Tier 2 (Phase 2) Study To Assess Further Reduction in Light-Duty Vehicle and Light-Duty Truck Tailpipe Emission Standards

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5812-1]

Tier 2 (Phase 2) Study To Assess Further Reduction in Light-Duty

Vehicle and Light-Duty Truck Tailpipe Emission Standards

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of availability and notice of public workshop.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of an EPA White Paper

and the scheduling of a public workshop regarding Tier 2 exhaust

emission standards for motor vehicles.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on April 23, 1997, from 9:30

a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The White Paper has been released and is currently

available to the public.

ADDRESSES: Materials relevant to this notice have been placed in Docket

No. A-97-10. The docket is located at the Air Docket Room, Room M-1500,

Waterside Mall, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460, and may be

inspected weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. A reasonable fee may

be charged by EPA for copying docket materials. Some materials are also

available on the Internet at the Tier 2 Study home page, at http://

www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/tr2home.htm.

The public workshop will be held at the U.S. EPA Judiciary Square

Office, 1st Floor Conference Room, 501 3rd Street NW, Washington, DC.

[[Page 18347]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Markey, Vehicle Programs and

Compliance Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National

Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, 2565 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor,

Michigan, 48105. Telephone: (313) 668-4534. Fax: (313) 741-7869. E-

mail: Markey.J[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) of 1990

added subsections 202(g) and 202(h) to the Clean Air Act which required

Phase I (or Tier 1) emission standards for light-duty vehicles and

light-duty trucks, effective with a phase-in starting in 1994. The

Amendments added subsection 202(i), which requires a Phase II Study

(hereafter referred to as the Tier 2 Study) to consider, ``whether or

not further reductions in emissions from light-duty vehicles and light-

duty trucks should be required pursuant to this title.''

The CAAA also outlined the critical elements which EPA is to

consider in the course of the Tier 2 study:

Air quality need. EPA ``shall examine the need for further

reductions in emissions in order to attain or maintain the national

ambient air quality standards * * *''

Technology assessment. EPA is to examine ``the

availability of technology (including the costs thereof), in the case

of light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks with a loaded vehicle

weight (LVW) of 3,750 lbs. or less, for meeting more stringent emission

standards than those provided in subsections (g) and (h) for model

years commencing not earlier than after January 1, 2003, and not later

than model year 2006, including the lead time and safety and energy

impacts of meeting more stringent emission standards.''

Cost effectiveness assessment. EPA is to examine ``the

need for, and cost effectiveness of, obtaining further reductions in

emissions from such light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks, taking

into consideration alternative means of attaining or maintaining the

national primary ambient air quality standards pursuant to State

implementation plans and other requirements of this Act, including

their feasibility and cost effectiveness.''

With this Notice, the Agency has at this time completed and

released a White Paper designed to outline the scope and timing of the

Tier 2 Study and present issues identified by EPA as having potential

importance to the Tier 2 Study. This paper also discusses the approach

the Agency intends to take in conducting the air quality, technology,

and cost effectiveness assessments required by the CAAA. This document

is available to the public and may be inspected at the public docket,

No. A-97-10, at the address provided in ADDRESSES, above. It is

available electronically on the Internet at the Tier 2 Study home page

at http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/tr2home.htm, and copies may also be

obtained by contacting the contact person listed above.

The Agency seeks to involve stakeholders early in the process

through the public workshop. The White Paper will serve as the basis

for the public workshop and EPA welcomes comment, in writing or at the

workshop, on the specific issues raised in the White Paper, as well as

comments on additional issues not captured by this initial review. It

is important to note that EPA has not made any determination regarding

elements in the Tier 2 Study, and EPA is particularly interested in

receiving feedback from all parties as to the scope of the study.

Anyone wishing to make a presentation at the public workshop (see

DATES) should, if possible, notify the contact person listed above at

least seven days prior to the day of the workshop. The contact person

should be given an estimate of the time required for the presentation

and notification of any need for audio/visual equipment. A sign-up

sheet will be available at the registration table the morning of the

workshop for scheduling those who have not notified the contact

earlier. These presentations will be scheduled on a first-come, first-

served basis, and will follow the presentations that have been arranged

in advance.

The Agency recommends that multiple copies of the material to be

presented be brought to the workshop for distribution to EPA and

members of the audience.

Dated: April 9, 1997.

Mary D. Nichols,

Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 97-9691 Filed 4-14-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P