EPA Issues Amendments to Light-duty
Tier 3 Vehicle and Fuel Standards and
Other Nonroad and Fuel Provisions
This direct final rule will provide significant improvements in
regulatory flexibility and clarity. This involves a wide range of
corrections and minor adjustments to the regulations for different
mobile source categories. This action would not result in any signifi-
cant adverse costs or emission impacts. The amendments apply in the
following areas:
Amendments
Light-duty Tier 3 vehicle and fuel standards: We adopted the Tier 3 requirements
in April 2014. EPA and manufacturers have identified several items that need clari-
fication or correction. This final action does not change the policy direction, strin-
gency, or cost of the original final rule.
MARPOL Annex VI provisions: We are revising the regulations to include a refer-
ence to the updated version of Annex VI; this is necessary to properly reference the
North American EGA and the U.S. Caribbean Sea EGA. We are also correcting the
starting date for applying the 0.10 % EGA fuel-sulfur standard from January 1, 2016,
to January 1, 2015, and we are clarifying that operators of exempted or excluded
vessels, such as steamships and vessels with a Regulation 3 exemption, may purchase
(and suppliers may sell) fuel that exceeds the 0.10 % fuel-sulfur standard.
Nonroad SI evaporative emission test procedures: We are adding to our regulations
a reference to a new SAE test procedure for measuring permeation emissions; this
optional procedure addresses measurement variability for narrow-diameter fuel lines.
We are also adding detail to the test procedure specifications for measuring diurnal
emissions from land-based and marine fuel tanks; this includes minor adjustments
that will make it easier to complete a valid test. Finally, we are clarifying the separate
certification responsibilities for engine manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, and
manufacturers of fuel-system components.
United Slaws
Environmental Protection
L Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
EPA-420-F-15-005
January 2015
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Small SI testing and certification procedures: We are removing the expiration date for the
regulatory provision allowing manufacturers to use the ethanol-based test fuel (E10) specified for
certifying engines in California. We are also making minor adjustments to bonding provisions to
clarify responsibilities and simplify administration of the program. The most prominent simplifi'
cation is to replace broad language describing how we can offer small'volume relief from bonding
requirements with specific provisions describing what provisions apply for small businesses; these
changes will allow us to maintain current practice with less administrative effort.
Portable fuel containers: We are revising the regulations to clarify that manufacturers can
incorporate pressure venting into their container designs, and to describe how to do so while
complying with the standard. This does not change the underlying test procedure or emission
standard, but the clarification may be helpful in addressing manufacturers' uncertainty about
how EPA regulations may affect their ability to design their containers to address consumer
concerns about usability of portable fuel containers.
40 CFR Part 80 fuel changes: We are revising the regulations to make minor technical correC'
tions and edits to 40 CFR part 80 fuels regulations that were amended in both the Tier 3 and in
Quality Assurance Program final rulemakings.
What are the Economic and Environmental Impacts?
This rulemaking action is not expected to result in any significant changes in regulatory burdens,
costs, or emissions.
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
www.epa.gov/otaq/tier3 .htm.
For more information on these and related rules, please contact EPA through EPA OTAQ
Public Inquiries at
www.epa.gov/otaq/omS'Cmt.htm
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