[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 107 (Monday, June 5, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29590-29592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13540]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5208-3]


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 45 day public review and comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Agency has received a notification of intent to certify 
urban bus retrofit/rebuild equipment pursuant to 40 CFR part 85, 
Subpart O. Pursuant to Sec. 85.1407(a)(7), today's Federal Register 
notice summarizes the notification below, 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 comments 
received, 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.
    The Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) notification of intent to 
certify, as well as other materials specifically relevant to it, are 
contained in category VII-A of Public Docket A-93-42, entitled 
``Certification of Urban Bus Retrofit/Rebuild Equipment''. This docket 
is located at the address 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 VII-A, at the address below. An identical copy should be 
submitted to William Rutledge, also at the address below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 20, 1995.

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 VII-A), Room M-1500, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, DC 20460.
    2. William Rutledge, Technical Support Branch, Manufacturers 
Operations Division (6405J), 401 ``M'' Street S.W., Washington, DC 
20460.
    The DDC notification of intent to certify, as well as other 
materials specifically relevant to it, are contained in the public 
docket indicated above. [[Page 29591]] Docket items may be inspected 
from 8 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:
William Rutledge, Manufacturers Operations Division (6405J), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, DC 
20460. Telephone: (202) 233-9297.

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 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 the 
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 signed March 16, 1995, and 
with cover letter dated April 11, 1995, Detroit Diesel Corporation 
(DDC) has applied for certification of equipment applicable to it's 
6V92TA model engines having mechanical unit injectors (MUI) that were 
originally manufactured between January 1979 and December 1989. The 
notification of intent to certify states that the candidate equipment 
will reduce PM emissions 25 percent or more, on petroleum-fueled diesel 
engines that have been rebuilt to DDC specifications. 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. Therefore, this 
equipment may trigger program requirements for the 25% reduction 
standard. If certified as a trigger of this standard, urban bus 
operators will be required to use this retrofit/rebuild equipment or 
other equipment certified to provide a PM reduction as discussed below.
    All components of the candidate equipment are contained in two 
basic types of kits. One of each basic type of kit is required for the 
rebuild of an engine. Twelve combinations of the two basic types of 
kits are relevant to certification--the specific combination to be used 
with a particular engine depends upon engine rotation direction, 
orientation of the engine block, cam gear mounting technique, and 
engine power level. One basic type of kit includes a gasket kit, air 
inlet hose, cylinder kit, and by-pass valve assembly. The other basic 
type of kit includes fuel injectors, camshafts, blower assembly, 
turbocharger, and head assemblies. Further, engines of model year 1979 
through 1987 would receive an injector timing dimension that is 
different than that for the 1988 and 1989 engines.
    DDC presents exhaust emission data from testing the candidate 
equipment on an engine rebuilt to a configuration identical to a 1979 
model year DDC 6V92TA urban bus engine. This engine was selected to 
represent a ``worst case'', with respect to PM, of the engines for 
which certification of the equipment is being sought. A baseline test 
was conducted after the engine was rebuilt to the original 1979 urban 
bus configuration. Subsequent testing was done after again rebuilding 
using the candidate equipment: One test was conducted using the 
injector timing dimension for the 1988 and 1989 engines, and another 
test was conducted using the dimension for the 1979 through 1987 
engines. The test data indicate, with the candidate equipment 
installed, 52 percent reduction in PM level for 1979 through 1987 model 
year engines (to a level of 0.26 g/bhp-hr), and 25 percent reduction 
for 1988 and 1989 engines (to a level of 0.23 g/bhp-hr). (Model years 
1988 and 1989 of this engine family were certified under EPA's new 
engine certification program to a PM level of 0.31 g/bhp-hr.) The test 
data also indicate that hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and 
oxides of nitrogen (NOX) are less than applicable standards. Fuel 
consumption is reduced with the candidate equipment installed. DDC 
presents smoke emission measurements for the engine which indicate 
compliance with applicable standards.
    DDC 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. This 
information may trigger the 25 percent reduction standard if the 
equipment is certified. DDC indicates that the candidate equipment has 
no incremental purchase price, installation cost, fuel cost, or 
maintenance cost compared to the currently available standard rebuild.
    If the Agency certifies the candidate DDC equipment as a trigger of 
program requirements, operators will be affected as follows. Under 
Program 1, all rebuilds of applicable engines performed 6 months 
following the effective date of certification, must use the DDC 
equipment or other equipment certified to prove at least a 25 percent 
reduction. This requirement would continue for the applicable engines 
until such time that equipment was certified to trigger the 0.10 g/bhp-
hr emission standard for less than a life cycle cost of $7,940 (in 1992 
dollars). If the Agency certifies the candidate DDC equipment as a 
trigger of program requirements, 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. DDC projects a post-rebuild PM level of 0.26 g/bhp-hr with 
the equipment installed on model year 1979 through 1987 6V92TA MUI 
engines, and 0.23 g/bhp-hr for 6V92TA MUI engines of model years 1988 
and 1989.
    At a minimum, EPA expects to evaluate this notification of intent 
to certify, and other materials submitted as [[Page 29592]] 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 DDC 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.

    Dated: May 10, 1995.
Mary D. Nichols,
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 95-13540 Filed 6-1-95; 8:45 am]
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