[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 88 (Monday, May 6, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20249-20251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11077]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5468-6]


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: Engelhard Corporation (Engelhard) has submitted to the Agency 
a notification of intent to certify urban bus retrofit/rebuild 
equipment pursuant to 40 CFR part 85, subpart O. The notification 
describes equipment consisting of an engine rebuild kit (fuel 
injectors, cylinder kits, camshafts, blower, turbocharger, cylinder 
heads, by-pass valve, exhaust manifold and associated gaskets) along 
with a catalytic converter muffler that replaces the existing muffler 
in the exhaust stream. Several of the engine rebuild components will 
have a proprietary coating applied to the surface. Engelhard has 
proposed a three-tiered supply approach, discussed in more detail 
below, intended to provide flexibility to transit operators using this 
equipment. Engelhard intends that this equipment be certified to the 
0.1 grams per brake-horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr) particulate matter 
standard for 1979-1990 model year Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) 
6V92TA engines having mechanical unit injectors (MUI). 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 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 XIII 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 June 20, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit separate copies of comments to each of the two 
following addresses:

    1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Public Docket A-93-42 
(Category XIII-A), Room M-1500, 401 M Street S.W., Washington, DC 
20460.

    2. Tom Stricker, Engine Compliance Programs Group, Engine Programs 
and Compliance Division (6403J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 ``M'' Street SW, Washington, DC 20460.

    The Engelhard 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 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: Tom Stricker, Engine Programs and 
Compliance Division (6403J), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 
M St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Telephone: (202) 233-9322.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On April 21, 1993, EPA 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

[[Page 20250]]

(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 sets 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 sets 
out a specific annual target level for average PM emissions from urban 
buses in an operator's fleet.
    A key aspect of the program is the certification of retrofit/
rebuild equipment. To meet either of the two compliance options, 
operators of the affected buses must use equipment which 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 application for certification, 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. Application for Certification

    Engelhard Corporation has applied for certification of equipment 
applicable to 1979-1990 model year Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) 
6V92TA diesel engines with mechanical unit injectors (MUI). The 
application states that the candidate equipment achieves a particulate 
matter (PM) level of 0.1 g/bhp-hr. Life cycle costs for operators are 
stated to be less than $7,940 (in 1992 dollars) for all affected 
operators. The use of the equipment by transit operators to meet 
program requirements is discussed further below.
    The equipment being certified consists of an engine rebuild kit in 
conjunction with a catalytic converter muffler that takes the place of 
the original muffler installed in the engine exhaust system. The engine 
rebuild kit consists of two separate parts kits. One kit contains new 
components including cylinder kits, blower by-pass valve, air inlet 
hose, and gaskets. The other parts kit contains remanufactured 
components including fuel injectors, camshafts, blower assembly, 
turbocharger, exhaust manifold(s), turbocharger Y-inlet pipe, and 
cylinder head assemblies. (The cylinder head(s), valve faces, piston 
crowns, and exhaust manifold(s), and turbo Y-inlet have a proprietary 
coating applied to the surface). One of each type of kit is required, 
depending on the horsepower rating of the engine, direction of engine 
rotation, and camshaft mounting gear type. A total of twelve 
combinations of these two kits are available. The specific catalytic 
converter part to be used depends on the type of coach as well as the 
type of engine.
    Engelhard provides a table listing the various catalytic converter 
kits available for different engine/coach combinations. The Engelhard 
catalytic converter used in this equipment package is not the same as 
the Engelhard catalytic converter previously certified by EPA (60 FR 
28402, May 31, 1995), therefore, transit operators cannot use the 
previously certified converter in place of the new converter in this 
kit.
    Engelhard states its intention that certification of this equipment 
trigger program requirements for the 0.1 g/bhp-hr PM standard for 
applicable engines, and provides life cycle cost information. The life 
cycle cost of the Engelhard kit, in 1992 dollars, is stated as $13,502, 
which includes $10,686 for the engine rebuild kit, $2,600 for the 
catalytic converter muffler, and $216 for installation of the catalytic 
converter muffler. Engelhard indicates that the life cycle cost 
($13,502) is $7,940 incremental to the cost of a ``standard'' rebuild, 
which is listed as $5,562, and therefore meets the life cycle cost 
requirements. Engelhard uses $5,562 as the cost a ``standard'' rebuild 
because this figure is the purchase price (in 1992 dollars) quoted by 
Detroit Diesel Corporation for its upgrade rebuild kit (see 61 FR 8275, 
March 4, 1996). The labor to rebuild an engine will be the same for a 
``standard'' rebuild and the candidate kit, with the exception of the 
additional labor required for installation of the catalytic converter 
muffler. Engelhard states in its notification that there is no fuel 
economy penalty associated with the candidate equipment. EPA's 
preliminary review of the test data of the notification, however, 
suggests a fuel economy penalty of roughly four (4) percent with the 
candidate equipment, and, if a 4 percent fuel economy penalty exists, 
it would increase life cycle costs about $1,140 (in 1992 dollars). At 
this point, EPA has not determined whether a fuel economy penalty 
exists, and requests comments concerning this issue. EPA will use 
information gathered through public comment and from the certifier to 
resolve this issue. If Engelhard cannot show that its equipment will be 
offered to all operators for less than $7,940 (in 1992 dollars), 
incremental to the cost of a standard rebuild, then certification may 
proceed but it would not trigger the 0.1 g/bhp-hr PM standard.
    Engelhard presents data from testing a 1987 model year 
configuration Detroit Diesel 6V92TA MUI engine with the Engelhard 
upgrade kit and converter kit installed, documenting a PM emissions 
level of 0.08 g/bhp-hr. This test also showed that emissions of 
hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NO<INF>X), 
and smoke were within the applicable standards. Engelhard also presents 
comparative baseline test data from a standard 1979 rebuilt engine 
configuration. These data document PM emissions of 0.33 g/bhp-hr in the 
standard rebuild configuration. Although the PM level of the standard 
1979 engine rebuild is somewhat low (0.33 g/bhp-hr), EPA believes that 
engines emitting in the 0.50 g/bhp-hr range would still meet the 0.1 g/
bhp-hr PM standard with the Engelhard kit installed because 
installation of the kit results in the replacement of all emissions 
related parts with a specific set of parts, the combination of which 
results in a documented PM level of 0.08 g/bhp-hr. In other words, the 
emission level of the original engine, prior to installation of the 
Engelhard kit, may be irrelevant since all emission related parts are 
replaced upon installation of the kit. EPA requests comments on whether 
or not all engines for which certification is intended will meet the 
0.1 g/bhp-hr PM standard.
    In a March 25, 1996 addendum to its notification of intent to 
certify, Engelhard requested approval of this kit under three different 
supply scenarios described below. The purpose of this proposal was to 
provide increased flexibility to operators and to allow transits to 
make use of existing transit personnel to the maximum extent possible.
    Under supply option 1, Engelhard would provide the coated engine 
components, the catalytic converter muffler, and the cylinder kits. The

