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-6328-2]

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.

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: Turbodyne Systems, Inc. (Turbodyne) has submitted to the

Agency a notification of intent to certify urban bus retrofit/rebuild

equipment to a 0.10 gram per brake-horsepower-hr(g/bhp-hr) particulate

matter(PM) standard pursuant to 40 CFR part 85, subpart O. The

equipment, referred to by Turbodyne consists of the base engine

components used on the 25% reduction retrofit/rebuild kit certified by

DDC (October 2, 1995), components from the 25% retrofit catalyst kit

previously certified under the program by Engine Control Systems, Ltd.

(January 6, 1997), and a TurboPac supercharger system supplied by

Turbodyne which supplies additional charge air during engine

acceleration. The candidate kit is applicable to all 6V-92TA MUI engine

models made by DDC for model years 1979 to 1989 and equipped with

mechanical unit injectors (MUI). In a letter dated September 28, 1998

Turbodyne has stated that there are no differences between the

Turbodyne kit and the kit which was certified for the Detroit Diesel

Corporation to meet the 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard under the Urban Bus

Retrofit/Rebuild program on April 6, 1998 and notification published in

the Federal Register on May 14, 1998 (63 FR 26798). Turbodyne intends

this equipment to be certified to the PM level of 0.10 g/bhp-hr. If the

Agency certifies that this equipment complies with the 0.10 g/bhp-hr

level, then operators with affected engines will have the choice of

using this equipment or other equipment that is already required for

use and certified to the 0.10 g/bhp-hr standard.

Pursuant to section 85.1407(a)(7), today's Federal Register

document 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 XXIII-A 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 document 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 the addresses below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 3, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Submit separate copies of comments to each of the two

following addresses:

1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Public Air Docket A-93-42

(Category XXIII-A), Room M-1500, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, DC

20460.

2. Anthony Erb, Engine Compliance Programs Group, Engine Programs

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

401 ``M'' Street S.W., 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 8:00 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: Anthony Erb, Engine Programs and

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

M St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Telephone: (202) 564-9259.

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 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: Option 1 establishes particulate

matter emissions requirements for each urban bus engine in an

operator's fleet which is rebuilt or replaced; Option 2 is a fleet

averaging program that establishes a specific annual target level for

average PM emissions from urban buses in an operator's fleet.

[[Page 19152]]

A key aspect of the program is certification of retrofit/rebuild

equipment, which begins when an equipment manufacturer submits an

application for certification (referred to in the rule as a

notification of intent to certify). To meet either of the two

compliance options, operators of the affected buses must use equipment

that has been certified by EPA. Emissions requirements under either of

the two options depend on the availability of retrofit/rebuild

equipment certified for each engine model. To be used for Option 1,

equipment must be certified as meeting a 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard or

as achieving a 25 percent reduction in PM. Equipment used for Option 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.

Under Option 1, additional information regarding cost must be

submitted in the notification, in order for certification of that

equipment to initiate (or trigger) program requirements for a

particular engine model. In order for the equipment to serve as a

trigger, the certifier must guarantee that the equipment will be

offered to affected operators for $7,940 or less at the 0.10 g/bhp-hr

PM level, or for $2,000 or less for the 25 percent or greater reduction

in PM. Both of the above amounts are based on 1992 dollars and include

life cycle costs incremental to the cost of a standard rebuild.

II. Notification of Intent To Certify

In a notification of intent to certify equipment signed November

14, 1997, Turbodyne applied for certification of equipment under the

Environmental Protection Agency's (the Agency) Urban Bus Retrofit/

Rebuild Program. In a letter dated September 28, 1998 Turbodyne

provided additional information indicating that the Turbodyne kit was

identical to the Detroit Diesel 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM kit which was

certified by letter on April 6, 1998 and applicable to the same engine

models. The candidate kit is applicable to all 6V-92TA, urban bus

engine models made by Detroit Diesel Corporation from model year 1979

to 1989 and equipped with mechanical unit injectors (MUI). The

equipment, consists of the base engine components used on the 25%

reduction retrofit/rebuild kit certified by DDC, components from the

25% retrofit catalyst kit certified by Engine Control Systems, Ltd.

