A/C No. 6B state* Off,«o« December 31,1987 Environmental Protection Air •nd R«di«won Page 1 Of 4 Agency Washington. DC 20460 cxEPA QMS Advisory Circular SUBJECT: Duration of Certificates of Conformity, Annual Production Period, and Model Year The purpose of this advisory circular is to clarify EPA's definitions of model year, annual production period, and the duration of certificates of conformity. Advisory Circular No. 6A is obsolete and should be discarded. B. Background Under the Clean Air Act of 1970, a certificate of conformity is to be issued for a period "not in excess of one year." Advisory Circular No. 6A interpreted the phrase one year" to mean one model year. It did not, however, define all relevant limitations governing the duration of one model year and the annual production period associated with such model year. This advisory circular clarifies the definitions of the terms "model year" and "annual production period" in relation to the coverage of certificates of conformity and to Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) calculations. C. Applicability The definitions provided by this advisory circular are effective immediately and apply to all light-duty vehicles and trucks, heavy-duty vehicles and engines, and motorcycles. D. Duration of Model Year A—specific model year must always include January l ot the calendar year for which it is designated and may not include a January 1 of any other calendar year. Thus, the maximum duration of a model year is one calendar year plus 364 days. E. Definition of Production Period •The"annualproductionperiod" for any specific model within an engine family of light-duty vehicles or heavy-duty engines begins either: (1) when such vehicle or engine is first produced, or (2) on January 2 of the calendar year preceding the year for which the model year is designated, whichever date is later. The annual production period ends either: (1) when the last such vehicle or engine is produced, or (2) on December 31 of the calendar year for which the model year is named, whichever date is sooner. ------- U.S. Environmental OAR/OMS A/C NO._££___ P'otection Agency PAGE_2_OF_! F. Duration and Applicability of Certificates of Conformity T!Section206(a)(l)oftEeCleanAirActof1970 provides that certificates of conformity may be issued for a period "not in excess of one year." EPA regulations interpret "year" to mean "model year" (40 CFR 86.085-30(a) (2.)). "Model year" is in turn defined by section 202(b)(3)(A)(i) of the Act to mean the manufacturer's annual production period. Therefore, except as provided in paragraph F.2, below, a certificate of conformity is deemed to be effective and covers the vehicles or engines named in such certificate and produced during the annual production period defined in paragraph E. 2. Section 203 of the Clean Air Act prohibits the sale, offering for sale, delivery for introduction into commerce, and introduction into commerce of any new vehicle or engine not covered by a certificate of conformity unless it is an imported vehicle exempted by the Administrator or otherwise authorized jointly by EPA and U.S. Customs service regulations.1 However, the Act does not prohibit the production of vehicles or engines without a certificate of conformity. Vehicles or engines produced prior to the effective date of a certificate of conformity, as defined in paragraph F.I, may also be covered by the certificate if the following conditions are met: a. The vehicles or engines conform in all respects to the vehicles or engines described in the application for the certificate of conformity. b. The vehicles or engines are not sold, offered for sale, introduced into commerce, or delivered for introduction into commerce prior to the effective date of the certificate of conformity. c. The Agency is notified prior to the beginning of production when such production will start, and the Agency is provided full opportunity to inspect and/or test the vehicles during and after their production. For example, the Agency must have the opportunity to conduct SEA production line testing as if the vehicles had been produced after the effective date of the certificate. 