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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5212-8]

Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year

Urban Buses; Approval of an Application for Certification of Equipment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of Agency approval of an application for equipment

certification.

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SUMMARY: The Agency received an application dated August 2, 1994 from

the Engelhard Corporation (Engelhard) with principal place of business

at 101 Wood Avenue, Iselin, New Jersey for certification of urban bus

retrofit/rebuild equipment pursuant to 40 CFR 85.1401-85.1415. On

September 16, 1994 EPA published notification that the application had

been received and made the application available for public review and

comment for a period of 45 days (59 FR 47581). EPA has completed its

review of this application and the Director of the Manufacturers

Operations Division has determined that it meets all the requirements

for certification. Accordingly, EPA approves the certification of this

equipment effective May 31, 1995.

The candidate equipment provides a 25 percent or greater reduction

in emissions of particulate matter (PM) for certain petroleum fueled

diesel engines relative to the original engine configuration and on

engines that have been retrofit/rebuilt with certified new rebuild kits

that do not include aftertreatment devices. In addition, this equipment

will be offered to all parties for $2,151 or less (2,000 or less in

1992 dollars). The certification of this equipment triggers

requirements for all operators utilizing Program 1 that have engines in

their fleet that are covered by this certification.

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: The date of this document May 31, 1995 is the official

certification date for this application. The equipment is immediately

available for installation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Erb, Technical Support Branch,

Manufacturers Operations Division (6405J), U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, 401 M St. SW., Washington, DC 20460. Telephone:

(202) 233-9259.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

On August 2, 1994 Engelhard submitted an application under EPA's

Urban Bus/Retrofit program 1 for certification of a catalytic

converter muffler (CCM) for use on 2-cycle and 4-cycle petroleum fueled

diesel urban bus engines for 1993 and earlier model years. Engelhard

has since withdrawn the 4-cycle engines from consideration pending

development of additional test data. [[Page 28402]]

\1\ EPA promulgated the Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993

and Earlier Model Year Urban Buses on April 23, 1993 (58 FR 21359).

This final rule established the provisions for an urban bus

retrofit/rebuild program as required by section 219(d) of the Clean

Air Act Amendments (CAAA) of 1990.

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The CCM functions as a catalytic converter and a muffler. It takes

the place of the original muffler in the engine exhaust system.

Engelhard documented that the candidate equipment provides a 25 percent

or greater reduction in emissions of particulate matter (PM) for

petroleum fueled diesel heavy-duty urban bus engines as listed in Table

A.

Table A. Certification Levels

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PM level

with

standard

Engine model Model year rebuild and Code Family designation

addition of

CCM

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DDC 6V92TA MUI............................. 1979-1987 \1\ .38 ALL............. ALL

DDC 6V92TA MUI............................. 1988-1989 .22 ALL............. ALL

DDC 6V92TA MUI............................. 1979-1989 \2\ .18 ALL............. ALL

DDC 6V92TA DDEC I.......................... 1986-1989 .23 ALL............. ALL

DDC 6V92TA DDEC II......................... 1988-1991 .23 ALL............. ALL

1992 .19 ALL............. ALL

[[Page 28403]]

1993 .19 ALL............. ALL

DDC 6V71N.................................. 1973-1989 .38 ALL............. ALL

DDC 6V71T.................................. 1985-1986 .38 ALL............. ALL

DDC 8V71N.................................. 1973-1984 .38 ALL............. ALL

DDC 6L71TA................................. 1990 .44 ALL............. ALL

1988-1989 .23 ALL............. ALL

DDC 6L71TA DDEC............................ 1990-1991 .23 ALL............. ALL

DDC-8V-92TA................................ 1979-1987 .40 ALL............. 8V-92TA

1988 .29 ALL............. ALL

DDC-8V-92TA-DD............................. 1988 .31 ALL............. 8V-92TA-DDEC II

DDC-8V-92TA................................ 1989 .35 9E70............ KDD0736FW8 9

DDC-8V-92TA................................ 1989 .29 9A90............ KDD0736FW8 9

DDC-8V-92TA................................ 1989 .26 9G85............ KDD0736FW8 9

DDC-8V-92TA-DDEC........................... 1989 .31 1A.............. KDD0736FZH 4

DDC-8V-92TA................................ 1990 .35 9E70............ LDD0736FAH 9

DDC-8V-92TA-DDEC........................... 1990 .37 1A.............. LDD0736FZH 3

DDC-8V-92TA-DDEC........................... 1991 .19 1A OR 5A........ MDD0736FZH 2

DDC-8V-92TA................................ 1992-1993 .16 1D.............. NDD0736FZH 1 &

PDD0736FZH X

DDC-8V-92TA-DDEC........................... 1992-1993 .22 6A.............. NDD0736FZH 1 &

PDD0736FZH X

DDC-8V-92TA-DDEC........................... 1992-1993 .15 5A.............. NDD0736FZH 1 &

PDD0736FZH X

DDC-8V-92TA-DDEC........................... 1992-1993 .19 1A.............. NDD0736FZH 1 &

PDD0736FZH X

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\1\ To attain these levels of PM reduction engines must be rebuilt to original manufacturers specifications, or

in cases where the operator finds the engines meet certain performance specifications as stated by Engelhard

in the instructions to purchasers of the CCM kit, rebuild of the engine in order to claim the listed PM

reduction would not be required. This applies to all engines listed in the table with the exception of those

covered by footnote 2.