(ECS) and a TurboPac supercharger system supplied by Turbodyne Systems,

Inc. that supplies additional charge air during engine acceleration.

The kit would be available in three horsepower levels (253, 277, and

294) for 6V-92TA engines.

The equipment to be certified includes three distinct hardware

sets. The three sets included are as follows:

Base engine components include the equipment certified by DDC to

provide a 25% reduction in PM (60FR 51472; October 2, 1995. These

components are provided in two separate sets of parts. The first set of

components is comprised of newly manufactured parts, including a gasket

kit, air inlet hose, cylinder kits (piston assemblies and cylinder

liners) a by-pass valve and a truck type throttle delay. The second set

of components includes ReliabiltTM remanufactured parts,

including the fuel injectors, camshafts, blower assembly, turbocharger,

and head assemblies. Kit usage is based on engine rotation (righthand

(RH) or lefthand (LH)), engine orientation, right bank cam gear

mounting (bolt or nut), and engine power output based on injector size.

The only differences from the previously certified equipment is the

inclusion of a truck style throttle delay, adjustment to the throttle

delay and injector timing settings to improve driveability.

The converter/muffler supplied by ECS was certified by EPA (see 62

FR 746; January 6, 1997) to provide a 25% reduction in PM emissions.

The kit consists of an oxidation converter/muffler (CM) which was

developed specifically for diesel applications, and is packaged as a

direct replacement for the vehicle's muffler. Several kits will be

provided to accommodate the installation requirements of the various

engine and vehicle configurations.

The third component set consists of an electrically powered

supercharger system which is supplied by Turbodyne Systems, Inc. This

component set, referred to as the TurboPacTM supplies

additional intake air during engine acceleration from low engine

speeds. Based on the Turbodyne information presented, in addition to

decreasing PM emissions and visible smoke during engine acceleration,

the supercharger also improves engine response and vehicle driveability

by reducing the fuel modulation during acceleration. The basic kit

consists of a blower, a diverter valve, a boost pressure sensor, an

electrical control box and power cables, and a throttle switch for

detecting the start of the engine acceleration mode. The equipment will

be supplied in two kits, one includes those components common to all

installations and a second kit to accommodate the installation

requirements of the various engine and vehicle configurations.

To complete an engine rebuild two (2) base engine component kits,

one (1) converter muffler kit, and two (2) supercharger kits would be

required. The specific kits used will depend on the engine/vehicle

combination.

There are no differences in the service intervals or maintenance

practices for the base engine associated with the installation of the

upgrade kit. The converter/muffler requires no regularly scheduled

maintenance, only an occasional cleaning if the maximum backpressure of

the exhaust system is exceeded according to DDC. The supercharger does

not require scheduled maintenance: however, a visual inspection for air

leaks is recommended whenever the engine is serviced.

Standard procedures as described in the service manual for 92

Series engines are to be used when rebuilding the base engines using

the candidate equipment. No unique rebuild procedures are required.

Use of the candidate kit is restricted to 6V-92TA Detroit Diesel

engines manufactured from January 1979 through December 1989, equipped

with mechanical unit fuel injectors (MUI), and originally certified to

meet Federal emission standards. The required fuel is low sulfur (0.05%

max by weight) diesel fuel, either number 1 or number 2.

The notification states that the candidate equipment achieves a

particulate matter (PM) level of 0.10 g/bhp-hr. Turbodyne has not

supplied life cycle cost information and is not requesting

certification based on cost to operators. The use of the equipment by

transit operators to meet program requirements is discussed below.

Turbodyne presents exhaust emissions data from testing a Detroit

Diesel Corporation (DDC) engine in accordance with procedures set forth

at 40 CFR part 86, subparts N and I. This is the same test engine and

test data that was presented in the Detroit Diesel notification that

was approved for certification on April 6, 1998 and referenced earlier

in this document. A 1984 model year DDC 6V92TA MUI model engine (277

HP) was rebuilt to the 1989 urban bus configuration as per the

previously certified DDC kit and was retrofit with the specified

components of the 0.1 g/bhp-hr kit prior to testing. In the rebuild

process, all parts not included in the rebuild kit were inspected.

