[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 190 (Monday, October 2, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51472-51475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24356]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5306-8]
Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year
Urban Buses; Approval of a Notification of Intent To Certify Equipment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
[[Page 51473]]
ACTION: Notice of agency certification of equipment for the Urban Bus
Retrofit/Rebuild Program.
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SUMMARY: The Agency received a notification of intent to certify
equipment signed March 16, 1995, and with cover letter dated April 11,
1995, from the Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) with principal place of
business at 13400 Outer Drive, West; Detroit, Michigan, 48239, for
certification of urban bus retrofit/rebuild equipment pursuant to 40
CFR Sections 85.1401-85.1415. The equipment is applicable to Detroit
Diesel Corporation's (DDC) petroleum-fueled 6V92TA model engines having
mechanical unit injectors (MUI) that were originally manufactured
between January 1979 and December 1989. On June 5, 1995, EPA published
a notice in the Federal Register that the notification had been
received and made the notification available for public review and
comment for a period of 45-days (60 FR 29590). EPA has completed its
review of this notification, and the comments received, and the
Director of the Manufacturers Operations Division has determined that
it meets all the requirements for certification. Accordingly, EPA
approves the certification of this equipment effective October 2, 1995.
The certified equipment provides 25 percent or greater reduction in
exhaust emissions of particulate matter (PM) for the engines for which
it is certified (see below), and meets the requirements of the urban
bus retrofit/rebuild program for certification. Therefore, as discussed
below, this equipment may be used by operators choosing compliance
program 2 and operators choosing compliance program 1 unless rebuild
equipment is certified as a trigger of the 0.10 g/bhp-hr standard for
these engines under the urban bus retrofit/rebuild program.
The DDC notification, as well as other materials specifically
relevant to it, are contained in Public Docket A-93-42, category VII,
entitled ``Certification of Urban Bus Retrofit/Rebuild Equipment''.
This docket is located in room M-1500, Waterside Mall (Ground Floor),
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC
20460.
Docket items may be inspected from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.,
Monday through Friday. As provided in 40 CFR Part 2, a reasonable fee
may be charged by the Agency for copying docket materials.
DATES: The date of this notice October 2, 1995 is the effective date of
certification for the equipment described in DDC's notification. This
certified equipment may be used immediately by urban bus operators.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Rutledge, Technical Support
Branch, Manufacturers Operations Division (6405J), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Telephone:
(202) 233-9297.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
By a notification of intent to certify signed March 16, 1995, and
with cover letter dated April 11, 1995, Detroit Diesel Corporation
(DDC) applied for certification of equipment applicable to its 6V92TA
model urban bus engines having mechanical unit injectors (MUI) that
were originally manufactured between January 1979 and December 1989.
The equipment to be certified, referred to as an ``upgrade'' kit, is
basically later model-year components (such as turbocharger, blower,
fuel injectors, and cylinder kits).
All parts of the certified equipment are contained in two basic
types of kits. One of each basic type of kit is required for the
rebuild of an engine. Twelve combinations of the two basic types of
kits are certified--the specific combination to be used with a
particular engine depends upon the direction of engine rotation,
orientation of the engine block, cam gear mounting technique, and
engine power level. One basic type of kit includes a gasket kit, air
inlet hose, cylinder kit, and by-pass valve assembly. The other basic
type of kit includes fuel injectors, camshafts, blower assembly,
turbocharger, and cylinder head assemblies.
As discussed further below, two upgrade configurations based on the
fuel injector timing height are certified. Either configuration, when
applied to 1979 through 1987 model year engines, reduces PM by at least
25 percent. Only one configuration provides a reduction of 25 percent
on 1988 and 1989 model year engines.
Using engine dynamometer testing in accordance with the Federal
Test Procedure for heavy-duty diesel engines, DDC documented
significant reductions in PM emissions. Baseline exhaust emissions data
were developed by testing an engine rebuilt to a 1979 urban bus
configuration. Other testing on the engine was conducted using each of
the two certified upgrade configurations. Emission test data supplied
by DDC in its notification are shown below in Table A. In addition to
demonstrating reductions in PM exhaust emissions, the data indicate
that applicable engines with the certified equipment installed will
comply with the federal 1988 model year emission standards for
hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx),
and smoke emissions.
