vvEPA
United states Office of Transportation EPA420-F-05-035
Env.ronmcrtalProtoci.cn and Ajr Qua|jty November 2005
and
77?e I/. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing a
regulation that amends certain provisions of the evaporative and
refueling emission regulations, without changing the stringency of the
existing program. These changes are intended to: 1) reduce
manufacturers' test burden; 2) clarify existing evaporative and refueling
requirements; and 3) better harmonize Federal and California
evaporative and refueling test procedures. This direct final rule also
amends certification and in-use testing regulations in order to allow
four-wheel drive dynamometer testing and updates the basic content
requirements for vehicle labeling. The rulemaking is applicable to
certification and in-use test vehicles for the following categories: light-
duty vehicles, light-duty trucks, medium-duty vehicles, and heavy-duty
vehicles up to 14,000 pounds GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating).
There is no environmental impact as a result of this rulemaking.
Key Elements of the Direct Final Rule
• Optional waiver for the two-day diumal-plus-hot-soak test proce-
dure reduces overlapping test results and testing burden for certifi-
cation vehicles. Manufacturers are still required to comply with the
two-day evaporative standard even if they choose to waive the
procedure.
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Allows equally or more stringent alternatives for the running loss
portion of the three-day diurnal-plus-hot-soak test procedure for
certification or in-use test vehicles. Advance EPA approval is
required for new methods. The criteria are spelled out in the regula-
tions.
Option to use an equally or more stringent alternative canister
loading procedure. Advance EPA approval is required for new
methods. The criteria are spelled out in the regulations.
Revised Sealed Housing for Evaporative Determination (SHED)
Calibrations for Tier 2 evaporative vehicles. The criteria are spelled
out in the regulations.
Option to not disconnect evaporative hose during the Onboard
Refueling Vapor Recover (ORVR) test procedure.
Harmonization of evaporative test data for non-Tier 2 vehicles and
incomplete heavy-duty vehicles when California's standards and
test procedure are equal to or more stringent than EPAs.
Allows using the four-wheel drive dynamometer for certification
and in-use testing of four-wheel drive vehicles.
Update basic content requirements for the Vehicle Emission Control
Information (VECI) label. The criteria are spelled out in the regu-
lations.
Background
EPAs regulations detail the process motor vehicle manufacturers must
follow to obtain EPA evaporative emissions certification, as required in
the Clean Air Act. On December 31, 2000, EPA issued a Guidance
Document, CCD-02-20, which described evaporative and refueling
revisions to reduce testing burden without affecting stringency. Some of
the items discussed in the guidance document require regulatory action
in order to be implemented; these items are included in this Direct Final
Rulemaking.
Currently, four-wheel drive vehicles are tested on two-wheel drive
dynamometers. With increased numbers of four-wheel drive vehicles, it
is recognized that a four-wheel drive dynamometer is more appropriate
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to use. The amendments update certification and in-use testing regula-
tions, allowing for testing on four-wheel drive dynamometers.
The current content required on vehicle labeling dates back 30 years,
when many automotive components were manually adjusted and before
catalysts were introduced. The amendments update the required label
contents, replacing obsolete information with more recent, useful infor-
mation.
There is no environmental impact as a result of this rulemaking. All
changes are considered to be non-controversial and will not affect the
level of stringency required by the current regulations. As a result, these
technical amendments are being issued as a Direct Final Rulemaking and
concurrent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.
For More information
You can access documents on this Direct Final Rule on EPAs Office of
Transportation and Air Quality Web site at:
www. epa.gov/otaq/evap/index. htm
For further information, please contact Julia Rege at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734)214-4614
E-mail: rege j ul i a@epa.gov
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