Prior to testing the engine was tuned with the injector timing set at

1.460 in. The throttle delay was set for optimum vehicle driveability.

The data is summarized in Table A below.

[[Page 19153]]

Table A.--Exhaust Emissions Summary

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g/bhp-hr

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

Gaseous and particulate test 1989 HDDE 6V92TA MUI

standards with kit

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HC...................................... 1.3 0.1

CO...................................... 15.5 0.4

NOX..................................... 10.7 9.8

PM...................................... 0.60 0.091

BSFC1................................... .............. 0.464

Smoke Test Standards

ACCEL................................... 20% 3.3%

LUG..................................... 15% 2.5%

PEAK.................................... 50% 4.2%

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\1\ Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) is measured in units of lb/

bhp-hr.

The data of Table A indicate that, when rebuilt with the kit, PM

emissions of the test engine are less than 0.10 g/bhp-hr, and emissions

of hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and smoke opacity are within

applicable Federal standards. The Agency requests comments on whether

the emissions test data presented by Turbodyne demonstrate that all

engines for which certification is requested will meet applicable

Federal standards with the candidate kit installed.

Applicability of the candidate is restricted to 6V92TA, urban bus

engine models made by Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) from model years

1979 to 1989 and equipped with mechanical unit injectors (MUI). The

Agency requests comments on whether the emissions data presented

demonstrate that all engines for which certification is intended will

meet the 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard. The part numbers of the specified

rebuild components are provided in the notification.

Turbodyne's notification does not provide life cycle cost

information for the candidate kit. Therefore, this kit will not be

certified to comply with the life-cycle cost requirements of the

program. The 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM level has already been triggered for all

the engines covered by this notification. If certified as proposed in

the notification, this equipment may be used by operators who are

required to use equipment that meets the 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM level based

on earlier trigger certification.

The engine is to be rebuilt according to the engine manufacturer's

standard written rebuild procedures and specifications except where

amended by written instructions. The incremental maintenance cost and

fuel economy impact are not provided in the notification and are not

necessary for certification as the cost limitation is not being

certified to by Turbodyne.

The Turbodyne notification provides a product warranty that

references the emissions performance and emissions defect warranties

required in accordance with section 85.1409 of the program regulations.

Even if ultimately certified by the Agency, the equipment described

in Turbodyne's notification may require additional review by the

California Air Resources Board (CARB) before use in California. The

Agency recognizes that special situations 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,

the Agency 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 (626) 575-6848.

If the Agency certifies the candidate equipment, then urban bus

operators who choose to comply with compliance Option 1 of this

regulation will have the option to use this equipment or other

equipment which has previously been certified to the 0.10 g/bhp-hr

standard when applicable engines are rebuilt or replaced. If certified,

then operators using Option 2 will use the 0.10 g/bhp-hr certification

level in calculations for fleet level attained (FLA).

The date of this document initiates a 45-day period during which

the Agency will accept written comments relevant to whether the

equipment described in the Turbodyne notification of intent to certify

should be certified pursuant to the urban bus retrofit/rebuild

regulations. Interested parties are encouraged to review this

notification, and provide written comments during the 45-day review

period. Separate comments should be provided in writing to each of the

addresses listed under the Addresses section of this document.

At a minimum, the Agency 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 section 85.1406, including

whether the testing accurately substantiates the claimed emission

reduction or emission levels; and, (2) the requirements of section

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 concerning: (a) problems with installing, maintaining, and/or

using the equipment on applicable engines; and, (b) whether the

equipment is compatible with affected vehicles.

The Agency will review this notification of intent to certify,

along with comments received from the interested parties, and attempt

to resolve or clarify issues as necessary. During the review process,

the Agency may add additional documents to the docket as a result of

the review process. These documents will also be available for public

review and comment within the 45-day period.

Dated: April 8, 1999.

Robert Perciasepe,

Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.

[FR Doc. 99-9719 Filed 4-16-99; 8:45 am]

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