Table A.--Emission Test Data (g/bhp-hr)
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1988/89
Baseline 1979--1987 1988 & 1989 Federal
1979 config upgrade upgrade standards
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Gaseous and particulate emissions:
HC................................................... 0.52 0.43 0.44 1.3
CO................................................... 3.74 1.35 1.33 15.5
NOX.................................................. 7.43 7.00 9.34 10.7
PM................................................... 0.530 0.257 0.232 0.60
Smoke emissions:
Accel................................................ 11.5% 1.1% 1.9% 20%
Lug.................................................. 2.5% 1.8% 3.2% 15%
Peak................................................. 16.5% 3.8% 3.7% 50%
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DDC is certifying this equipment to PM emission levels of 0.30 g/
bhp-hr for the 1979 through 1987 model year upgrade, and 0.23 g/bhp-hr
for the 1988 and 1989 upgrade. The certification level for the 1979
through 1987 upgrade represents a 43 percent reduction in PM from the
1979 baseline configuration. The certification level for the 1988 and
1989 upgrade represents a 25 percent reduction from the PM level to
which the 1988 and 1989 model year engine families were certified under
the new-engine certification program (0.31 g/bhp-hr). The certification
levels for
[[Page 51474]]
this equipment in the urban bus program are indicated below in Table B,
and apply only to the model numbers listed.
Table B.--Retrofit/Rebuild PM Certification Levels For DDC Equipment
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Certification
Engine model Model No. Upgrade level (g/bhp-
configuration hr)
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8067-7427 1979-1987 0.30
6V92TA MUI.................. 8067-7428
8067-4423
8067-3421 1988 & 1989 0.23
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Certification of the 1979 through 1987 upgrade configuration is
limited to 6V92TA MUI engines of model years 1979 through 1987. The
1988 and 1989 configuration is certified for all model years 1979
through 1989. Section IV below discusses operator requirements and
responsibilities, including use of the DDC equipment to meet program
requirements.
II. Summary and Analysis of Comments
EPA received comments from three parties on this DDC notification.
Two of the commenters are transit operators and the third is a
manufacturer of diesel exhaust catalysts. The comments generally fall
into the areas of baseline data, emission levels at high altitude,
cost, durability, and parts covered by warranty. One transit operator
provided its experience with DDC's upgrade kit. Copies of the original
comments can be found in the EPA docket referenced in the SUMMARY
section above.
One of the transit operators states that thirteen of its engines
have been rebuilt using DDCs low-emission rebuild kits, and their
experience has been positive. The engines have gotten better fuel
economy and emitted less smoke.
One commenter questions whether 25 percent is demonstrated by DDC
test results, because the baseline testing that DDC performed does not
represent the typical emissions from currently rebuilt engines. The
commenter cites testing it has done to show that current rebuilds are
less that the baseline that DDC uses.
Sections 85.1403(b) and 85.1406(a)(2)(v)(B) of the program
regulations are clear in this regard. The program requirement of
reducing PM by 25 percent is based on the emission levels of the
original engine configuration. In testing performed for certification
under the urban bus program, DDC developed a baseline PM level of 0.530
g/bhp-hr for the test engine rebuilt to a 1979 model year
configuration. This PM level is consistent with the ``pre-rebuild PM
level'' of 0.50 g/bhp-hr for the 1979 through 1987 model year 6V92TA
engines estimated in the program regulations. While some rebuilds, as
of yet uncertified under the urban bus program, may result in lower PM
exhaust levels than the original engine configurations, this is not the
case for rebuilds which return an engine to an original configuration.
The urban bus program will make engine configurations having lower PM
levels a requirement. Certification is available for other rebuild kits
which meet program requirements.
It was commented that the Agency should not certify the candidate
equipment for high altitude regions of the country because no emissions
data at high altitude have been provided.
Engine manufacturers, under the Agencys new-engine certification
program, are required to demonstrate compliance with exhaust emission
standards only at low altitude, even though the standards apply to
engines operating in both low-altitude and high-altitude areas of the
country. In a consistent manner, the urban bus program does not require
demonstration of compliance with emissions standards at high-altitude.
Because DDC has demonstrated that use of its retrofit/rebuild equipment
will reduce PM at low-altitude, the Agency expects that use of the
certified equipment will also decrease PM emissions at high-altitude,
although information on the order of magnitude of PM reduction, or
absolute level of PM emissions, is not available.
