[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 215 (Thursday, November 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60077-60079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29394]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5918-4]


Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year 
Urban Buses; Public Review of a Notification of Intent to Certify 
Equipment

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of Agency receipt of a notification of intent to certify 
equipment and initiation of 45-day public review and comment period.

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SUMMARY: Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) has submitted to the Agency a 
notification of intent to certify urban bus retrofit/rebuild equipment 
to a 0.1 gram per brake-horsepower-hr(g/bhp-hr) particulate matter (PM) 
standard pursuant to 40 CFR Part 85, Subpart O. The equipment, referred 
to by DDC consists of the base engine components used on the 25% 
reduction retrofit/rebuild kit certified by DDC (October 2, 1995), 
components from the 25% retrofit catalyst kit previously certified 
under the program by Engine Control Systems, Ltd. (January 6, 1997), 
and a TurboPac supercharger system supplied by Turbodyne Systems, Inc. 
which supplies additional charge air during engine acceleration. The 
candidate kit is applicable to all 6V-92TA MUI engine models made by 
DDC for model years 1979 to 1989 and equipped with mechanical unit 
injectors (MUI).
    DDC intends this equipment to be certified to the particulate 
matter level of 0.10 g/bhp-hr. If the Agency certifies that this 
equipment complies with the 0.10 g/bhp-hr level, then operators with 
affected engines will have the choice of using this equipment or other 
equipment that is already required for use and certified to the 0.10 g/
bhp-hr standard within the cost limitation.
    Pursuant to Sec. 85.1407(a)(7), today's Federal Register notice 
summarizes the notification, announces that the notification is 
available for public review and comment, and initiates a 45-day period 
during which comments can be submitted. The Agency will review this 
notification of intent to certify, as well as any comments it receives, 
to determine whether the equipment described in the notification of 
intent to certify should be certified. If certified, the equipment can 
be used by urban bus operators to reduce the particulate matter of 
urban bus engines.
    The notification of intent to certify, as well as other materials 
specifically relevant to it, are contained in Category XX-A of Public 
Docket A-93-42, entitled ``Certification of Urban Bus Retrofit/Rebuild 
Equipment''. This docket is located at the address listed below.
    Today's notice initiates a 45-day period during which the Agency 
will accept written comments relevant to whether or not the equipment 
included in this notification of intent to certify should be certified. 
Comments should be provided in writing to the addresses below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 22, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit separate copies of comments to each of the two 
following addresses:
    1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Public Air Docket A-93-42 
(Category XX-A), Room M-1500, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, DC 20460.
    2. Anthony Erb, Engine Compliance Programs Group, Engine Programs 
and Compliance Division (6403J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 ``M'' Street S.W., Washington, DC 20460.
    The DDC notification of intent to certify, as well as other 
materials specifically relevant to it, are contained in the public 
docket indicated above. Docket items may be inspected from 8:00 a.m. 
until 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. As provided in 40 CFR Part 2, a 
reasonable fee may be charged by the Agency for copying docket 
materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Erb, Engine Programs and 
Compliance Division (6403J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 
M St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Telephone: (202) 233-9259.

[[Page 60078]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On April 21, 1993, the Agency published final Retrofit/Rebuild 
Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year Urban Buses (58 FR 21359). 
The retrofit/rebuild program is intended to reduce the ambient levels 
of particulate matter (PM) in urban areas and is limited to 1993 and 
earlier model year (MY) urban buses operating in metropolitan areas 
with 1980 populations of 750,000 or more, whose engines are rebuilt or 
replaced after January 1, 1995. Operators of the affected buses are 
required to choose between two compliance options: Option 1 establishes 
particulate matter emissions requirements for each urban bus engine in 
an operator's fleet which is rebuilt or replaced; Option 2 is a fleet 
averaging program that establishes a specific annual target level for 
average PM emissions from urban buses in an operator's fleet.
    A key aspect of the program is certification of retrofit/rebuild 
equipment, which begins when an equipment manufacturer submits an 
application for certification (referred to in the rule as a 
notification of intent to certify). To meet either of the two 
compliance options, operators of the affected buses must use equipment 
that has been certified by EPA. Emissions requirements under either of 
the two options depend on the availability of retrofit/rebuild 
equipment certified for each engine model. To be used for Option 1, 
equipment must be certified as meeting a 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard or 
as achieving a 25 percent reduction in PM. Equipment used for Option 2 
must be certified as providing some level of PM reduction that would in 
turn be claimed by urban bus operators when calculating their average 
fleet PM levels attained under the program.
    Under Option 1, additional information regarding cost must be 
submitted in the notification, in order for certification of that 
equipment to initiate (or trigger) program requirements for a 
particular engine model. In order for the equipment to serve as a 
trigger, the certifier must guarantee that the equipment will be 
offered to affected operators for $7,940 or less at the 0.10 g/bhp-hr 
PM level, or for $2,000 or less for the 25 percent or greater reduction 
in PM. Both of the above amounts are based on 1992 dollars and include 
life cycle costs incremental to the cost of a standard rebuild.

