[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 93 (Friday, May 14, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 26410-26412] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-12246] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6342-1] RIN 2060-AH52 Public Meetings To Discuss Air Quality Modeling and Infrastructure Issues Associated With Alternative-Fueled Vehicles AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of public meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency intends to hold two public workshops to discuss issues associated with alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) (i.e., vehicles powered by fuels other than gasoline). The first workshop (which EPA will hold May 26, 1999, in Louisville, Kentucky), will focus on issues associated with air quality modeling of AFVs. The purpose of this workshop is to facilitate an exchange of information that will help EPA determine which areas of its modeling, if any, should be enhanced to better estimate the air quality impacts of alternative-fueled vehicles. The second workshop will focus on issues related to infrastructure development and creating a sustainable market for AFVs. DATES: The first workshop (on modeling and AFVs) will be held on May 26, 1999, in Louisville, Kentucky, following the Department of Energy's National Clean Cities Conference. The date for the second workshop (on infrastructure development and creating a sustainable market for AFVs) will be announced later. Members of the public are invited to attend as observers. ADDRESSES: Questions about the workshop should be addressed to: Barry Garelick (202-564-9028; [email protected]) or Christine Hawk (202- 564-9672; [email protected]), 401 M Street, S.W. (6406J), Washington, D.C. (20460). The workshop will be held at the Sellbach Hilton Hotel, 500 4th St, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, 800 333-3399 or 502-585-3200. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Garelick (202) 564-9028. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As this Administration has long recognized, one of the keys to moving forward environmentally is moving forward technologically. Progress towards sustainable reductions in emissions from the mobile source sector is inextricably linked to technological advancement. Motor vehicles are significant contributors to ground- level ozone, the principal harmful ingredient in smog. They also emit other pollutants, including particulate matter and air toxics. Motor vehicle emissions contribute to public health problems such as asthma and other respiratory problems, especially in children. History has shown that the rise in vehicle sales and vehicle miles traveled every year has consistently led to increases in the aggregate emissions from the mobile source sector, despite progress in reducing emissions from gasoline-powered, conventional motor vehicles. This places increasing importance on technological developments, including vehicles powered by fuels other than gasoline. There is particular interest in the creation of vehicles whose emissions do not increase as the vehicle ages. There are a number of types of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) in production and under development. In the United States, manufacturers are already selling various types of AFVs, including vehicles powered by electricity, compressed natural gas, methanol, and ethanol. The last year has also seen dramatic developments in hybrid-electric vehicle and fuel cell technology. Congress and the Administration have already recognized that they have an important role to play regarding AFVs. As part of the 1990 Amendments to the Clean Air Act, Congress included sections promoting increased numbers of clean fuel fleet vehicles. The Clean Fuel Fleet program, which began on September 1, 1998, requires certain nonattainment areas to adopt and implement a program requiring certain centrally-fueled fleets to include a specified percentage of clean-fuel vehicles in their new fleet vehicle purchases. Additionally, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct), which includes numerous provisions designed to increase the [[Page 26411]] number of alternative fueled vehicles in vehicle fleets. These provisions include minimum Federal fleet requirements, public information programs, and guidelines for state and local incentive programs. The Administration is working on implementing the requirements of EPAct. In 1996, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13031, ``Federal Alternative Fueled Vehicle Leadership.'' This Executive Order sets forth reporting requirements to ensure that federal agencies comply with the AFV acquisition requirements of EPAct. By FY1999, 75 percent of certain federal vehicle purchases must be AFVs. The Order also includes a credit system that allows agencies to gain extra credits towards meeting their light-duty vehicle procurement goals by acquiring medium-duty and heavy-duty AFVs and zero emission vehicles. States also are playing a role in supporting AFVs. California created Low and Zero Emission Vehicle programs that New York, Vermont, Maine, and Massachusetts have adopted. It is important for the Agency to keep pace with and encourage the development of alternative fuel technologies. To continue