v>EPA
United States        Office of Transportation
Environmental Protection   „„, A;,/->..«i;t,.
Agency           and Alr Quality
                                                        EPA420-F-04-058
                                                        December 2004
                 Resource
                 Information
                  National Vehicle and
                  Fuel Emissions Laboratory
                 The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Vehicle
                 and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL) is part of the Office of
                 Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) which is responsible for carrying
                 out laws to control air pollution from motor vehicles, engines, and their
                 fuels.  OTAQ's mission is to reconcile the transportation sector with the
                 environment by advancing clean fuels and technology, and promoting
                 more liveable communities. OTAQ is divided between EPA's
                 headquarters in Washington, D.C., and NVFEL in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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Overview
The Laboratory's primary responsibilities include:

  •  Developing national regulatory programs to reduce mobile source related
     air pollution from light-duty cars and trucks, heavy-duty trucks and
     busses, and nonroad engines and vehicles.

  •  Evaluating emission control technology.

  •  Providing state and local air quality regulators and transportation plan-
     ners with access to critical information on transportation programs and
     incentive-based programs.

  •  Testing vehicles, engines and fuels.

  •  Determining compliance with federal emissions and fuel economy stan-
     dards.

Organizationally, the lab functions as part of EPA's Washington, D.C., head-
quarters.
             The President
                 I
                 EPA
    Office of Air and Radiation
                 I
       Office of Transportation
           and Air Quality
I Other Federal Departments and Agencies
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I Regions and Other Program Offices: I

I   Water, Solid Waste, Toxics, etc.    I


  Other Air Programs:

    Air Quality Planning and Standards

1   Atmospheric Programs
       .
I   Radiation and Indoor Air
           National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory
                         Ann Arbor, Michigan

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The laboratory was established in 1971, shortly after the creation of EPA. It is
located in Ann Arbor, Michigan near the headquarters of domestic automobile
manufacturers to facilitate transfer of test vehicles back and forth.

There are about 400 employees atNVFEL. Staff expertise spans a variety
of technical and public policy fields including auto mechanics, engineer-
ing, chemistry, economics, natural resources management, and law.

The NVFEL lab provides the Office of Transportation and Air Quality
with emissions testing services for motor vehicle, heavy-duty engine, and
nonroad engine programs in support of rulemakings, enforcement ac-
tions, and procedures development. Testing activities include:

  •  certifying that vehicles and engines meet federal emissions and fuel
     economy standards.

  •  analyzing fuels, fuel additives, and exhaust compounds.
    testing engines for in-use compliance.
In addition, the lab assists in the development of automotive technology
to reduce conventional pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, such as
the Clean Automotive Technology Initiative, low NOx diesel engine, and
alternative fuel technologies.
For More Information
You can access additional information on OTAQ programs on our Web
site at:

www. epa.gov/otaq

For more information on NVFEL, please contact Terry Newell at:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734)214-4333

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