3. Vehicles or engines imported by an original equipment manufacturer after December 31 of the calendar year for which the model year is named are still covered by the certificate of 1. EPA has issued regulations that permit entry of certain imported nonconforming vehicles if they are modified to conform with emission standards even if they are not covered by certification. ------- U.S. Environmental OAR/OMS A/C NO. BE P-otection Agency PAGE 3 QP 4 conformity as long as the production of the vehicle or engine was completed before December 31 of that year.2 (However, see CAFE consideration in Section G.) 4. Vehicles or engines produced after December 31 of the calendar year for which the model year is named are not covered by the certificate of conformity for that model year. A new certificate of conformity demonstrating compliance with currently applicable standards must be obtained for these vehicles or engines, even if they are identical to vehicles or engines built before December 31. 5. The extended coverage period described here for a certificate of conformity (i.e., up to one year plus 364 days) is primarily intended to allow flexibility in the introduction of new models. Under no circumstances should it be interpreted that existing models may "skip" yearly certification by pulling ahead the production of every other model year. While this situation, to our knowledge, has not occurred in the past, a practice of producing vehicles for a two year period would violate Congress's intent of annual certification based upon an annual production period. EPA is not currently setting forth rules for how to determine when abuse has occurred since this has not been a problem to date. However, manufacturers should note our concern in this area and should continue to use normal yearly production periods for existing models. G. CAFE Considerations The Motor Vehicle and Cost Savings Act, section 501(9), does not use the concept of "introduction into commerce." Rather, it defines "manufacture" to mean "to produce or assemble in the customs territory of the United States, or to import."" The resultant definition of "model year" for CAFE purposes is equivalent to the definition for certification purposes for all vehicles except for those produced before December 31 of the calendar year for which the model year is named but not actually imported until after December 31 of that year. These vehicles, as discussed in paragraph F.3, are included in that model year for certification because they were produced before December 31 of that year. However, they must be included in the subsequent model year CAFE calculation, as they were not "manufactured" (i.e., imported) until after- the expiration of that year. As an example, consider the case of a t.This section does not apply to vehicles that may be covered by certificates held by independent commercial importers unless specifically approved by EPA. ------- &EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency OAR/OMS A/C NO.. PAGE 4 6B OF_i 1987 model year vehicle "produced" on December 15, 1987 but not "imported" until January 21, 1988. This vehicle would still be covered by the 1987 certificate, as it was produced before December 31 of the calendar year for which the model year is named. However, it must be included in the 1988 model year CAFE calculations, as it was imported, and thus "manufactured" for CAFE purposes, after the expiration of the 1987 calendar year. Richard Dr Wilson Director, Office .of Mobile Sources 7277a ------- Subject Index/ umted states office of Table of Contents Environmental Protection Air and Radiation December 31 1987 Agency Washington. DC 20460 "cwcl ' vvEPA QMS RECEiVEiAdvisory Circular JAN 5 1988 ENVIRONMENTAL PROfECllON AGENCY LIBRARY, REGION V SUBJECT INDEX AND TABLE OF CONTENTS TO QMS ADVISORY CIRCULAR SYSTEM Attached is an updated cross-reference subject index and an updated table of contents to the QMS Advisory Circular (A/C) System. These documents reflect additions and replacements of A/C's. This index and table of contents supersede those issued November 17f 