Reopening of Comment Period for Control of Emissions of Air Pollution from 2004 and Later Model Year Highway Engines and Vehicles; Revision of Light-duty Truck Definition

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 85 and 86

[AMS-FRL-6503-8]

RIN 2060-AI12, 2060-AI23

Reopening of Comment Period for Control of Emissions of Air

Pollution from 2004 and Later Model Year Highway Engines and Vehicles;

Revision of Light-duty Truck Definition

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of reopening of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: EPA is reopening the comment period for the proposed rule for

the control of emissions of air pollution from 2004 and later model

year heavy-duty vehicles and engines. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

(NPRM) was published in the Federal Register on October 29, 1999 (64 FR

58472). The close of the comment period for all issues related to the

proposed rule was originally December 2, 1999. EPA is extending the

closure of the comment period to December 16, 1999 for all issues

except those related to the proposal to revise the light-duty truck

definition. Comments related to this issue, contained in the proposed

rule Supplementary Information, Section IV.F, will continue to be

accepted only through December 2, 1999.

DATES: Comments regarding the proposed rule Supplementary Information,

Section IV.F, entitled ``Proposal to Revise the Definition of Light-

duty Truck,'' at 64 FR 58502-58507, will be accepted through December

2, 1999. Comments regarding all other issues related to the proposed

rule will be accepted until December 16, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the proposal should be sent to: EPA Air and

Radiation Docket, Attn: Docket No. A-98-32, Room M-1500 (Mail Code

6102), 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460. EPA requests that a copy

of the comments also be sent to the contact person listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Borushko, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Engine Programs and Compliance Division, 2000

Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105-2498. Telephone (734) 214-4334;

Fax (734) 214-4816; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 29, 1999 EPA published a proposal

regarding emission standards and compliance procedures for heavy-duty

vehicles and engines that would take effect in the 2004 model year. The

comment period on this proposal was scheduled to end on December 2,

1999.

EPA held a public hearing on November 2, 1999 to provide

opportunities for interested parties to comment on issues pertaining to

the proposed rule. At the hearing, several commenters requested a

longer comment period. EPA has also received written requests to extend

the comment period to give affected parties more time to address the

issues raised in the NPRM.

Although EPA originally intended to finalize this rulemaking by

December 31, 1999, and all available resources were committed to

achieving this, EPA now agrees that extending the comment period may be

beneficial. This extension does not apply to the comment period for the

specific provision that proposes to revise the definition of light-duty

truck (see 64 FR 58502-58507). This provision was initially discussed

in the Tier 2 NPRM (see 64 FR 26089) and received significant comments

on this issue at that time. EPA expects to include final provisions in

the final Tier 2 rule, expected to be completed by December 31, 1999.

Additional

[[Page 68311]]

comments on this issue will be only accepted until December 2, 1999.

Dated: November 30, 1999.

Robert Perciasepe,

Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 99-31665 Filed 12-6-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-U