\2\ If the CCM is installed on these engines after rebuild using the ``Engelhard Emission Rebuild/Retrofit Kit''

in conjunction with the CCM, the emission level certified to by Engelhard is 0.18 g/bhp-hr PM.

Emission test results supplied by Engelhard in the application are

shown in Table B. The test data show a greater than 25% reduction in

PM. Hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen

(NOx) and smoke emissions were within the applicable emission

standards with the CCM installed.

Table B.--Certification Emission Test Results (GM/BHP-HR)

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Baseline

Baseline engine

engine before Baseline Rebuilt

before rebuild rebuilt engine with

rebuild with engine catalyst

catalyst

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HC.......................................................... 1.19 0.64 0.48 0.24

CO.......................................................... 2.53 1.32 1.53 1.00

NOX......................................................... 9.55 9.70 10.31 10.46

PM.......................................................... 0.87 0.51 0.21 0.15

Smoke Test.................................................. ........... ........... ........... ...........

Accel....................................................... ........... ........... ........... 6.0%

Lug......................................................... ........... ........... ........... 3.4%

Peak........................................................ ........... ........... ........... 7.6%

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Urban bus operators who choose to comply with Program 1 will be

required to use this equipment (or other equipment certified in the

meantime) beginning six months after the date of this certification

approval. Urban bus operators who choose to comply with Program 2 and

use the Engelhard equipment will use the PM emissions values from Table

A when calculating their average fleet PM level.

The emission levels of the Engelhard rebuild kit will be used to

modify the Program 2 post rebuild levels in July 1996.

II. Summary and Analysis of Comments

EPA received a variety of comments on the Engelhard application

during the comment period. The comments generally fall into the areas

of equipment effects and design, durability and cost. Copies of the

original comments are to be found in EPA Docket A-93-42.

An abbreviated summary of the major comments is provided below.

Additional discussion of comments for this decision can be found in the

Final Decision Document for the Engelhard Application #1 (FDDEA1) which

has been placed in Docket A-93-42. A limited number of copies of the

FDDEA1 are also available form the contact person listed above (see FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).

The most frequently raised concern among commenters was the effect

of the [[Page 28404]] CCM on engine backpressure and the effect the

backpressure could have on the remaining life of the engine.

Backpressure with the CCM installed will generally be higher than

the backpressure with the original muffler. However, Engelhard has

designed the CCM to ensure that the engine manufacturer's maximum

allowable backpressure will not be exceeded for any engine/exhaust

combination. Since backpressure will remain below the manufacturer's

allowable limit, EPA does not believe that engine life will be

diminished as a result of installing a CCM. Furthermore, Engelhard has

recently reconfigured the catalyst that will be marketed under this

program to provide a lower backpressure as compared to the catalyst

used in the certification test.

Catalyst sizing, packaging and installation applicability were

raised as issues by several commenters. Specifically, commenters

questioned whether the catalyst would be adequately packaged to fit the

wide range of engines and bus models, and whether proper installation

and mounting hardware would be available for each combination of bus /

engine.

Clear instructions and proper installation for each bus/engine

combination will be required to ensure proper operation of the CCM.

Engelhard has designed specific installation instructions and hardware

for most applications already. The CCM takes the place of the muffler

in the exhaust system and each kit will contain all components

necessary to complete the installation. Engelhard continues to work

with operators to develop appropriate hardware and packaging for

specific applications.

The last major group of comments centered around life cycle cost of

the CCM. One commenter proposed that field data be collected to support

fuel economy impact claims contained in the application for

certification. Another commenter noted that operators might use the

equipment beyond the 150,000 mile useful life, and questioned how the

costs associated with use beyond 150,000 miles are accounted for in the

life cycle cost.

Regarding field data to demonstrate fuel economy claims, the

regulations do not require that life cycle fuel cost be calculated

using field data. At the time of application for certification, a

certifier that is applying for certification within life cycle cost

limitations must provide information on the fuel economy impact of

rebuild/retrofit equipment. Engelhard provided brake-specific fuel

consumption (BSFC) data from transient tests performed on a baseline

engine and on an engine equipped with a CCM. This data shows the BSFC

difference between these tests to be within normal test to test

variability, and EPA does not find that this equipment will have an

impact on fuel economy.

Regarding the second comment, operators may indeed continue to use

certified equipment beyond the statutory useful-life of 150,000 miles.

However, for the purpose of calculating life cycle costs, only those

costs incurred within the useful-life are relevant. Operators who

operate equipment beyond the useful-life are responsible for costs to

maintain the equipment in proper operating condition, and assume in-use

emissions performance liability.

III. Certification Approval

The Agency has reviewed this application, along with comments

received from the interested parties, and finds that this application

meets the requirements for certification under the Retrofit/Rebuild

Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year Urban Buses (40 CFR

85.1401 and 85.1415). Thus, the Agency hereby approves the

certification of this equipment.

IV. Operator Requirements and Responsibilities

Operators who have chosen to comply with Program 1 will be required

to utilize this equipment for any engines that are listed in Table A

that undergo rebuild on or after December 1, 1995. Under Program 2,

this equipment is immediately available to operators for use and those

who use this certified kit may claim the PM emissions reduction as

stated in Table A when calculating their Fleet Level Attained.

As stated in the regulations, operators should maintain records for

each engine in their fleet to demonstrate that they are in compliance

with either program 1 or program 2 beginning in January 1, 1995. These

records include purchase records, receipts, and part numbers for the

parts and components used in the rebuilding of urban bus engines.

Dated: May 10, 1995.

Mary D. Nichols,

Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 95-13246 Filed 5-30-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P