progress in meeting this objective with respect to AFVs, the Agency is announcing a number of steps today. EPA intends to hold two workshops on issues related to AFVs. One workshop, to be held on May 26, 1999, will address issues related to modeling and AFVs, while a second workshop to be held in the next year will address infrastructure issues related to creating a sustainable market for AFVs. Alternative Fuel Team EPA's Office of Mobile Sources has established an Alternative Fuel Team (AF Team), which has members from various OMS divisions. The goal of the AF Team is to promote the use of alternative fuels to help meet air quality goals. The team will help coordinate the Agency's existing efforts related to AFVs, and develop and conduct new efforts. The primary contact for outside parties interested in EPA's AFV efforts will be Deborah Adler (734-214-4223) or Christine Hawk (202-564-9672) (although others within the Agency may be the principal contact for specific issues). The AF Team is in the process of developing an action plan for the next year. This plan will cover a range of activities, such as: enhancing and/or developing modeling that accurately characterizes emissions of AFVs as compared to gasoline vehicles; tracking and, where appropriate, participating in various Administration efforts related to AFVs, including the Clean Cities program and federal purchases of AFVs; working with states on Clean Fuel Fleet programs; and facilitating discussions on infrastructure development to create a sustainable market for AFVs. In addition, within the next six months, the AF Team will also begin to plan and execute an ongoing public education campaign for which they will develop outreach and public education materials on AFVs and the role they can play in cleaning up the nation's air. The Team's efforts in this area will be comparable to the public education efforts the Office of Mobile Sources has made on other mobile source/clean air issues. Anyone who wishes to provide input on appropriate activities for the Team should contact Deborah Adler or Christine Hawk. Workshop on AFVs and Modeling It is important for state and federal policy makers to have accurate information on the full environmental consequences of different types of technology so that they can make informed regulatory and purchasing decisions. On May 26, 1999, EPA plans to conduct a public workshop in Louisville, Kentucky, to address various issues related to modeling the environmental effects of AFVs as compared to gasoline vehicles. (The date and location of the workshop were selected to coordinate with the Department of Energy's National Clean Cities conference, which begins May 24 in Louisville.) The goal of the workshop will be to look at how at least two models for motor vehicle emissions evaluate AFV emissions, to identify how these models might be improved to be more accurate, and to identify whether there are data gaps that limit a model's ability to compare gasoline vehicle and AFV emissions accurately. The Agency will use this workshop to help the AFV Team and others in the Agency focus future modeling and data collection efforts. At least two models will be discussed at the workshop. First, EPA has developed, and is currently updating, its comprehensive mobile source emissions model (the MOBILE model). This model provides average in-use fleet emission factors for pollutants for different vehicle categories operated under various conditions as specified by the model user. Features incorporated in the MOBILE model allow the user to simulate some characteristics of AFVs on the mobile source fleet, and EPA is in the process of improving this capability. Second, EPA is working with the Department of Energy on another model which calculates the life cycle emissions of various fuels. In the workshop, EPA would be interested in exploring ideas participants might have to enhance its short-term modeling capabilities as well as suggestions for other, longer-term projects. Most of the data developed in support of the MOBILE model is based on the emissions performance of gasoline-powered vehicles. EPA has developed some limited data on the emissions performance of natural gas vehicles, especially in the area of vehicle deterioration, and is currently working with some interested parties to incorporate some of this data into features in the next MOBILE model. One particular feature would allow the model user to estimate the emissions difference between a fleet of various numbers of natural gas and gasoline-powered vehicles. However, one of the significant issues hampering AFV modifications to the MOBILE model is the availability of emissions data and performance characteristics of these vehicles. The modeling code is based on the analysis of emissions data and the lack of emissions data regarding AFVs hampers EPA's ability to model their performance accurately. Some of the areas EPA has already identified where more data would be useful are emissions factors for heavy-duty natural gas vehicles, off-cycle emissions performance of vehicles, and the level of toxic compounds in emissions from current and advanced technology vehicles. In this workshop, EPA is interested in discussing ways to generate emissions data in these areas as well as other areas identified as significant