Last week, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a long-awaited proposed rulemaking for aftermarket conversion systems, currently governed by regulatory criteria that requires costly applications for certificates of conformity. According to the Proposed Rule, “The proposed revisions would create additional compliance options beyond certification that would protect manufacturers of clean alternative fuel conversion systems against a tampering violation, depending on the age of the vehicle or engine to be converted. The new options would alleviate some economic and procedural impediments to clean alternative fuel conversions while maintaining environmental safeguards to ensure that acceptable emission levels from converted vehicles are sustained.” (from Summary)
NGVAmerica says the proposal responds to calls by it, state governments, and Congress that EPA provide greater flexibility and reduce the cost of certification for aftermarket conversions systems. It provides a new alternative route for approving conversion systems that are intended for use on older in-use vehicle or engines. The proposal establishes new rules for: (1) new vehicles, defined as the current model year less one; (2) intermediate age vehicles, and (3) vehicles that have exceeded their useful life, with varying cost savings for each rule.
NGVAmerica has issued a comment on the proposal, available here.
EPA has tentatively scheduled a public hearing about this proposal for 9 a.m. June 23, 2010, subject to notifications of interest by June 18.
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