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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 172 (Friday, September 5, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46937-46938]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23354]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Parts 9 and 86

[FRL-5881-4]

Proposed Amendments to the Test Procedures for Heavy-Duty 
Engines, and Light-Duty Vehicles and Trucks and Proposed Amendments to 
the Emission Standard Provisions for Gaseous Fueled Vehicles and 
Engines

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This notice proposes the promulgation of amendments to several 
sections of the heavy-duty engine test procedure regulations in 40 CFR 
part 86. These proposed changes are needed in order to accommodate the 
use of new testing equipment, to provide greater flexibility in the 
type of testing equipment used and to ensure uniform calibration and 
use of the testing equipment. The proposed amendments will ensure the 
continued validity of testing results and ensure that heavy-duty 
engines are being exercised appropriately over the test procedures. 
This document also proposes to make limited changes to the light-duty 
vehicle and truck test procedure regulations and the gaseous fuel 
emission standards in 40 CFR part 86. Because the Agency views the 
provisions of this proposed rulemaking as noncontroversial and does not 
expect to receive adverse comments, these provisions are also being 
issued as a direct final rule in the Final Rules section of this 
Federal Register.

DATES: Comments on the regulations proposed by this action must be 
received on or before October 6, 1997 or thirty days after the date of 
a public hearing, if one is held. If no party notifies EPA by October 
6, 1997 that adverse or critical comments will be submitted on this 
proposal, no further activity is contemplated in relation to this 
proposed rule and the direct final rule in the Final Rules section of 
this Federal Register will automatically go into effect on the date 
specified in that rule. If adverse comments are timely received on the 
direct final rule, the rule will be withdrawn and all public comment 
received on it will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on 
the proposed rule. Because the Agency will not institute a second 
comment period on this proposed rule, any parties interested in 
commenting should do so during this comment period.
    The Agency will hold a public hearing regarding these proposed 
amendments if it receives a request to testify at a hearing by October 
6, 1997. Members of the public should call the contact person indicated 
below to notify EPA of their interest in testifying at a hearing. 
Interested parties may call the contact person after October 6, 1997 to 
determine whether and where the hearing will be held.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit written comments in response 
to this document (in duplicate, if possible) to Public Docket A-96-07 
at Air Docket Section, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, First 
Floor, Waterside Mall, Room M-1500, 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 
20460. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the contact person 
listed below.
    Materials relevant to this document have been placed in Docket No. 
A-96-07 by EPA. The docket is located at the above address and may be 
inspected from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays. EPA may charge a 
reasonable fee for copying docket materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jaime Pagan, U.S. EPA, Engine 
Programs and Compliance Division, 2565 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 
48105. Telephone (313) 668-4574.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA's Smoke Exhaust and Gaseous and 
Particulate Exhaust Test Procedures for certification and Selective 
Enforcement Audit (SEA) provide a consistent method for testing and 
obtaining emissions data from heavy-duty engines. This notice proposes 
the promulgation of amendments to the test procedures in order to 
accommodate the use of new testing equipment and clarify certain issues 
that have been identified since these procedures were first published.
    Over the last few years, EPA and the Engine Manufacturers 
Association (EMA) have worked together to identify the issues that 
needed revision or clarification. During these interactions, 
suggestions were made involving specific changes to the test 
procedures. In general, the technical amendments proposed in this 
action fall into two categories. First, many of the proposed amendments 
are simply clarifications that will help remove any potential 
ambiguities or inconsistencies. Second, another group of proposed 
amendments take into account testing equipment and/or engine technology 
that was not as widely used when the rule was first written.
    The proposed changes to the Smoke Exhaust Test Procedure include 
clarifications regarding the operation of the dynamometer, 
accommodation of additional test equipment and more details on meter 
light sources to be used. The test procedures for SEA contain a new 
requirement that asks manufacturers to decide, before the initial cold 
cycle, whether they will measure background particulate matter (PM) or 
not. The amendments proposed for the Gaseous and Particulate Test 
Procedures cover the calibration requirements of gas analyzers, the use 
of accessory loads, conditions for use of charge air cooling devices 
and the permitted point deletions from regression analysis.
    Lastly, three proposed minor changes to the Gaseous Fueled Vehicle 
Rule, established in a September 21, 1994 notice (59 FR 48472), are 
made. The regulatory text of that rule contained several minor errors 
and areas where the applicability of various standards to gaseous-
fueled vehicles was not clear in the regulations, although all of the 
applicability issues were discussed in the preamble.
    For further supplemental information, the detailed rationale for 
this proposal, and the regulatory revisions see the information 
provided in the direct final rule published in a separate part of this 
Federal Register.

List of Subjects

40 CFR Part 9

    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

40 CFR Part 86

    Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedures, 
Air pollution control, Confidential business information, Gasoline, 
Incorporation by reference, Labeling, Motor vehicles, Motor vehicle 
pollution, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

[[Page 46938]]

    Dated: August 18, 1997.
Carol M. Browner,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-23354 Filed 9-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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