In its comments the catalyst manufacturer requests certification
for the combination of the candidate rebuild kit and a catalyst
previously certified for the urban bus program. Review of this matter
will be handled independently of certification of the DDC equipment,
and a separate Federal Register notice will announce Agency intentions,
as necessary.
Several questions were raised regarding the life cycle cost
analysis provided by DDC in its notification in order to trigger
program requirements. The Agency believes that there is no need to
evaluate the life cycle cost data or to respond to comments at this
time because the requirement to reduce PM by 25 percent has been
triggered for applicable engines with the certification on May 31,
1995, of an exhaust catalyst manufactured by the Engelhard Corporation.
One commenter questions whether tune-ups and emissions-related
parts are considered warranty items. The emissions warranties, required
by program regulations, apply to all parts of the certified equipment
described in DDC's notification of intent to certify, for the mileage
intervals specified in Section 85.1409.
A comment was received that DDC has not demonstrated durability of
the parts in the candidate upgrade kit. While durability demonstration
is not specifically required by program regulations, the Agency
believes that certifiers will want to evaluate the durability of their
equipment before selling it under this program in order to minimize
their liability risk. Section 85.1409 of the program regulations
require that the certifier provide both an emissions defect and an
emissions performance warranty to urban bus operators. Further, the
Agency holds the certifier responsible for the emissions performance of
their equipment and maintains the option of performing in-use testing
through-out the 150,000 mileage period of that warranty.
A copy of the comments can be found in EPA Docket A-93-42, category
VII.
III. Certification Approval
The Agency has reviewed this notification, along with comments
received from interested parties, and finds that the equipment
described in this notification of intent to certify:
(1) Reduces particulate matter exhaust emissions by at least 25
percent, without causing the applicable engine families to exceed other
exhaust emissions standards;
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(2) Will not cause an unreasonable risk to the public health,
welfare or safety;
(3) Will not result in any additional range of parameter
adjustability; and,
(4) Meets other requirements necessary for certification under the
Retrofit/Rebuild Requirements for 1993 and Earlier Model Year Urban
Buses (40 CFR Sections 85.1401 through 85.1415).
The Agency hereby certifies this equipment for use in the urban bus
retrofit/rebuild program as discussed below in Section IV.
IV. Operator Requirements and Responsibilities
In a Federal Register notice dated May 31, 1995 (60 FR 28402), the
Agency certified an exhaust catalyst manufactured by the Engelhard
Corporation, as a trigger of program requirements. For urban bus
operators affected by this program and electing to comply with program
1 requirements, that certification means that rebuilds and replacements
of model year 1979-1989 6V92TA MUIs (and all other engines for which
that catalyst is applicable) performed 6 months or more after that date
of certification, must be performed with equipment certified to reduce
PM emissions by 25 percent or more. The certified DDC equipment may be
used immediately by urban bus operators who have chosen to comply with
either program 1 or program 2, as follows.
Today's Federal Register notice certifies the above-described DDC
equipment, when properly applied, as meeting the requirement to reduce
PM by 25 percent. Urban bus operators who choose to comply with program
1 may use the certified DDC equipment unless equipment is certified as
triggering the 0.10 g/bhp-hr standard for the 1979 through 1989 6V92TA
MUI engines. Either certified upgrade configuration when applied to
engines of model year 1979 through 1987 meets the program requirement
to reduce PM by at least 25 percent. The 1979 through 1987 upgrade
configuration is not certified for 1988 and 1989 model year engines. To
receive 25 percent reduction using the certified DDC upgrade kit,
rebuilds of 1988 and 1989 model year engines must be performed using
the 1988 and 1989 upgrade configuration.
Operators that have chosen to comply with program 2 may use the
certified DDC equipment, as discussed in the above paragraph, along
with the respective PM certification level from Table B when
calculating their average fleet PM level.
As stated in the program regulations (40 CFR 85.1401 through
85.1415), operators should maintain records for each engine in their
fleet to demonstrate that they are in compliance with the requirements
beginning in January 1, 1995. These records include purchase records,
receipts, and part numbers for the parts and components used in the
rebuilding of urban bus engines.
Dated: September 25, 1995.
Richard Wilson,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 95-24356 Filed 9-29-95; 8:45 am]
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