ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5856-9]

 
Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year 
Urban Buses; Public Review of a Notification of Intent To Certify 
Equipment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of agency receipt of a notification of intent to certify 
equipment and initiation of public review and comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Nelson Industries, Inc., Nelson Division (Nelson) has 
submitted to the Agency a notification of intent to certify urban bus 
retrofit/rebuild equipment pursuant to 40 CFR part 85, subpart O. The 
notification describes equipment consisting of an oxidation catalyst 
combined with a noise muffler which replaces the original muffler unit 
installed on the engine. The equipment is intended for use on all 
petroleum-fueled Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) two-stroke cycle 
urban bus engines from 1979 through 1993 model year, exclusive of the 
1990 model year DDC 6L71TA. In addition, Nelson requests certification 
of this equipment for use on engines rebuilt using the DDC 6V92TA 
mechanical unit injector (MUI) and electronic control (DDEC II) engine 
upgrade kits previously certified by EPA under the retrofit/rebuild 
program.<SUP>1</SUP> Pursuant to Sec. 85.1407(a)(7), today's Federal 
Register notice summarizes the notification, announces that the 
notification is available for public review and comment, and initiates 
a 45-day period during which comments can be submitted. The Agency will 
review this notification of intent to certify, as well as any comments 
it receives, to determine whether the equipment described in the 
notification of intent to certify should be certified. If certified, 
the equipment can be used by urban bus operators to reduce the 
particulate matter of urban bus engines.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The DDC MUI upgrade kit was certified by EPA on October 2, 
1995 (60 FR 51472). The DDC DDEC II upgrade kit was certified by EPA 
on June 28, 1996 (61 FR 37738).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The notification of intent to certify, as well as other materials 
specifically relevant to it, are contained in Category XIX of Public 
Docket A-93-42, entitled ``Certification of Urban Bus Retrofit/Rebuild 
Equipment''. This docket is located at the address listed below.
    Today's notice initiates a 45-day period during which the Agency 
will accept written comments relevant to whether or not the equipment 
included in this notification of intent to certify should be certified. 
Comments should be provided in writing to Public Docket A-93-42, 
Category XIX, at the address below, and an identical copy should be 
submitted to Tom Stricker, also at the address below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 25, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit separate copies of comments to each of the two 
following addresses:

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Public Docket A-93-42 
(Category XIX), Room M-1500, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.
2. Tom Stricker, Engine Programs and Compliance Division (6403J), 401 
``M'' Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.

    The Nelson 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 the Agency for copying docket 
materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Stricker, Engine Programs and 
Compliance Division (6403J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 
M Street S.W., Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 233-9322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On April 21, 1993, the Agency 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.
    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 the Agency. 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 
as achieving at least 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) 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 25 percent or greater reduction in PM. Both of 
these values are based on 1992 dollars.

II. Notification of Intent To Certify

    By a notification of intent to certify dated March 11, 1997, Nelson 
has applied for certification of equipment applicable to all Detroit 
Diesel Corporation (DDC) two-stroke cycle urban bus engines from 1979 
through 1993 model year, exclusive of the 1990 model year DDC 6L71TA. 
In addition, Nelson requests certification of this equipment for use on 
engines rebuilt using the DDC 6V92TA mechanical unit injector (MUI) and 
electronic control (DDEC II) engine upgrade kits previously certified 
by EPA under the retrofit/rebuild program. The notification of intent 
to certify states that the candidate equipment will reduce PM emissions 
25 percent or more relative to the original PM level of the engine. 
Nelson provides criteria for determining whether or not the engine 
needs to be rebuilt prior to installing the candidate equipment. 
Further, transit pricing level has been submitted with the 
notification, along with a guarantee that the equipment will be offered 
to all affected operators for less than the incremental life cycle cost 
ceiling for a 25 percent reduction technology. EPA notes that the 
program requirement, applicable to operators choosing to comply with 
program 1, to reduce PM levels by at least 25 percent when these 
engines are rebuilt or replaced, has already been triggered, for the 
engine models covered by Nelson's request, by Englehard Corporation 
with certification

