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EPA looks to streamline approval process for conversion systems
June 2, 2010The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a major step toward making it easier for alternative fuel vehicle conversions to take place by proposing important changes to its emission certification requirements.
The agency seeks to streamline the process in which manufacturers of clean, alternative fuel conversion systems may demonstrate compliance with vehicle and engine emissions requirements. The proposed change affects light duty vehicle and heavy duty highway vehicle and engine systems.
Under existing EPA regulations, an exemption from the Clean Air Act tampering prohibition may only be granted to conversion manufacturers whose vehicles and engines are covered by a certificate of conformity. The proposed revisions would permit additional compliance options, beyond obtaining a certificate of conformity, which would still protect conversion manufacturers against a tampering violation.
The proposed approach builds on the concept that it is appropriate to treat conversion requirements differently based on the age of the vehicle or engine being converted. Thus, all conversion manufacturers would need to demonstrate compliance with EPA emission requirements, but the requirements would differ among age categories. The age categories include New (covers vehicles and engines less than 2 years old), Intermediate Age (at least 2 years old but still within its useful life) and Outside Useful Life (exceeds useful life, typically 10 years/120,000 miles).
NPGA is reviewing the proposal for impacts, but overall the association believes it is a positive development. The proposal is consistent with legislative and regulatory efforts to obtain relief for conversion manufacturers in a way that would allow an increase in the number of conversions occurring in the marketplace, NPGA said.
Comments are due to the EPA by July 23.