EPA Re-Issues Amendments for
Nonroad Engines and Equipment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adopting
amendments to accommodate engine and equipment manufactur-
ers in the effort to transition to Tier 4 standards for nonroad diesel
engines, and to adjust various provisions related to the exemption for
new replacement engines. These provisions were included in a direct
final rule published in June 2013, but were withdrawn in response to
adverse comments. After considering these comments, we are finalizing
these provisions, with some adjustment to address the concerns that
were raised.
Overview
EPA is revising the existing technical hardship relief provisions so the Agency
has wider discretion to allow equipment manufacturers to use greater numbers of
previous-tier engines during their transition to the Tier 4 standards. Hardship cases
will continue to be resolved on a case-by-case basis for equipment manufacturers
experiencing exceptional difficulties in obtaining certified Tier 4 engines from engine
manufacturers. The technical hardship provisions were originally adopted with the
Tier 4 standards in June 2004. The revised regulations are effective on the day of
publication in the Federal Register,
The replacement engine exemption allows for limited production of new engines
built to earlier standards to replace in-use engines in certain circumstances. The
direct final rule included a range of revisions to the replacement engine exemp-
tion to replace broad circumvention limits with specific measures to ensure that the
exemption is used properly. Based on adverse comments, we withdrew these specific
measures in August 2013, but left in place the change to remove the broad circum-
vention limits. This rule finalizes the specific measures to ensure that the exemption
is used properly, with some adjustment to address the concerns that were raised.
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA-420-F-14-002
January 2014
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Specifically, we are finalizing a provision disallowing the use of the replacement engine exemp-
tion for equipment that is more than 40 years old. The regulatory changes in this action are
expected to have no appreciable cost or environmental impact.
For More Information
You can access the direct final rule, the proposed rule and related documents on EPA's Office
of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) Web site at:
wwwepa.gov/otaq/nonroad'diesel.htm.
For more information on these and related rules, please contact EPA through EPA OTAQ
Public Inquiries at:
wwwepa.gov/otaq/omS'Cmt.htm
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