II. Notification of Intent To Certify

    In a notification of intent to certify equipment signed July 16, 
1997, DDC has applied for certification of equipment under the 
Environmental Protection Agency's (the Agency) Urban Bus Retrofit/
Rebuild Program. The candidate kit is applicable to all 6V-92TA, urban 
bus engine models made by DDC from model year 1979 to 1989 and equipped 
with mechanical unit injectors (MUI). The equipment, consists of the 
base engine components used on the 25% reduction retrofit/rebuild kit 
certitied by DDC , components from the 25% retrofit catalyst kit 
certified by Engine Control Systems, Ltd.(ECS) and a TurboPac 
supercharger system supplied by Turbodyne Systems, Inc. that supplies 
additional charge air during engine acceleration. The kit would be 
available in three horsepower levels (253, 277, and 294) for 6V-92TA 
engines.
    The equipment to be certified includes three distinct hardware 
sets. The three sets included are as follows:
    Base engine components include the equipment certified by DDC to 
provide a 25% reduction in PM (60 FR 51472; October 2, 1995. These 
components are provided in two separate sets of parts. The first set of 
components is comprised of newly manufactured parts, including a gasket 
kit, air inlet hose, cylinder kits (piston assemblies and cylinder 
liners) a by-pass valve and a truck type throttle delay. The second set 
of components includes Reliabilt<SUP>TM</SUP> remanufactured parts, 
including the fuel injectors, camshafts, blower assembly, turbocharger, 
and head assemblies. Kit usage is based on engine rotation (righthand 
(RH) or lefthand (LH)), engine orientation, right bank cam gear 
mounting (bolt or nut), and engine power output based on injector size. 
The only differences from the previously certified equipment according 
to DDC is the inclusion of a truck style throttle delay, adjustment to 
the throttle delay and injector timing settings to improve 
driveability. The cylinder kit components were modified to improve 
durability.
    The converter/muffler supplied by ECS was certified by EPA (see 62 
FR 746; January 6, 1997) to provide a 25% reductionn in PM emsssions. 
The kit consists of an oxidation converter/muffler (CM) which was 
developed specifically for diesel applications, and is packaged as a 
direct replacement for the vehicle's muffler. Several kits will be 
provided to accommodate the installation requirements of the various 
engine and vehicle configurations.
    The third component set consists of an electrically powered 
supercharger system which is supplied by Turbodyne Systems, Inc. This 
component set, referred to as the TurboPac<SUP>TM</SUP> supplies 
additional intake air during engine acceleration from low engine 
speeds. DDC states that in addition to decreasing PM emissions and 
visible smoke during engine acceleration, the supercharger also 
improves engine response and vehicle driveability by reducing the fuel 
modulation during acceleration. The basic kit consists of a blower, a 
diverter valve, a boost pressure sensor, an electrical control box and 
power cables, and a throttle switch for detecting the start of the 
engine acceleration mode. The equipment will be supplied in two kits, 
one includes those components common to all installations and a second 
kit to accommodate the installation requirements of the various engine 
and vehicle configurations.
    To complete an engine rebuild two (2) base engine component kits, 
one (1) converter muffler kit, and two (2) supercharger kits would be 
required. The specific kits used will depend on the engine/vehicle 
combination.
    DDC states there are no differences in the service intervals or 
maintenance practices for the base engine associated with the 
installlation of the upgrade kit. The converter/muffler requires no 
regularly scheduled maintenance, only an occasional cleaning if the 
maximum backpressure of the exhaust system is exceeded according to 
DDC. The supercharger does not require scheduled maintenance: however, 
a visual inspection for air leaks is recommended whenever the engine is 
serviced.
    Standard procedures as described in the service manual for 92 
Series engines are to be used when rebuilding the base engines using 
the candidate equipment. No unique rebuild procedures are required.
    Use of the candidate kit is restricted to 6V-92TA Detroit Diesel 
engines manufactured from January 1979 through December 1989, equipped 
with mechanical unit fuel injectors (MUI), and originally certified to 
meet Federal emission standards. The required fuel is low sulfur (0.05% 
max by weight) diesel fuel, either number 1 or number 2.
    The notification states that the candidate equipment achieves a 
particulate matter (PM) level of 0.10 g/bhp-hr. DDC has not supplied 
life cycle cost information and is not requesting certification based 
on cost to operators. The use of the equipment by transit operators to 
meet program requirements is discussed below.

[[Page 60079]]

    DDC presents exhaust emissions data from testing a Detroit Diesel 
Corporation (DDC) engine in accordance with procedures set forth at 40 
CFR Part 86, Subparts N and I. A 1984 model year DDC 6V92TA MUI model 
engine (277 HP) was rebuilt to the 1989 urban bus configuration as per 
the previously certified DDC kit and was retrofit with the specified 
components of the 0.1 g/bhp-hr kit prior to testing. In the rebuild 
process, all parts not included in the rebuild kit were inspected. 
Prior to testing the engine was tuned with the injector timing set at 
1.460 in. The throttle delay was set for optimum vehicle driveability 
according to DDC. The data is summarized in Table A below.

