Document ID: EPA-R09-OAR-2008-0693-0122
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2009-07-14T04:00Z

RULE 9310	SCHOOL BUS FLEETS (Adopted September 21, 2006)

1.0	Purpose

The purpose of this rule is to limit emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx),
particulate matter (PM) and diesel toxic air contaminants from school
bus fleets and to provide administrative requirements for school bus
fleet operators.  

2.0	Applicability 

 

	The requirements of this rule shall apply to all school bus fleet
operators and any contractors who provide school bus service. 

Definitions 

Air Pollution Control Officer (APCO):  as defined Rule 1020
(Definitions).

Alternative Fueled Engine or School Bus:  any engine or school bus that
uses compressed or liquefied natural gas, propane, methanol,
electricity, fuel cells, hybrid technology, or other advanced
technologies that do not rely on diesel or gasoline fuels, and has been
certified by the California Air Resources Board.

3.3	Approved Diesel Emission Control Strategy:  an exhaust control
device(s) or emission reduction strategy that is level 3 verified by the
ARB.  Level 3 verified technologies reduce particulate matter (PM) by at
least 85% or achieve a PM level of 0.01 g/bhp-hr or less.  

California Air Resources Board (ARB or CARB):  as defined in Rule 1020
(Definitions).

3.5	Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):  United States Environmental
Protection Agency.

3.6	Existing Fleet:  a school bus fleet that was in operation before
January 1, 2007.

3.7	Existing School Bus:  a bus operating as part of an existing fleet.

3.8	Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR):  the weight rating of a vehicle.

3.9	Hybrid:  a technology used by a vehicle to draw propulsion energy
from both of the following on-vehicle sources of stored energy: 1) a
consumable fuel and 2) an energy storage device such as a battery,
capacitor, or flywheel.

New School Bus Fleet:  a school bus fleet that did not operate before
January 1, 2007.

3.11	NOx (Oxides of Nitrogen):  any oxide of nitrogen.

3.12	Operator:  any person who owns, leases, or operates school buses
for any school in the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin.

3.13	M (Particulate Matter):  any material except uncombined water,
which exists in a finely divided form as a liquid or solid at Standard
Conditions.

Replacement School Bus:  a school bus purchased or acquired with the
intent of removing an existing school bus from service.

Repower:  to remove the engine and related components and replace with
an ARB certified engine.

3.16	Retrofit:  to modify with an Approved Diesel Emission Control
Strategy.  

3.17	School:  any public or private school used for the purpose of
education and instruction of school pupils Kindergarten through Grade
12, but does not include any private school in which education and
instruction is primarily conducted in private homes. 

School Bus:  any vehicle used for the express purpose of transporting
students Kindergarten through Grade 12 from home to school and to any
school sponsored activities.  

School Bus Fleet:  any group of one or more school buses.  

Toxic Air Contaminants (TAC):  any air pollutant identified in
regulation by the ARB, which may cause or contribute to an increase in
deaths or in serious illness, or which may pose a present or potential
hazard to human health.

Year of Delivery:  no more than 12 months from the date that the school
bus is delivered to the school bus fleet operator.

Exemptions 

School buses with a GVWR of less than or equal to 8,500 pounds are
exempt from the requirements listed in Section 5.0.

Fleet operators claiming an exemption pursuant to Section 4.1 shall
maintain records as specified in Section 6.4.2.

4.3	School buses replaced, retrofitted and/or repowered, with the use of
eligible incentive funds, are exempt from the requirements listed in
Section 5.1 provided that such actions are completed prior to the
otherwise applicable deadlines. Such buses may be included as compliant
vehicles for Section 5.2. Furthermore, emissions reduced using eligible
incentive funds will be considered surplus to this rule.  

5.0	Requirements 

5.1	By January 1, 2016 operators of existing school bus fleets shall
meet the following requirements:

5.1.1	Each existing diesel fueled school bus fleet operator shall:

5.1.1.1	Replace all of their school buses manufactured before January 1,
1978 with buses that meet the applicable ARB and EPA emission standards
for engines certified for the year of delivery of that school bus engine
and fuel type, and

5.1.1.2	Replace their school buses manufactured on and after January 1,
1978 with buses that meet the applicable ARB and EPA emission standards
for engines manufactured for the year of delivery; or

5.1.1.3	Retrofit their school buses manufactured on and after January 1,
1978 with an Approved Diesel Emission Control Strategy or

5.1.1.4	Repower their school buses with an engine meeting all the ARB
and EPA emissions standards that are applicable to engines produced on
and after October 1, 2002.

All existing gasoline or alternative fueled school buses and any diesel
school buses manufactured after October 1, 2002 shall be considered
compliant if it meets the following:

Operated per manufacturers specification, and

If replaced, shall be replaced with a school bus meeting all the
applicable ARB and EPA current year emissions standards for the year of
delivery of that school bus engine and fuel type.

On and after January 1, 2007, any new school bus fleet and any additions
to an existing school bus fleet must meet all the applicable ARB and EPA
emissions standards for the year of delivery of that school bus engine
and fuel type.

6.0	Administrative Requirements 

 

Identify Existing Fleet

By January 1, 2007, each operator shall provide the District with a list
of existing school buses in their fleet identifying the following
information for each school bus:

The manufacturer, to include make and model of the chassis, and the year
built.

The engine manufacturer.

The year of manufacture of the engine.

The engine fuel type.

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

The gross vehicle weight rating.

The size in passenger capacity.

Any currently installed emission controls.

An explanation of how each bus will comply with the requirements of
Section 5.0.

The year of the last California Highway Patrol safety certification.

Identify New Fleets and Additions to Fleets, Replacements, and Any
Retrofits and/or Repowers

At least two months before purchasing, replacing, retrofitting or
repowering, each operator shall provide the District with the following
information:

The anticipated date of purchase for any bus, retrofit or repower. 

The date of delivery of the new purchase and any addition to the
existing fleet.

The manufacturer, to include make and model of the chassis, and the year
built.

The engine manufacturer.

The year of manufacture of the engine.

The engine fuel type.

The gross vehicle weight rating.

The size in passenger capacity.

Any emission controls.

Within one month after taking delivery of a replacement school bus or
retrofitting or repowering a school bus, the operator shall provide the
APCO with the VIN for the replacement school bus, and make any
corrections to the information provided per Section 6.2.  

Recordkeeping

For school buses applicable to Section 5.0, each fleet operator shall
maintain records of annual mileage per bus and the amount of fuel
purchased annually for the fleet, recorded by fuel type.

Each fleet operator seeking an exemption under Section 4.0 shall
maintain travel records of mileage, fuel usage, and trip destinations
for each bus exempt per Section 4.1.

Effective and beginning on and after September 21, 2006 records shall be
maintained for a minimum of five years and made available for inspection
by the APCO upon request. 

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