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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5984-4]

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 (EPA).

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: Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) 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, with cover

letter dated December 8, 1997 describes equipment intended to comply

with the 0.10 g/bhp-hr particulate matter (PM) standard.

The candidate equipment is applicable to all 1985 through 1993

model year federal and California certified 6V92TA DDEC engines

manufactured by Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC). This includes all

DDEC II engines, DDEC I engines (1985 through 1987), and methanol-

fueled engines (manufactured from 1991 through 1993).

The equipment utilizes components from DDC's certified engine

upgrade kit, modified fuel injectors, conversion from DDEC II to DDEC

III engine control system, and a converter/muffler (previously

certified to reduce particulate matter by 25 percent and manufactured

by either Engine Control System Ltd, Engelhard Corporation, or Nelson

Industries).

Both the federal and California exhaust emissions standards for NOx

were lowered to 5.0 g/bhp-hr beginning with the 1991 model year. The

emissions data provided with DDC's notification indicate that engines

equipped with the candidate equipment can meet the 5.0 g/bhp-hr

NOX standard. Therefore, if certified, the equipment could

be used for all applicable engines, including those in California.

No life cycle costs information has been submitted by DDC. If

certified, no new requirements would be placed on operators, and no

operator would be required to purchase this equipment as a result of

the certification.

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.

The notification of intent to certify, as well as other materials

specifically relevant to it, are contained in Category XXIV 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 XXIV, at the address below, and an identical copy should be

submitted to William Rutledge, also at the address below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 4, 1998.

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 XXIV), Room M-1500, 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460.

2. William Rutledge, Engine Programs and Compliance Division

(6403J), 401 ``M'' Street SW., 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. 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, Engine Programs and

Compliance Division (6403J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401

M Street S.W., Washington, DC 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-9297.

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

[[Page 13663]]

affected buses must use equipment which has been certified by the

Agency. 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, DDC applied for

certification of equipment applicable to all of its federal and

California certified 6V92TA model engines having electronically

controlled fuel injection (Detroit Diesel Electronic Control--DDEC)

that were originally manufactured between 1985 through December 31,

1994. The notification, with cover letter dated December 8, 1997,

signed with the erroneous date of December 12, 1998, and labeled with

an ``Issued'' date of November 19, 1997, describes equipment that is

intended to comply with the 0.10 g/bhp-hr standard and is applicable to

6V92TA DDEC engines of model years 1985--1993. DDEC I engines (1985

through 1987) and methanol-fueled engines (manufactured from 1991

through 1993) may also utilize this kit.

The equipment utilizes components from DDC's certified engine

upgrade kit, modified fuel injectors, conversion from DDEC II to DDEC

III engine control system, and a converter/muffler (previously

certified to reduce particulate matter by 25 percent and manufactured

by either Engine Control Systems Ltd, Engelhard Corporation, or Nelson

Industries).

The equipment to be certified is included in three constituent

kits. The three constituent kits included in this submission are as

follows:

Engine Rebuild Kit--Newly Manufactured Parts: This kit is comprised

of newly manufactured parts and consist of a gasket kit, air inlet

hose, blower drive gear (2.05 to 1), blower by-pass valve assembly,

cylinder kits (piston assemblies and cylinder liners), new electronic

unit fuel injectors and DDEC II to DDEC III conversion kits.

Engine Rebuild Kit--Reliabilt Parts: This kit includes

Reliabilt remanufactured parts, including camshafts, blower

assembly, turbocharger and head assemblies.

Converter/Muffler Kits: In order to provide the greatest

flexibility to transit operators by providing several converter/muffler

options, DDC plans to include the converter/mufflers provided by three

suppliers: Engelhard Corporation, Engine Control Systems Ltd, and

Nelson Industries. Transit operators will be able to select a

converter/muffler from any one of the suppliers which will be packaged

as a direct replacement for the vehicle muffler and which will

accommodate the installation requirements of the various engine/vehicle

combinations. Certification of the Engelhard CMXTM

converter/muffler is described in a Federal Register notice of May 31,

1995 (60 FR 28402. The Engine Control Systems' converter/muffler is

described in a Federal Register notice of January 6, 1997 (62 FR 746).

Nelson Industries' converter/muffler is described in a Federal Register

notice of November 26, 1997 (62 FR 63159).

