[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 191 (Thursday, October 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 51659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26182]



[[Page 51659]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5902-4]


Fuel Economy Retrofit Devices; Announcement of Fuel Economy 
Retrofit Device Evaluation for Vehicle Exhaust Emission Control Device 
(VEECD) (Now Known as EVEC<SUP>TM</SUP>)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of fuel economy retrofit device evaluation.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the completion of EPA evaluation of 
Vehicle Exhaust Emission Control Device (VEECD) under provision of 
Section 32918 of Title 49 U.S.C. This notice also announces EPA's 
findings, conclusions, and the availability of the report.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Henry Johnson, Vehicle Programs and 
Compliance Division, Office of Mobile Sources, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 2565 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, Telephone: (313) 
741-7893.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Section 32918 of Title 49 U.S.C. requires that:
    (b)(1) ``Upon application of any manufacturer of a retrofit device 
(or prototype thereof), upon the request of the Federal Trade 
Commission pursuant to subsection (a), or upon her own motion, the EPA 
Administrator shall evaluate, in accordance with rules prescribed under 
subsection (d), any retrofit device to determine whether the retrofit 
device increases fuel economy and to determine whether the 
representations (if any) made with respect to such retrofit devices are 
accurate.''
    (c) ``The EPA Administrator shall publish in the Federal Register a 
summary of the results of all tests conducted under this section, 
together with the EPA Administrator's conclusions as to--
    (1) The effect of any retrofit device on fuel economy:
    (2) The effect of any such device on emissions of air pollutants: 
and
    (3) Any other information which the Administrator determines to be 
relevant in evaluating such device.''
    EPA published final regulations establishing procedures for 
conducting evaluations of fuel economy retrofit devices on March 23, 
1979 (44 FR 17968). These regulations were later amended May 1, 1984 
(49 FR 18486) to explicitly include fuel additives within the 
definition of a retrofit device and to improve administration. They 
were also amended May 3, 1984 (49 FR 18837) to clarify that the 
manufacturer of the device must pay the cost of any EPA testing.

II. Origin of Request for Evaluation, Device Descriptions, and Report 
Identification

    On January 17, 1997, EPA received an application from Hawtal 
Whiting Environmental Ltd. requesting evaluation of the VEECD as a 
hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emission reduction device. 
The VEECD is an air bleed retrofit device which is fitted to the vacuum 
brake line and acts to optimize the air/fuel mixture during idle and 
deceleration. The device is intended to be fitted to vehicles produced 
without any or with earlier technology emission control systems. It is 
not compatible with newer complex engine management systems or closed 
loop three-way catalyst systems. It is claimed to significantly reduce 
HC and CO without substantially increasing CO<INF>2</INF> or 
NO<INF>X</INF> emissions. In addition, incidental city fuel economy 
enhancement was claimed. The report, ``Emissions and Fuel Economy 
Effects of Vehicle Emission Control Device'' (Report Number EPA-VPCD-
32918-RD-97-1), contains the test data, analysis, conclusions and 
consists of 52 pages including Appendices.

III. Availability of Evaluation Report

    Copies of this report may be obtained from the National Technical 
Information Service by using the above report number. Address requests 
to: National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161, Telephone (703) 487-4650.

    Dated: September 25, 1997.
Richard D. Wilson,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 97-26182 Filed 10-1-97; 8:45 am]
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