine documenting PM 
emissions reduction under two different scenarios. In the first case, 
the baseline test was performed on the engine prior to rebuild. Then 
the catalytic converter was added to the exhaust system and another 
test was performed. When the results of the two tests were evaluated, 
the test on the engine which was equipped with the catalytic converter 
indicated a 41% decrease in PM emissions compared to the baseline test. 
This test also showed that hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and 
oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions were within the applicable emission 
standards.
    In the second test sequence, the baseline test was performed on the 
engine after rebuild. Then, as in the first test sequence, the 
catalytic converter was added and a comparison test was performed. When 
the results of these tests were evaluated, the test on the engine with 
the catalytic converter installed indicated a 29% reduction in PM 
emissions when compared with the test results for the baseline engine. 
The HC, CO, and NOx emissions for this test were also within the 
applicable emission standards.
    Engelhard would like to certify this equipment for use on all 2-
stroke and 4-stroke heavy duty urban bus engines. The test data 
presented in the certification application are from tests on the DDC 
model 6V92TA heavy duty engine only. Additionally, some data from tests 
run on a 4-stroke medium duty engine are also included. If the 
application is approved as written it would apply to all 2-stroke and 
4-stroke urban bus engines manufactured by all manufacturers during the 
affected model years.
    Engelhard Corporation provided smoke emission measurements for this 
engine in the rebuilt condition with the catalytic converter installed. 
These measurements indicated that the engine complied with the 
applicable smoke standards when rebuilt with the Engelhard catalytic 
converter installed.
    The information submitted by Engelhard Corporation shows that this 
equipment achieves a 25% or greater reduction in PM emissions within 
the $2,000 life cycle cost ceiling. If EPA approves the request for 
certification of this equipment, urban bus operators will be required 
to use this equipment or other equipment certified to provide 25% or 
greater equivalent reductions to comply with Option 1 of this 
regulation beginning six months after certification approval. This 
requirement will continue unless other equipment which reduces PM 
emissions to 0.10 g/bhp-hr is certified at or below the $7,940 life 
cycle cost ceiling.
    Engelhard's application does not indicate that urban bus operators 
in any part of the country would be unable to retrofit their urban 
buses for less than the cost ceiling. Therefore, this application would 
apply to all urban bus operators nationwide that are subject to the 
urban bus rebuild/retrofit program.
    If EPA approves Engelhard's certification request, urban bus 
operators who choose to comply under Option 2 of this regulation may 
also use the Engelhard equipment. If certification is approved by EPA, 
the emission levels of the Engelhard rebuild kit will be used to modify 
the Option 2 post rebuild levels in July 1996 for engine rebuilds 
scheduled for 1997 and thereafter, unless other rebuild kits with life 
cycle costs below the life cycle cost ceiling and lower PM emission 
levels are certified before July 1996.
    The date of this notice initiates a 45 day period during which EPA 
will accept written comments relevant to whether or not the equipment 
described in this application should be certified. Interested parties 
are encouraged to review this application, and provide comments related 
to whether or not the equipment described in it should be certified 
pursuant to the urban bus retrofit/rebuild program. Comments should be 
provided in writing to the address listed under ADDRESSES.
    The Agency will review this application, along with comments 
received from the interested parties, and attempt to resolve or clarify 
issues as necessary. During the review process, EPA may add additional 
documents to the docket as a result of the review process. These 
documents will also be available for public review and comment within 
the 45 day period.

    Dated: September 8, 1994.
Mary Nichols,
Assistant Administrator for Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 94-22976 Filed 9-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P