United States             Air and Radiation          EPA 420-F-97-001
                  Environmental Protection                          MARCH 1997
                  Agency
                  Office of Mobile Sources

v/EPA      Regulatory Announcement/

                  Update
                  Nonroad Phase 2 Small Spark-Ignited
                  Engines Advance Notice of Proposed
                  Rulemaking
                  In the past year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has signed
                  two joint Statements of Principle (SOP) with several interested parties
                  concerning the control of air pollution from nonroad small spark-ignited
                  engines. EPA is now taking the next step in the process toward implementing
                  this program by publishing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the
                  text of the two SOPs for public review and comment.
                  History of the Statements of Principles

                  In July 1995, EPA finalized the first phase of national regulations to control
                  emissions from spark-ignited (SI) engines at or below 19 kilowatts (or 25 horse-
                  power). This regulation, referred to as "Phase 1," takes effect beginning in the
                  1997 model year.

                  In May of 1996, EPA and several other interested parties signed a SOP which
                  will form the basis of a "Phase 2" proposed rule for nonroad small SI handheld
                  engines. Typical examples of equipment using handheld engines are: brush
                  cutters, chain saws, leaf blowers, and string trimmers.  A summary of the
                  handheld SOP can be found in EPA Fact Sheet EPA420-F-96-001, Statement of
                  Principles for Small Handheld Gasoline Engines.

                  In December of 1996, EPA and engine manufacturers signed a SOP which will
                  form the basis of a Phase 2 proposed rule for nonroad small SI nonhandheld
                  engines. Typical examples of equipment using nonhandheld engines are: walk-
                  behind lawn mowers, generators, garden tractors, and commercial turf mowers.
                  A summary of the nonhandheld  SOP can be found in EPA Fact Sheet EPA420-F-
                  97-002, Statement of Principles for Small Nonhandheld Spark-ignited Engines.
                                                                  ) Printed on Recycled Paper

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EPA Seeks Public Input

EPA is now taking the next step towards the implementation of a Phase 2 regula-
tion by publishing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM)
which contains the text of both SOPs. The ANPRM solicits public input regard-
ing both SOPs and other Phase 2 related issues.  Comments on the ANPRM will
be accepted until 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. These  com-
ments will be helpful in developing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM),
to be published in the fall of 1997. The NPRM will provide detailed discussions
of the program provisions being proposed, as well as analysis of environmental
benefits and economic impacts.
Document Availability
The ANPRM will be available in the Federal Register upon publication.  It will
also be available from the EPA Air and Radiation Docket by calling 202-260-
7548; please refer to docket number A-96-55.

In addition, the ANPRM is available electronically via the EPA Internet server
and via dial-up modem on the Technology Transfer Network (TTN), which is an
electronic bulletin board system (BBS) operated by EPA's Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards.

      World Wide Web:  http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW

      TTN BBS:  919-541-5742 (1200-14400 bps, no parity, 8 data bits,
       1 stop bit); voice helpline: 919-541-5384
For More Information

For more information on this rulemaking, please call the Office of Mobile
Sources at 313-668-4344 or write to:

US Environmental Protection Agency
National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory
Small Spark-Ignition Engine Phase 2 Team
Engine Programs and Compliance Division
2565 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

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