[[Page 37229]]

of their catalytic-converter muffler (CCM).<SUP>2</SUP> In addition, 
for certain engine models covered by Nelson's request, the 0.10 grams 
per brake horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr) PM standard has already been 
triggered.<SUP>3</SUP> Nevertheless, EPA plans to review available 
information and comments related to the cost of the Nelson equipment 
and, if appropriate, to certify the Nelson equipment on the basis of 
being available to all affected operators for less than the life-cycle 
cost ceiling of $2,000 (1992 dollars). Any equipment certified as 
meeting the both the emission and cost requirements can be considered 
by EPA when updating the post-rebuild PM levels used by transit 
operators choosing to comply with program 2.<SUP>4</SUP>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 60 FR 28402, May 31, 1995.
    \3\ 62 FR 12166, March 14, 1997.
    \4\ See 40 CFR 85.1403 (c)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To determine particulate matter (PM) reduction of the candidate 
equipment under the urban bus retrofit/rebuild program, Nelson presents 
exhaust emission data from a 1983 DDC 6V92TA with mechanical unit fuel 
injection (MUI), which was rebuilt by Detroit Diesel Remanufacturing--
Central, Inc. prior to baseline testing. The engine was retested with 
the candidate equipment installed. The data show a 53 percent reduction 
in PM emissions between the baseline engine and the engine with the 
candidate equipment installed. In addition, the test data indicate that 
the emissions of hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and oxides of 
nitrogen (NOx) with the candidate equipment installed are less than 
applicable standards. Fuel consumption measurements indicate a fuel 
economy penalty of less than 1 percent with the candidate equipment 
installed. Nelson presents smoke emission measurements for the engine 
which indicate compliance with applicable standards.
    Consistent with previous catalyst certifications for 25 percent 
reduction, EPA believes that the Nelson test engine meets the criteria 
for worse-case test engine, described at Sec. 85.1406 (a), for all two-
stroke cycle engines (exclusive of the 1990 model year DDC 6L71TA), 
including both mechanically and electronically fuel injected engines. 
As further described in that section, EPA reserves the right to request 
additional information showing that PM reduction does not vary 
significantly among engine families. However, because the Nelson test 
data indicate over a 50 percent PM reduction on the DDC 6V92TA MUI test 
engine, EPA believes it reasonable to expect that electronically-
controlled engines, with the Nelson catalyst installed, will be capable 
of meeting the 25 percent reduction standard for which Nelson is 
requesting certification.
    Nelson states that the candidate equipment will be offered to all 
affected operators for less than a life cycle cost of $2,000 (1992 
dollars), and has submitted life cycle cost information. Nelson states 
that the purchase price of the catalytic muffler unit will not exceed 
$2,069 (in January 1997 dollars). In addition, Nelson states that 
equipment installation time will not exceed 5 hours, resulting in an 
installation cost of $199 (in January 1997 dollars). Finally, Nelson 
states that there is no incremental maintenance required of the 
catalyst unit, and no fuel economy impact.
    Certification of the candidate Nelson equipment would affect 
operators as follows. For the 1979 through 1989 6V92TA MUI engine 
models, EPA has previously certified equipment which triggered the 
requirement to use equipment certified to the 0.10 g/bhp-hr level 
beginning September 15, 1997. Therefore, under Program 1, operators who 
rebuild or replace 1979 through 1989 model year DDC 6V92TA MUI engines 
after this date will be required to use equipment certified to meet the 
0.10 g/bhp-hr PM level. For all other engine models to which this 
certification would apply, EPA has previously certified equipment which 
triggered the requirement to use equipment certified as providing a 
minimum 25 percent reduction in PM beginning December 1, 1995. If the 
candidate Nelson equipment is certified to reduce PM by at least 25 
percent, then its use under program 1 will meet this requirement for 
these other engine models. This requirement will continue for the 
applicable engines until such time that equipment is certified to 
trigger the 0.10 g/bhp-hr emission standard for these engines for less 
than a life cycle cost of $7,940 (in 1992 dollars). If the Agency 
certifies the candidate Nelson equipment, then operators who choose to 
comply with Program 2 and install this equipment, will use the PM 
emission level(s) established during the certification review process, 
in their calculations for target or fleet level as specified in the 
program regulations.
    At a minimum, EPA expects to evaluate this notification of intent 
to certify, and other materials submitted as applicable, to determine 
whether there is adequate demonstration of compliance with: (1) The 
certification requirements of Sec. 85.1406, including whether the 
testing accurately substantiates the claimed emission reduction or 
emission levels; and, (2) the requirements of Sec. 85.1407 for a 
notification of intent to certify, including whether the data provided 
by Nelson complies with the life cycle cost requirements.
    The Agency requests that those commenting also consider these 
regulatory requirements, plus provide comments on any experience or 
knowledge concerning: (a) Problems with installing, maintaining, and/or 
using the candidate equipment on applicable engines; and, (b) whether 
the equipment is compatible with affected vehicles.
    The date of this notice initiates a 45-day period during which the 
Agency will accept written comments relevant to whether or not the 
equipment described in the DDC notification of intent to certify should 
be certified pursuant to the urban bus retrofit/rebuild regulations. 
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.
    The Agency will review this notification of intent to certify, 
along with comments received from interested parties, and attempt to 
resolve or clarify issues as necessary. During the review process, the 
Agency 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.
Richard Wilson,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 97-18253 Filed 7-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P