1982 which are obsolete and should be discarded. The index and table of contents reflect deletion of several A/C's which have been superseded or are no longer necessary as explained in the attached list. ------- Un,,edS«a«e, Off,«of Environmental Protection Air and Radiation DeOStlbgr 31, 1987 A9»nc» Wathingtoo. QC 20460 page ! of 1Q v>EPA QMS Advisory Circular SUBJECT INDEX Circular Subject Humber Access to Certification Information 66 Application Format Data Release 66 National Technical Information Service (NTIS) 66 Administrative Ruling Appeals 45 Advisory Circular System, Description, Numbering, 1A Organization and Scope Air-Conditioning Usage Alternative Dynamometer Settings 55C Inertia Weight Determination 53 Road-Load Power 53 Test Vehicle Selection 53 Alternative Dynamometer Settings 55C Annual Production Period 6B Appeals Administrative Rulings 45 Application for Certification of Heavy-Duty Engines Auxiliary Emission Control Devices 76 Public Release, Information, Voluntary 66 Submission Trade Secrets 66 ------- 3-EPA U.S. Environmental OAR/QMS Protection Agency A/C NO. I]ndex PAGE 2 QP 10 Application for Certification of Light-Duty Vehicles/Light-Duty Trucks Alternative Dynamometer Settings Auxiliary Emission Control Devices California Certification Used for Federal Certification Frontal Area and Protuberance Calculations for Road-Load Power Determination Fuel Economy Regulations Public Release of Information Trade Secrets Assigned Deterioration Factor Assurance of Public Health Compliance with 40 CFR 86.078-5(b)(1)(ii) Compliance with CAA 202{a)(4) and 206(a)(3) Auxiliary Emission Control Device Carryover Criteria for Judging Acceptability Definition Defeat Device Field Fixes Running Change Before and After Testing Scheduled Maintenance Unscheduled Maintenance 55C 76/76-1 86 73 77 66 66 51C 46 76/76-1 24/24-2 24 24-2 24/24-2 24/24-2 24 24/24-2 12A 4A-1 ------- U.S. Environmental OAR/OMS A/C NO. Protection Agency PAGE ? OF m Break-In Maintenance 12A California Test Vehicles, Retest 40 California Standards Federal Certification Based on California 86 Certification Fuel Economy Labels 83A Light-Duty 84A Car Line and Truck Line Determinations 89 Carry-Across Data 17P Carryover Data Application Procedures 17F Defeat Device 24 Durability Data 17F Emission Data 17F Evaporative Emissions 17F Running Changes 17F Certificate of Conformity Scope, Duration 6B Coastdown Test Procedure 55C Confidential Information 66 Confirmatory Testing at EPA 84A/54A ------- &ERA U.S. Environmental OAR/QMS Protection Agency A/C NO. PAGE 4QF.10. Components Auxiliary Emission Control Devices Failure Field Fixes Malfunction Modification Correlation, Laboratory Defeat Devices Optional Objective Criteria for Determination Definitions Auxiliary Emission Control Devices Certificate of Conformity Deterioration Factor Emission Control System Engine Family Determination Field Fix Model Year Production Period Unscheduled Maintenance Deterioration Factors, Assigned Diagnostic Procedures, Required Driving Traces, Supplied with Test Vehicle 24 4A-1/36B 2B 4A-1 2B 52A 24/24-2 24-2 24 6B 51C 20B/20B-1 20B/20B-1 2B 6B 6B 4A-1 51C 4A-1 23A Durability-Data Vehicles/Testing (See Testing, Durability Data) ------- U.S. Environmental OAR/OMS A/C NO. Protection Agency PAQE_L_ OF Dynamometer Air-Conditioning 53 Alternative Road-Load Determination 55C Outdoor Chassis Dynamometer Approval 35B Emission Control Component Modification (Field Fixes) 2B Emission Control System Approval for Use of Emission control Devices 76 Classification 20B/20B-1 Definition 20B/20B-1 Evaporative Emission Control Systems 59 Identification 77 Technological Advances 24-2 Emission-Data Vehicle/Testing (See Testing, Emission Data) Engines, Shipment to EPA (Heavy-Duty Engines) 22A Engine Family Determination Heavy-Duty Engines 20B-1 Light-Duty Vehicle/Light-Duty Truck 20B Engineering Report, Required 4A-1 Export Requirements 34 ------- xvEPA U.S. Environmental OAR/OMS Protection Agency A/C NO. Index PAGE J_ OF Evaporative Emissions Carryover Data Control Systems Family Determination Preconditioning Field Fixes Freedom of Information Fuels