. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/TBT/N/USA/577 
30 September 2010 
 (10-4985) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  UNITED STATES
 
If applicable, name of local governme nt involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):  
2. Agency responsible:  Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (OEERE), 
Department of Energy (DOE) (594) 
Name and address (including telephone  and fax numbers, e-mail and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above : 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2. 10.1 [ ], 5.6.2 [ ], 5.7.1 [ ], other: 
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading.  
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Marine engines and 
vessels (HS:  8407.21, 8407. 29;  ICS:  13.020, 47.020, 47.040, 47.060, 47.080) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Technical 
Amendments for Marine Spar k-Ignition Engines and Vessels  (4 pages, in English). 
6. Description of content:  In the final rulemaking for new exhaust and evaporative emissions 
standards for nonroad spark-ignition engine s, vessels, and equipment (73 FR 59034, 
8 October 2008), EPA establishe d first–ever evaporative emissions standards for marine 
vessels.  These requirements in cluded portable marine fuel tanks commonly used in 
recreational boating.  During their efforts to  certify portable fuel tanks to these new 
requirements, manuf acturers working together on syst ems integration identified several 
technical issues with the performance of the tanks/fuel systems in use that were not fully 
apparent to them before these standards were developed.  Systems integration work 
conducted by the fuel tank, boat and engine manufacturers highlighted that under some 
circumstances there was the potenti al for fuel spillage to occur.  Work conducted by these 
parties indicated that this issue applies to existing systems and tanks as well as those built to comply with EPA's evaporative emission design standard.  We have engaged the industry to 
identify a simple, safe, and emissions neutral so lution to this concern.  This proposed action 
represents the results of that work and is emissions neutral with respect to the diurnal 
emissions standard;  however, to  the extent that it helps reduce fuel spillage, incorporating 
safe recommended practices will result in a net benefit to the environment and lead to fuel 
savings.  In the "Rules and Regulations" section of this Federal Regist er, we are making these 
technical amendments as a direct final rule w ithout a prior proposed rule.  If we receive no 
adverse comment, we will  not take further acti on on this proposed rule.  G/TBT/N/USA/577 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of the environment  
8. Relevant documents:    
– 75 Federal Register (FR) 56491, 16 Septem ber 2010;  Title 40 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Part 1060. 
– G/TBT/N/USA/273 and G/TB T/N/USA/273/Add.1 – Cont rol of Emissions from 
Non-road Spark-Ignition Engines and Equipment. 
9. Proposed date of adoption: 
Proposed date of entry into force:  }To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:  18 October 2010 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and website addresse s, if available of the other body:  
Internet URLs: 
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-23127.htm  
http://edocket.access.gpo.g ov/2010/pdf/2010-23127.pdf