[[Page 20251]]

remaining parts (fuel injectors, camshafts, blower and turbocharger) 
could be purchased or supplied separately as long as such parts were 
Engelhard specified OEM components or their equivalent.
    Under supply option 2, Engelhard would supply all components in the 
kit as described in the notification of intent to certify.
    Under supply option 3, Engelhard would supply the coated engine 
components, the catalytic converter muffler, and the new engine 
components (cylinder kits, blower by-pass valve, air inlet hose, and 
gaskets). The remanufactured components (fuel injectors, camshafts, 
blower assembly and turbocharger) would be required to be 
remanufactured by Engelhard Certified Remanufacturers. Such ``certified 
remanufacturers'' would consist of transits or other third parties 
designated by Engelhard as capable of remanufacturing these components 
within the tolerances prescribed by Engelhard with proper quality 
control. Engelhard proposed to provide training to those interested in 
becoming a certified Engelhard remanufacturer.
    EPA expects to evaluate each of these supply options and their 
impact on life cycle costs. Also, EPA will evaluate whether any of 
these options will compromise the ability of the Engelhard kit to 
achieve 0.1 g/bhp-hr PM standard in the field.
    If EPA approves the request for certification of this equipment, 
urban bus operators who choose to comply with compliance Option 1 of 
this regulation will be required to use this equipment or other 
equipment certified to the 0.1 g/bhp-hr standard beginning six months 
after certification approval, when applicable engines are rebuilt or 
replaced.
    If EPA approves Engelhard's certification request, urban bus 
operators who chose to comply under compliance Option 2 of this 
regulation may also use the Engelhard equipment. If certification is 
approved by EPA, the emission levels of the Engelhard rebuild kit will 
be used to modify the Option 2 post-rebuild levels in July 1996.
    The date of this notice initiates a 45 day period during which EPA 
will accept written comments relevant to whether or not the equipment 
described in this application should be certified. Interested parties 
are encouraged to review this application, and provide comments related 
to whether or not the equipment described in it should be certified 
pursuant to the urban bus retrofit/rebuild program. Comments should be 
provided in writing to the address listed under the Addresses section 
of this notice.
    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, 
EPA 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: April 26, 1996.
Richard Wilson,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 96-11077 Filed 5-3-96; 8:45 am]
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