Service Accumulation Fuel, Representativeness Fuel Economy Car Line and Truck Line Determinations Guidelines for Data Vehicle Packages High-Altitude Labels Label Program Test Schedules Testing Fuel Tank, Test Vehicle Heating High-Altitude Fuel Economy Labels Inertia Weight Class Inertia Weight Testing Option Air-Conditioning Usage 17F 59 59 50A 2B/24/41A 66 26B/26B-1 89 77 77 83A 84A 72A/73/77 23A 77/83A 38 53 Laboratory Correlation 52A ------- U.S. Environmental OAR/OMS Protection Agency A/C MO- Index PAGE_L_OF Labeling California Requirements Fuel Economy Maintenance After Shipment Before and After Testing Break-In Instructions to Ultimate Purchaser High-Altitude Modifications Scheduled Unscheduled Warning Devices Warranty Statement in Owner's Manual Mileage Accumulation (See Also Service Accumulation) Alternative Mileage Accumulation Procedures Fuel Outdoor Chassis Dynamometer Transport to EPA Manufacturers, Small-Volume Model Year Modification of Certified Vehicles 83A 83A 4A-1, 12A 23A 12A 12A/15A/38 15A, 24 ISA 12A, 36B 4A/4A-1/36B 36B ISA 37A 26-B/26B-1 35B 23A 51C 6B 2B/64 MMT (Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl) 26B/26B-1 Outdoor Chassis Dynamometer, Criteria for Approval 35B ------- vxEPA U.S. Environmental OAR/OMS Protection Agency Parameter Adjustments Preconditioning Production Period Public Disclosure of Certification Information Public Health Assurance A/C NO. Index PAGE _8 OF 10 91 50A 6B 66 46/76/76-1 Retesting California Waivers Valid and Voided Tests Road-Load Power Air-Conditioning Alternative Procedure for Determination and Use of Dynamometer Power Absorber Setting Measurement of Vehicle Frontal Area and Protuberance Running Changes Carryover Data Defeat Devices (Auxiliary Emission Control Devices) General Testing Schedule Scheduled Maintenance Criteria for Approval Durability Data Vehicles Emission-Data Vehicle Testing Warning Devices 84A 84A 53 55C 73 17F 24/24-2 41A 84A 12A 12A 12A 36B ------- &EPA U.S. Environmental OAR/QMS Protection Agency A/C NO. Index PAGE* OF Service Accumulation Alternate Schedule Chassis Dynamometer Approval Shift Points, Manual Transmission Vehicles Shipment of Vehicles/Engines Export Requirements Heavy-Duty Engine Shipment Light-Duty Vehicle Shipment Small-Volume Engine Families, Assigned Deterioration Factors Statements of Compliance Sulfur Test Equipment Air-Conditioning Usage Lab Correlation Manufacturer Test Sites, Secondary Laboratory Outdoor Chassis Dynamometer Use of Equipment Not Specified in Regulations Test Fuels Service Accumulation Fuels 37A 35B 26B/26B-1 23A/72A 34 22A 23A 51C 46 26B 53 52A 23A 35B 18 26B/26B-1 ------- vvEPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency OAR/OMS A/C NO. Index PAGE 10 Of 10 23A 4A-1/12A 84A 17F 17F 72A 38 23A/50A/52A Testing After Shipment Before and After Confirmatory Testing at EPA Facility Durability Data Emission Data Fuel Economy, Shift Points of Transmissions inertia Weight Testing Option Manufacturer Test Site Preconditioning 50A Retesting California Waivers 84A Valid and Voided Tests 84A Scheduling of Tests 84A Shift Point of Manual Transmissions 72A Vehicle Requirements 23A Trade Secrets 66 Truck Line (See Car Line and Truck Line Determination) Unscheduled Maintenance 4A-1 Warning Devices 36B Vehicle Shipment/Preparation/Shipment (General) 22A/23A Preconditioning Prior to Testing by Manufacturer 50A Warning Devices Warranty Statement 36B ISA ------- &EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation Washington. DC 20460 A/C Table of Contents December 31, 1987 1 of 4 QMS Advisory Circular TABLE OP CONTENTS Circular Number Title 1A Introduction of Advisory Circular System 2B Field Fixes Related to Emission Control-Related Components 4A Unscheduled Maintenance 4A-1 Unscheduled Maintenance 6B Duration of Certificates of Conformity, Production Period, and Model Year 12A Break-In and Other Scheduled Maintenance 15A EPA Review and Approval of Maintenance Instructions of 1975 and Later Model Light-Duty Vehicles and Heavy-Duty Engines 17F General Criteria for the Carryover and Carry-Across of Certification Data and the Carryover of Fuel