6o
Change in Regulatory Deadline for
Rulemaking to Address the Control
of Emissions from New Marine
Compression-Ignition Engines at or
Above 30 Liters per Cylinder
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing a
Direct Final Rule to extend the regulatory deadline for promul-
gating new exhaust emission standards for Category 3 marine engines.
The deadline will move from April 27, 2007, to December 17, 2009.
Overview
In January 2003, EPA issued a final rule establishing the first U.S. emission standards
for new compression'ignition Category 3 marine engines (those with a displacement
at or above 30 liters per cylinder). This rule also set a deadline of April 27, 2007, for
EPA to promulgate a new tier of emission standards for these engines [68 FR 9746,
February 28, 2003], This rule schedule was intended to allow EPA time to consider
the state of technology that may permit deeper emission reductions and the status of
international action for more stringent standards.
Since 2003, we continue to work with industry and other stakeholders to gain a
greater understanding of the issues described in the 2003 final rule and to assess the
ongoing efforts of manufacturers to apply advanced emission control technologies to
these very large engines. In addition, we have continued to work with and through
the International Maritime Organization (IMO) toward more stringent international
emission standards that would apply to all new marine diesel engines on ships
engaged in international transportation. IMO is an important forum for EPA to
gather new information and data regarding emission control technologies, costs, and
other information on Category 3 engines and vessels. IMO is also important because
the majority of ships used in international commerce are flagged in other nations.
Due to the long lead times associated with the installation and assessment of
advanced emission control technologies and to the delayed start of IMO negotiations
for a new tier of international standards, much of the information that will be
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
United States
Environmental Protection EPA420-F-07-024
Agency Apri| 2Q07
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required to develop new Category 3 marine diesel engines standards is only now becoming
available. Therefore, EPA is issuing a direct final rule to adopt a new regulatory deadline for
the next tier of Category 3 marine diesel engine standards, with a final rule to be adopted no
later than December 17, 2009. We intend to issue an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
within the next few months as part of this new regulatory development process.
Public Participation Opportunities
This rule is being released as a direct final rule. However, comments can be submitted under
a parallel Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Comments will be accepted for 30 days
beginning when the NPRM is published in the Federal Register. All comments should be
identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0858 and submitted by one of the following
methods:
Internet: www.regulations.gov
E-mail: A-and-R-Docket@epa.gov
Mail:
Environmental Protection Agency
Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center (6102T)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460
Hand Delivery:
EPA West Building
EPA Docket Center (Room 3334)
1301 Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC
For More Information
You can access the rule and related documents on EPA's Office of Transportation and Air
Quality (OTAQ) Web site at:
www. epa. go v/otaq/mar ine .htm
For more information on this Direct Final Rule, please contact the Assessment and Standards
Division at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Assessment and Standards Division
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Voice-mail: (734) 214-4636
E-mail: asdinfo@epa.gov
Change in Regulatory Deadline for Rulemaking
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