Technical Amendments for Marine Spark-Ignition Engines and Vessels The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing a Direct Final Rule to make technical amendments to the design standard for portable marine fuel tanks. This rule incorporates safe recommended practices, developed through industry consensus. Overview In the final rulemaking for new exhaust and evaporative emissions standards for non- road spark-ignition engines, vessels, and equipment (73 FR 59034, October 8, 2008), EPA established the first-ever evaporative emissions standards for marine vessels, During their efforts to certify fuel tanks to these standards, manufacturers identified a technical issue that was not apparent before these standards were developed. In one small subset of marine fuel tanks (portable tanks used currently in recreational vessels), there is a potential for fuel spillage to occur under certain circumstances. Work conducted by industry indicated that this concern applies to existing fuel tanks as well as those built to comply with EPA's evaporative emission design standard, EPA engaged the industry to identify a simple, safe, and emissions neutral solution to this fuel spillage concern. EPA has taken direct final action to make technical amendments to the design standard for portable tanks that will allow for this solution. In addition, we are incorporating safe recommended practices, developed through industry consensus, for portable marine fuel tanks. This action is emissions neutral with regard to diurnal emissions. To the extent that it helps prevent fuel spillage, incorporating safe recommended practices results in a net benefit to the environment and leads to fuel savings. SEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Transportation and Air Quality EPA-420-F-10-047 September 2010 ------- 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 iden- tified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-0270 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.gov/otaq/marinesi.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 ------- |