                   Table A.--Exhaust Emissions Summary                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        g/bhp-hr        
                                               -------------------------
                                                 1989 HDDE    6V92TA MUI
                                                 standards     with kit 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gaseous and particulate test:                                           
    HC........................................          1.3          0.1
    CO........................................         15.5          0.4
    NO<INF>X.......................................         10.7          9.8
    PM........................................         0.60        0.091
    BSFC\1\...................................           --        0.464
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Standards                               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smoke test:                                                             
    ACCEL.....................................          20%         3.3%
    LUG.......................................          15%         2.5%
    PEAK......................................          50%        4.2% 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) is measured in units of lb/  
  bhp-hr.                                                               

    The data of Table A indicate that, when rebuilt with the kit, PM 
emissions of the test engine are less than 0.10 g/bhp-hr, and emissions 
of hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and smoke opacity are within 
applicable Federal standards. The Agency requests comments on whether 
the emissions test data presented by DDC demonstrate that all engines 
for which certification is requested will meet applicable Federal 
standards with the candidate kit installed.
    Applicability of the candidate is restricted to 6V92TA, urban bus 
engine models made by Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) from model years 
1979 to 1989 and equipped with mechanical unit injectors (MUI). The 
Agency requests comments on whether the emissions data presented by DDC 
demonstrate that all engines for which certification is intended will 
meet the 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM standard. The part numbers of the specified 
rebuild components are provided in DDC's notification.
    DDC's notification does not provide life cycle cost information for 
the candidate kit. Therefore, this kit will not be certified to comply 
with the life-cycle cost requirements of the program. The 0.10 g/bhp-hr 
PM level has already been triggered for all the engines covered by this 
notification. If certified as proposed in the notification, this 
equipment may be used by operators who are required to use equipment 
that meets the 0.10 g/bhp-hr PM level based on earlier trigger 
certification.
    DDC indicates that the engine is to be rebuilt according to the 
engine manufacturer's standard written rebuild procedures and 
specifications except where amended by DDC written instructions. The 
incremental maintenance cost and fuel economy impact are not provided 
in DDC's notification and are not necessary for certification as the 
cost limitation is not being certified to by DDC.
    The DDC notification provides a product warranty that references 
the emissions performance and emissions defect warranties required in 
accordance with section 85.1409 of the program regulations.
    Even if ultimately certified by the Agency, the equipment described 
in DDC's notification may require additional review by the California 
Air Resources Board (CARB) before use in California. The Agency 
recognizes that special situations may exist in California that are 
reflected in the unique emissions standards, engine calibrations, and 
fuel specifications of the State. While requirements of the Federal 
urban bus program apply to several metropolitan areas in California, 
the Agency understands the view of CARB that equipment certified under 
the urban bus program, to be used in California, must be provided with 
an executive order exempting it from the anti-tampering prohibitions of 
that State. Those interested in additional information should contact 
the Aftermarket Part Section of CARB, at (818) 575-6848.
    If the Agency certifies the candidate equipment, then urban bus 
operators who choose to comply with compliance Option 1 of this 
regulation will have the option to use this equipment or other 
equipment which has previously been certified to the 0.10 g/bhp-hr 
standard when applicable engines are rebuilt or replaced. If certified, 
then operators using Option 2 will use the 0.10 g/bhp-hr certification 
level in calculations for fleet level attained (FLA).
    The date of this notice initiates a 45-day period during which the 
Agency will accept written comments relevant to whether the equipment 
described in the DDC notification of intent to certify should be 
certified pursuant to the urban bus retrofit/rebuild regulations. 
Interested parties are encouraged to review this notification, and 
provide written comments during the 45-day review period. Separate 
comments should be provided in writing to each of the addresses listed 
under the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    At a minimum, the Agency expects to evaluate this notification of 
intent to certify, and other materials submitted as applicable, to 
determine whether there is adequate demonstration of compliance with: 
(1) the certification requirements of Sec. 85.1406, including whether 
the testing accurately substantiates the claimed emission reduction or 
emission levels; and, (2) the requirements of Sec. 85.1407 for a 
notification of intent to certify.
    The Agency requests that those commenting also consider these 
regulatory requirements, plus provide comments on any experience or 
knowledge concerning: (a) problems with installing, maintaining, and/or 
using the equipment on applicable engines; and, (b) whether the 
equipment is compatible with affected vehicles.
    The Agency will review this notification of intent to certify, 
along with comments received from the interested parties, and attempt 
to resolve or clarify issues as necessary. During the review process, 
the Agency may add additional documents to the docket as a result of 
the review process. These documents will also be available for public 
review and comment within the 45-day period.

    Dated: October 29, 1997.
Richard D. Wilson,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 97-29394 Filed 11-5-97; 8:45 am]
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