Economy Data for Light-Duty Vehicles and Light-Duty Trucks 18 Approval of Use of Instruments Other than Those Specified in the Motor Vehicle Emission Control Regulations 20B Determination of Engine Families and Classification of Emission Control Systems for Heavy-Duty Engines Date of Issuance February 27, 1978 March 17, 1975 November 14,1972 December 14,1973 December 31, 1987 April 2, 1974 July 30, 1974 November 16, 1982 September 7, 1972 June 27,1974 ------- &EPA U.S. Environmental OAR/OMS Protection Agency A/C NO. Contents PAGE_2_OF4- 20B-1 Determination of Engine Families and Classification of Emission Control Systems for Heavy-Duty Engines 22A Shipment of Heavy-Duty Engines to EPA for Testing 23A Shipment of Light-Duty Vehicles and Trucks to EPA for Testing 24 Prohibition of Use of Emission Control Defeat Devices 24-2 Prohibition of Emission, Control Defeat Devices - Optional Objective Criteria 26B Representativeness of Unleaded Service Accumulation Fuels 26B-1 Representativeness of Unleaded Mileage Accumulation Fuels 34 Export Requirements for Light-Duty Vehicles and Heavy-Duty Engines 35B Criteria for Approval of Use of an Outdoor Chassis Dynamometer for Mileage Accumulation 36B Warning Devices for Emission Control System Maintenance 37A Alternate Mileage Accumulation Procedure 38 Inertia Weight Testing Option - Relationship to Coverage of Certificate of Conformity 41A Changes to Vehicle or Engine Covered by Certificate (Running Change) September 20,1974 April 3, 1973 July 5, 1978 December 11, 1972 December 6, 1978 January 7, 1977 August 12, 1977 November 2, 1973 April 30, 1982 October 25, 1982 July 22, 1975 February 15, 1974 March 24, 1975 ------- SEPA U.S. Environmental OAR/QMS Protection Agency A/C NO. Contents PAGE_L_OF « 45 Appeals Procedure on Administrative Rulings 46 Qualification by Manufacturers of Statement of Compliance 50A Test Vehicle Preconditioning 51C Assigned Deterioration Factors for 1988 Model Year Light-Duty Trucks and Heavy-Duty Engines 52A EPA MVEL Laboratory Correlation 53 Air-Conditioning Usage 55C Determination and Use of Alternative Dynamometer Power Absorber Setting 59 Determination of Evaporative Emission Families and Evaporative Control Systems 64 Certificates of Conformity for Certified Vehicles Modified Subsequent to Original Manufacture 66 Public Access to Applications for Certification 72A Shift Points for Manual Transmission Test Vehicles 73 Measurement of Vehicle Frontal Area and Protuberance 76 Compliance with the Requirements of §202(a)(4) and §206(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act 76-1 Compliance with the Requirements of §202(a)(4) and §206(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act 77 Guidelines for Submission of Fuel Economy Data Vehicle Packages May 12, 1975 June 12, 1975 December 16, 1976 December 4, 1986 May 1, 1987 December 31, 1975 December 12, 1986 August 31, 1976 March 7, 1977 May 17, 1977 February 10, 1984 March 15, 1978 June 28, 1978 November 30, 1978 September 1, 1978 ------- •8-EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency OAR/OMS A/C MO. Contents- PAGE _i_ OF ± 83A Policies Applicable to the Fuel Economy Labeling and Compliance Program 84A EPA Confirmatory Testing of Light- Duty Vehicles and Light-Duty Trucks 86 Federal Certification Based on California Certification 89 General Criteria for Making Car Line and Truck Line Determination 91 Parameter Adjustment 92 Application Formats for Certification of 1982 Model Year Light-Duty Motor Vehicle July 6, 1984 July 29, 1983 July 17, 1979 December 14, 1979 February 8, 1980 September 23, 1980 ------- un.»H<:.*». n« « Deletions United States Office of r»l___j~~ 11 Environmental Protection Air and Radiation December JJ-f Agency Wein.ngtan. DC 20460 Page 1 of 3 v>EPA QMS Advisory Circular ADVISORY CIRCULAR DELETIONS A/C No. Deletions to the Table of Contents 11 Importation of Certification Test Vehicles; Approval of Operation on the Public Roads. This A/C was adopted on May 5, 1972; it has been superseded by 40 CFR 85.1701, et seq. 16 Approval of Emission Control Modifications for High Altitudes on New Motor Vehicles or Engines. This A/C was issued on June 8~,1972. Subsequently there have been two Clean Air Act revisions, 1974 and 1977, as well as numerous regulation changes. This A/C has been completely superseded by the subsequent high-altitude rulemaking; Subpart Q of Part 86 (Altitude Performance Adjustments) issued in 1980. 