areas for further study and how this data could be incorporated into the MOBILE model. The other modeling-related topic for discussion at this workshop will be the possible creation of other modeling tools that could help quantify the various emissions differences between vehicles operated on different fuels. The Department of Energy has developed a methodology for doing such an analysis. An air quality model that quantified the full life-cycle emissions from various fuels could be useful for states making regulatory decisions or determining which type of AFVs to purchase to obtain the greatest air quality benefit possible. EPA recognizes that a modeling tool of this type would require more than just actual emissions data for it to be useful. It would also require information such as the actual emissions inputs for a life-cycle analysis for an electric vehicle and whether an AFV is used in the same manner as a [[Page 26412]] conventional vehicle. However, the Agency is interested in discussing this issue to see if such analysis would be worthwhile and beneficial and if the developmental work done to date could be useful for states making in future modeling analysis. Anyone with suggestions for this workshop should contact Barry Garelick at the address listed above. Workshop on AFV Market and Infrastructure Development Within the next year, the Agency intends to conduct a public workshop on infrastructure issues related to creating a sustainable market for AFVs. In previous discussions on AFVs, EPA has noted that the development of a sustainable market for AFVs, which includes necessary infrastructure development, is a key component of any plan to achieve the air quality gains that are possible from the use of AFVs. Developing the infrastructure necessary for AFVs is an important part in developing a sustainable market. For example, drivers may be reluctant to purchase electric vehicles if they have concerns about the availability of recharging stations. EPA believes that solutions to infrastructure development needs can be found by a variety of stakeholders working together. For example, electric utilities that support electric vehicles might provide special assistance for the installation of residential or commercial charging stations; states that wish to encourage the purchase of AFVs might provide tax incentives; fleet operators in any given area, including states and the federal government, could agree to focus AFV purchases on a particular type of AFV. From past discussions with a variety of stakeholders, it appeared that discussions on infrastructure development and creation of a sustainable market for AFVs could identify useful steps for various stakeholders to take and that some steps might best be taken by several stakeholders working in partnership with each other. At this workshop, the Agency's intent is to gather other Administration officials, State officials (both environmental and purchasing agent), auto and utility industry representatives, environmentalists, and other interested parties. The workshop will provide an opportunity for oral and written presentations on what AFVs are available and how many are being purchased by whom (including federal and state fleet purchases). It will provide a forum for looking at what barriers exist that limit the sales of AFVs and how those barriers can be reduced or eliminated. It will also provide a forum for identifying key opportunities to create a sustainable market for AFVs. The workshop will focus on the Ozone Transport Region (northern Virginia through Maine) because of the interest the OTR States have shown in AFVs over the past few years. The Agency intends that the workshop will draw on the experience of other areas (such as California). EPA also welcomes participation by states outside the OTR. This workshop is intended to be the type of workshop that the northeastern states and the auto industry had tentatively agreed to in the ATV Agreement in the National LEV MOU that was never finalized.1 As EPA indicated in several Federal Register notices, EPA believed that the ATV Agreement would have been a productive way of creating a sustainable market for ATVs through cooperative working relationships. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ In the negotiations between the northeastern states and the auto industry on EPA's National Low Emission Vehicle (NLEV) program, the states and the auto industry had tentatively agreed to a process to facilitate discussion on the creation of a sustainable market for advanced technology vehicles (ATV Agreement). (This tentative ATV Agreement was to be included in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was to form the basis for the NLEV program, but the ATV Agreement was not intended to be included in the NLEV regulations. However, the parties have ended discussions and decided not to finalize the MOU, which would have contained the ATV Agreement). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The date and location of the workshop and a more detailed agenda will be published in the Federal Register at a later date. Anyone with suggestions for this workshop should contact Barry Garelick. Dated: May 5, 1999. Carol M. Browner, Administrator. [FR Doc. 99-12246 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P