One of each type of constituent kit is required for the rebuild of

an engine. The engine rebuild kit usage is based on the required engine

power rating (253 and 277 horsepower is available), engine rotation

direction and orientation (43 degree tilt, 15 degree tilt, and

upright). The notification includes parts lists. The converter/muffler

kit usage is based on the operator's choice of converter supplier and

the engine/vehicle combination.

DDC states that standard procedures, as described in the service

manual of 92 Series engines, are to be used when rebuilding the base

engine using the candidate kit. No unique rebuild procedures are

required. Additionally, there are no differences in service intervals

or maintenance practices for the base engine associated with the

installation of the kit. The converter/muffler requires no regularly

scheduled maintenance, only an occasional cleaning if the maximum back

pressure of the exhaust system is exceeded.

DDC presents exhaust emission data that were developed for the

engine configuration rated at 277 horsepower. Testing of the candidate

kit was conducted using each of the three converter/mufflers with the

upgraded engine configuration. The test data indicate that the

emissions of hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen

(NOX), and smoke measurements for the engine equipped with

the candidate equipment are less than exhaust emissions standards

applicable to 1993 model year urban buses. The data is shown in the

table below.

Exhaust Emissions From 6V92TA DDEC II (277 hp)

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

Gaseous and particulate (g/bhp-hr) Smoke (percent opacity)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Comment

HC CO NOX PM BSFC a ACC LUG Peak

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

1.3............................... 15.5 5.0 0.10 b ........... 20 15 50 1993 Urban Bus

Standards.

0.3............................... 1.0 4.8 0.08 0.516 1.7 1.2 3.0 Converter/Muffler A.

0.1............................... 0.2 4.7 0.08 0.506 2.2 1.9 2.9 Converter/Muffler B.

0.2............................... 0.5 4.9 0.095 0.517 1.6 1.3 2.7 Converter/Muffler C.

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a Brake specific fuel consumption in units of pounds of fuel per brake-horsepower-hour.

b Non-compliance penalties are available up to 0.25 g/bhp-hr.

No life cycle costs information has been submitted by DDC. DDC does

not intend certification of this equipment to trigger program

requirements for the applicable engines.

Even if ultimately certified by EPA, the equipment described in

DDC's notification may require additional review by the California Air

Resources Board (CARB) before use in California. EPA recognizes that

special situations

[[Page 13664]]

may exist in California that are reflected in the unique emissions

standards, engine calibrations, and fuel specifications of the State.

While requirements of the federal urban bus program apply to several

metropolitan areas in California, EPA understands the view of CARB that

equipment certified under the urban bus program, to be used in

California, must be provided with an executive order exempting it from

the anti-tampering prohibitions of that State. Those interested in

additional information should contact the Aftermarket Part Section of

CARB, at (818) 575-6848.

Certification of the candidate DDC equipment would affect operators

as follows. EPA has not yet certified equipment, for the applicable

DDEC engines, to comply with the 0.10 g/bhp-hr standard and as being

available for less that the applicable life cycle cost. Therefore, the

0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard has not been triggered for the applicable

engines. If the candidate equipment is certified, then no new

requirements would be placed on operators and no operator would be

required to purchase this equipment as a result of certification.

If the DDC kit is certified, then it would be available to be used

in full compliance with urban bus program requirements. Certification

of CMXTM converter/muffler manufactured by the Engelhard

Corporation (60 FR 28402; May 31, 1995) triggered the requirement for

the applicable engines, when rebuilt or replaced, to reduce PM by at

least 25 percent. Until such time that the 0.10 g/bhp-hr standard is

triggered, the certification of the CMXTM means that

operators who elect to use compliance program 1 must use equipment

certified to reduce PM emissions by at least 25 percent, when

rebuilding or replacing the applicable engines. If certified, the DDC

kit would meet, and exceed, this requirement. The DDC kit could also be

used in full compliance when the program requirement to use equipment

certified to the 0.10 g/bhp-hr standard is triggered.

If the Agency certifies the candidate equipment, then operators who

choose to comply with Program 2 and install this equipment, would use

the 0.10 g/bhp-hr certification level in their calculations for fleet

level attained (FLA) 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.

The Agency requests that those commenting also consider these

regulatory requirements, plus provide comments on any experience or

knowledge relevant to: (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 Rebuild Requirements. 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. These documents will

also be available for public review and comment.

Dated: March 12, 1998.

Richard D. Wilson,

Acting Assistant Administrator, Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 98-7309 Filed 3-19-98; 8:45 am]

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