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Regulatory

Announcement

 Printed on Recycled Paper

United States

Environmental Protection

Agency

Air and Radiation EPA420-F-02-040

September 2002

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Frequently Asked Questions from

Snowmobile Owners

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adopted emission

standards for recreational vehicles, including snowmobiles, off-highway

motorcycles, and ATVs. This information sheet addresses questions we

have heard from snowmobile owners.

Why is EPA adopting emission standards for

snowmobiles?

Snowmobiles currently emit more than 220,000 tons of hydrocarbons

(HC) and 580,000 tons of carbon monoxide (CO) each year across the

United States. These emissions contribute to ambient concentrations of

CO, air toxics (such as benzene), and fine particulate matter, which is

largely responsible for visibility impairment at our national parks.

Reducing these emissions would benefit our health and environment. In

the Clean Air Act, Congress requires us to set emission standards that

address these problems. These environmental impacts are described in

more detail in the fact sheet referenced below.

Does my current snowmobile need to meet these

regulations?

No. Snowmobile manufacturers must ensure that each new snowmobile

sold meets the new emission standards. The standards apply only to new

snowmobiles produced in 2006 or later. Anything manufactured before

that model year would not be affected. We usually allow several years of
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lead time between publication of a final rule and the effective date of

new standards. New emission standards for snowmobiles therefore

won’t affect the snowmobile you own now or any snowmobile you buy

before 2006.

As a snowmobile owner, how does this affect me?

You may not disable any emission controls installed on your snowmobile. Manufacturers explain in their owner’s manual what type of emission controls exist for each model and may specify some minor maintenance that must be performed to keep emission controls working properly over the life of the snowmobile. You may also make adjustments

specified by manufacturers in the owner’s manual, such as carburetor

jetting changes, to account for changing operating conditions.

What kind of emission controls is EPA requiring?

We require manufacturers to meet emission standards on an average

basis, which will allow them to offer a wide range of technologies to

their customers. We don’t specify what emission controls the manufacturers must use to comply with the regulations. Some manufacturers are

expected to use direct fuel injection with some of their two-stroke

engines, much like the latest models of personal watercraft and outboard

engines. We also expect manufacturers to increase the number of snowmobiles that use four-stroke engines.

We are also adopting requirements to control permeation emissions from

snowmobile fuel systems. We expect these requirements to lead to the

use of improved materials that reduce the permeation of fuel through

fuel tanks and hoses and into the atmosphere. This should noticeably

reduce the smell of gasoline from your snowmobile.

How much will these controls cost?

We estimate that the range of costs for meeting the requirements to be

about $50 for a modified two-stroke engine, $300 for direct-injection

technology, and up to $900 for a four-stroke engine with fuel injection.

However, direct-injection and four-stroke technologies reduce fuel and

oil consumption, which somewhat offset these costs. The permeation

requirements are expected to cost less than $10 per vehicle, which is

also offset by fuel savings.
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How will these controls affect performance and

safety?

We don’t expect the controls to harm performance or safety. Manufacturers have made many improvements in snowmobile designs over the

last few years and will have several years to further improve their

products. Engine modifications and fuel system changes should allow

performance similar to your current snowmobile—and may allow for

better performance. Direct fuel injection also performs better than

today’s snowmobiles that use a carburetor. Manufacturers are already

marketing four-stroke engines that compete directly with snowmobile

models with two-stroke engines. None of the emission controls manufacturers are considering affect safety.

How much pollution do snowmobiles emit?

We estimated the amount of pollution coming from snowmobiles based

on testing of currently unregulated recreational vehicles. With the new

emission standards for snowmobiles, we expect manufacturers will use

a variety of engine technologies to meet emission standards. Our estimates of baseline and future emission rates for snowmobiles are shown

in the following table.

*Manufacturers meet standards based on emission rates in grams per kilowatthour; emission estimates are presented here in grams per horsepower-hour for

convenience in comparing with other programs.

Will these regulations affect where I can ride my

snowmobile?

No. These regulations do not include any specific restrictions about

where you can ride snowmobiles.

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Will there be noise regulations?

We are not adopting any noise regulations. Snowmobile manufacturers in

some cases design snowmobiles that already meet voluntary noise

standards for snowmobiles.

Do these regulations apply in California?

Yes. California currently does not have separate emission standards for

snowmobiles, so the federal standards apply in California.

Where can I get more information?

You can access documents on recreational vehicles on the Office of

Transportation and Air Quality Web site at:

www.epa.gov/otaq/recveh.htm

You can also contact us at:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Assessment and Standards Division

2000 Traverwood Drive

Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Voice-mail: (734) 214-4636

E-mail: asdinfo@epa.gov

See additional fact sheets:

• Emission Standards for New Nonroad Engines— Large Industrial

Spark-ignition Engines, Recreational Marine Diesel Engines, and

Recreational Vehicles (EPA420-F-02-037)

• Environmental Impacts of Newly Regulated Nonroad Engines

(EPA420-F-02-033)

• Frequently Asked Questions: Emission Exemption for Racing

Motorcycles and Other Competition Vehicles (EPA420-F-02-045)

• How to Maintain or Rebuild Engines Certified to EPA Standards

(EPA420-F-02-035)