United States             Air and Radiation         EPA420-F-02-042
Environmental Protection                         September 2002
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality

Regulatory

Announcement
 Frequently Asked Questions from
 Owners of Recreational Boats with
 Diesel Engines
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adopted new
emission standards for recreational marine diesel engines. This
information sheet addresses questions we have heard from boat
owners.
Which boats and engines do the new emission
standards affect?
This rule applies to diesel engines over 37 kilowatts (kW) (50 horse-
power) used for propulsion on recreational boats. In general, this in-
cludes all vessels used "primarily for pleasure," consistent with Coast
Guard policy, including yachts and cruisers.
Why is EPA requiring new emission controls for
Recreational Marine Diesel Engines?
Recreational marine diesel engines currently emit about 40,000 tons of
hydrocarbons plus nitrogen oxides (HC+NOx) each year across the
United States. These emissions help form smog and contain toxic com-
pounds such as benzene, so reducing them will benefit our health and
environment. In the Clean Air Act, Congress requires us to set emission
standards that address these problems. These environmental impacts are
described in more detail in the fact sheet referenced below.
                                       I Printed on Recycled Paper

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       my                         to
regulations?
No. Engine manufacturers must ensure that each new recreational
marine diesel engine sold meets the new emission standards. The stan-
dards apply only to new engines produced after a specified model year
(from 2006 to 2009, depending on engine size). Anything manufactured
before that model year is not affected. We are giving several years of
lead time between publication of a final rule and the effective date of
new standards. New emission standards for recreational marine diesel
engines therefore won't affect the engine you own now or any engine
you buy for the next several years.
As an         of a

You may not disable any emission controls installed on your engine.
Manufacturers explain in their owner's manual what type of emission
controls exist for each model. Manufacturers may also specify some
minor maintenance you must do to keep emission controls working
properly over the life of the engine.
             of                        is      requiring?
We don't tell manufacturers how to comply with the regulations, but we
anticipate many manufacturers will choose to meet them through engine
calibration, fuel injection improvements, and in-cylinder modifications.
We already require emission controls for commercial marine diesel
engines and expect the recreational engines to have similar emission-
control technologies and calibrations.
              will
The manufacturers' costs for adding emission controls depend on the
kind of technology involved, the manufacturing processes, the size of the
company, and several other issues. We estimate that these costs will on
average be less than $400 per engine.
      will
safety?
The expected emission-control technologies not only reduce emissions,
but generally improve the engine's ability to manage air intake, fuel

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injection, and overall combustion. As a result, we expect engine perfor-
mance to improve as manufacturers add new technology. None of these
emission-control technologies affect safety.
Do                      apply in California?
Yes. These regulations apply throughout the United States.


                                          I           my
boat?
No. These regulations do not include any specific restrictions about
where you can use your boat.


             I get        information?
You can access documents on marine diesel engines on the Office of
Transportation and Air Quality Web site at:

    www. epa. gov/otaq/marine. htm

You can also contact us at:

    U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Office of Transportation and Air Quality
    Assessment and Standards Division
    2000 Traverwood Drive
    Ann Arbor, MI 48105
    Voice-mail: (734) 214-4636
    E-mail:  samulski.michael@epa.gov

See additional fact sheets:
  • Emission Standards for New Nonroad Engines— Large Industrial
    Spark-ignition Engines, Recreational Marine Diesel Engines, and
    Recreational Vehicles (EPA420-F-02-037)
  * Environmental Impacts of Newly Regulated Nonroad Engines
    (EPA420-F-02-033)
  « Emission Factors for Recreational Marine Diesel Engines
    (EPA420-F-02-044)
  • How to Maintain or Rebuild Engines Certified to EPA Standards
    (EPA420-F-02-035)
  • Blue Sky Series Engines (EPA420-F-02-036)

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