19B "Zero Miles." The requirement for a zero mile test was deleted many years ago; there are no continuing zero mile requirements. 24-1 Modifications to High-Altitude Vehicles for Temporary Operation at Low Altitudes; Prohibition of Use of Emission Control Defeat Devices. This A/C, issued August 27, 1976, expands upon A/C No. 24 issued December 11, 1972 prohibiting the use of defeat devices. It is directed at altitude adjustment devices or maintenance instructions for modifying vehicles for low altitude operation. This A/C has been superseded by the subsequent Clean Air Act amendments and high-altitude regulations. 25 Quarterly Production Reports. Quarterly Production Reports are no longer required under our regulations. ------- &EPA U.S. Environmental OAR/QMS Protection Agency A/C NO. deletions PAGE 20F_3 27 Public Release of Information Contained in Applications for Certification of Light-Duty vehicles and Heavy-Duty Engines. This A/C, issued March 19, 1973, contains an outdated fee schedule and does not reflect changes in the Freedom of Information regulations in the past several years. 29-1 Emission Testing of Certification Vehicles. This A/C is concerned with testing prior to the "zero mile" test as well as other emission tests performed during the life of an emission data or durability vehicle. Our regulations have been amended to allow manufacturers more flexibility in how they conduct their test programs. 30A Use of Unleaded Fuel in Noncatalyst Equipped Vehicles. Published on March 24, 1975, this A/C prohibited manufacturers from gaining an advantage by using unleaded fuel in test vehicles representing pro- duction vehicles which would use leaded fuel. Our fuels regulations, 40 CFR 80.24, were subsequently amended to accomplish the same result. 32B/32B1 Compliance with Fuel Requirements of Lead Regulations Regarding Unleaded Fuel. These two A/C's were published shortly after vehicles requiring unleaded fuel were available. They add very little to the labeling and immediate shut off requirements in 40 CFR 80.24. 60 EPA Leaded Gasoline Test Fuels. Adopted on November 15, 1976, this A/C describes a change in EPA test fuel. Applicable regulations were subsequently adopted. 71/71-1 Criterion for Obtaining Exemption from Running Change Fuel Economy Data Requirements. These A/C's, adopted December 22, 1977 and April 11, 1979 have been superseded by subsequent fuel economy regulations. ------- U.S. Environmental OAR/OMS A/C NO. Deletions Protection Agency PAQE 3 QP 3 74 Adjustment of Governors on Gasoline Fueled Heavy-Duty Certification Engines." This A/C concerns the effect of engine governors on the heavy-duty durability cycle. Since there is no longer a specified durability procedure and manufac- turers develop their own deterioration factors, this A/C is no longer necessary. 78 1979 Model Year Fuel Economy Labeling Program. This A/C has been superseded by the subsequent regulations and by A/C No. 83A. 80 Altitude Performance Adjustments for Vehicles In Use. This A/C was adopted December 8, 1978 and deals with voluntary submissions to EPA of high-altitude adjust- ments under section 215 of the amended Clean Air Act. This, by its own statement, was an interim A/C and was superseded by Subpart Q of Part 85, which was adopted on October 8, 1980. 35 1980 Model Year Fuel Economy Label Format. Thelatestfueleconomy regulationprovided new requirements for label formats; this A/C has been entirely superseded. 87 Guidelines for Submitting Supplemental Running Change Fuel Economy Data. This A/C was adopted 'September 11, 1979. As with other fuel economy A/C's, this A/C has been super- seded by the subsequent fuel economy regulation changes. 90 Guidelines for the Submission of Preliminary Corporate Average Fuel Economy Report. The PCAFE report has been eliminated. 9292a ------- |