G/TBT/N/USA/2002  
24 May 2023  
(23-3537) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [2033]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other  [X]: EPA will hold a public hearing to consider authorization requests received from 
California concerning amendments to its small off -road engine regulations, and is 
accepting written comment on those requests.  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, ot herwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Small off -
road engines; pollution control; Environmental protection (ICS code(s): 13.020); Air 
quality (ICS code(s): 13.040); Compressors and pneumatic machines (I CS code(s): 
23.140); Motors (ICS code(s): 29.160.30)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  California State 
Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Small Off -Road Engines; Request for 
Authorization; Opportunity for Public  Hearing and Comment; (3 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Notice and Virtual Public Hearing on 27 June 2023 - The 
California Air Resources Board (CARB) has notified EPA that it has adopted two sets of 
amendments to its Small Off -Road Engine regulation  (SORE Amendments ). By letter 
dated 20 December 2022, CARB asked that EPA authorize these amendments pursuant 
to section 209(e) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) . This notice announces that EPA will hold a 
public hearing to consider California's authorization request and that EPA is now accepting 
written comment on  the requests.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents:   
88 Federal Register (FR) 33143, 23 May 2023:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-05-23/html/2023 -10923.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-05-23/pdf/2023 -10923.pdf  G/TBT/N/USA/2002  
 
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  EPA will hold a public hearing on 27 June 2023. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
further information on  the virtual public hearing.  
This notice is identified by Docket Number EPA -HQ-OAR-2023-0151. The Docket Folder 
is available on Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/ docket/EPA -HQ-OAR-
2023-0151/document  and provides access to primary documents as well as comments 
received. Documents are also accessible from Regulations.gov  by searching the Docket 
Number. WTO Members and their  stakeholders are asked to submit comments to the USA 
TBT Enquiry Point  by or before 4pm Eastern Time  on 28 July 2023. Comm ents received 
by the USA TBT Enquiry Point from WTO Members and their stakeholders will be shared 
with the regulator and will also be submitted to the Docket  on Regulations.go v if received 
within the comment period.  
USA/1206 and subsequent addenda  - Small Off -Road Engines  
Vehicle Emissions California Waivers and Authorizations - This pa ge lists Federal Register 
notices that EPA has issued in response to California waiver and authorization requests: 
https://www.epa.go v/state -and-local-transportation/vehicle -emissions -california -
waivers -and-authorizations  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  28 July 2023  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://membe rs.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/TBT/USA/23_09785_00_e.pdf