Reports from the Work Groups of the Mobile Sources Technical Review Subcommittee for the MSTRS meeting of April 18, 2001 Modeling - Gene Tierney, (734) 214-4456, tierney.gene@epa.gov Since the January MSTRS meeting, EPA has developed an issue paper containing an initial proposal for the New Generation Mobile Source Emissions Model. This initial proposal was presented to the modeling workgroup during a meeting on April 10th. The workgroup will not be meeting on April 18 as previously planned but will be having a conference call on April 23. Contact Gene Tierney for further details on the call. Air Toxics - Drew Kodjak, (734) 214-4804, kodjak.drew@epa.gov No activity since the January meeting. The Air Toxics WG is planning to hear a presentation on the National Air Toxics Assessment and a discussion of mobile source air toxics. On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) - Ed Gardetto, (734) 214-4322, gardetto.edward@epa.gov The workgroup met after the last MSTRS meeting in Alexandria, Virginia. At this meeting the group discussed a recommendation that EPA should continue to monitor the OBD technology as it ages. This would be accomplished by screening a random sample of vehicles at an I/M lane and performing a transient mass based test to form an emissions profile of this fleet. Additional FTP based testing is recommended for any vehicles which indicate OBD errors of omission. The group also was presented the status of the Colorado Department of Health and ESP testing program being conducted on OBD equipped vehicles. The group plans on following this testing as it continues (25 or 100 completed at this time). The workgroup has also identified the area of scanware compatibility as an area which need attention. The group has formed a subgroup which is investigating this area. At the next workgroup meeting, April 19, 2001, the group plans on adopting the OBD monitoring recommendation and discussing how the scanware group is progressing. The workgroup will also have an open discussion of any areas which members feel need to be addressed by the group. Nonroad Workgroup - Glenn Passavant, (734) 214-4408, passavant.glenn@epa.gov. The Nonroad workgroup had its second meeting on April 12 in Chicago. The meeting was attended by 23 parties representing all key stakeholder groups. Significant progress was made in identifying what issues would need to be resolved in any future nonroad rule efforts for large nonroad land- based diesel engines and equipment. Both the oil and engine industry representatives stressed the importance of quick action by EPA if a rule is being considered for the future. Both industries are in the midst of capitol investment decisions for 2006, and need to know if new or changed requirements are coming. The group also laid out ideas and issues with regard to how future low sulfur diesel might be provided for nonroad diesels, how the environmental benefits could be assured during program implementation, engine and equipment issues for after treatment type standards and when these might be implementable. The representatives uniformly expressed an interest in providing EPA specific recommendations on how to move forward. The next meeting of the group is June 12 in Chicago. ------- |