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 ------- 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 ------- 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) ------- |