Just read in the paper...

[JW]

I quote:
"Responding to pressure from the White House and from manufacturers, the EPA will give snowmobile makers more time to reduce pollution in the first federal regulations restricting emissions from the vehicles. The emissions standards for snowmobiles and other primarily gasoline-burning recreational and industrial engines were released Friday in response to a court order."

Hmmmmm. Wonder how this will affect the future of 2-stroke outboards and wave runners. So the standards are released, and immediately snowmobiles are given an extension. I hope Mercury/Bombardier are up in Washington working for us too......

[Rickracer]

.....and other primarily gasoline-burning recreational and industrial engines.....:cool: :eek: :D

[SCT]

JW,
You will look good driving a sailboat after the Goverment bans 2-strokes...........

I"m sure you'll have the fastest "blow boat" on your lake though!!

SCT

Are you back from AZ? Was the trip business or pleasure?

[JW]

In AZ still. My bro is getting married today. I'm hoping to meet up with Arizona Hotboater tomorrow. What's the state of your props/motors/hulls for sale?? Looks like you finally have your own computer access, cool! Someday I'll be the only smoky noisy 2-stroke tearing my lake up..................
Did you see someone has a 2003 Pulsare BR on the site for sale? In my preferred colors too! Great price. Too bad it's hung with a 200 instead of a 300XPM :D

[JW]

Looks like only the snowmobile manufacturers got the break so far, the other gasoline rec vehicles are just part of the newly released rules. Wonder where we can get a copy of the rules. I'll bet BK will find them first.............

[BK]

I love a challenge ;)



First, I found an August 14th EPA document, which was titled:

Control of Emissions From Spark-Ignition Marine
Vessels and Highway Motorcycles

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-AIR/2002/August/Day-14/a19437.htm

SUMMARY: In this action, we are proposing evaporative emissions standards for marine vessels that use spark-ignition engines including sterndrive, inboard, and outboard engines and personal watercraft) and we discuss our plans to propose standards in the future regulating exhaust emissions from spark-ignition marine engines. This action also proposes new emission standards for highway motorcycles, including motorcycles of less than 50 cubic centimeters in displacement. This action is related to our proposal for emission standards for several sources that cause or contribute to air pollution. On October 5, 2001 we published proposed standards for large spark-ignition engines such as those used in forklifts and airport tugs; recreational vehicles using spark-ignition engines such as off-highway motorcycles, all- terrain vehicles, and snowmobiles; and recreational marine diesel engines.

This document is absolutely HUGE, but here are some details I pulled out:

Federal Register: August 14, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 157)
Proposed Rules
Page 53049-53115

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access

wais.access.gpo.gov DOCID:fr14au02-54

Scroll down to Page 53053.......

....................
This proposal should be considered in the broader context of EPA's nonroad and highway vehicle emission-control programs; state-level programs, particularly in California; and international efforts. Each of these are described in more detail below.

.....................
1. This proposal takes another step toward the comprehensive nonroad engine emission-control strategy envisioned in the Act by proposing an emission-control program for the remaining unregulated nonroad engines
\5\ This study is available in docket A-92-28.Table I.F-1.--EPA's Nonroad Emission-Control Programs
a. EPA's nonroad process. Clean Air Act section 213(a)(1) directs us to study emissions from nonroad engines and vehicles to determine, among other things, whether these emissions ``cause, or significantly contribute to, air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare.'' Section 213(a)(2) further required us to determine whether emissions of CO, VOC, and NOX from all nonroad engines significantly contribute to ozone or CO emissions in more than one nonattainment area. ...........We completed the Nonroad Engine and Vehicle Emission Study, required by Clean Air Act section 213(a)(1), in November 1991.\5\ On June 17, 1994, we made an affirmative determination under section 213(a)(2) that nonroad emissions are significant contributors to ozone ,,,,,,, these engines make a significant contribution to PM and smoke emissions that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. In the same document, we set a first phase of emission standards (now referred to as Tier 1 standards) for land-based nonroad diesel engines rated at or above 37 kW. We recently added a more stringent set of Tier 2 and Tier 3 emission levels for new land-based nonroad diesel engines at or above 37 kW and adopted Tier 1 standards for land-based nonroad diesel engines less than 37 kW. Our other emission-control programs for nonroad engines are listed in Table I.F-

b. National standards for marine engines. In the October 1996 final rule for spark-ignition marine engines, we set standards only for outboard and personal watercraft engines. We decided not to finalize emission standards for sterndrive or inboard marine engines at that time. Uncontrolled emission levels from sterndrive and inboard marine engines were already significantly lower than the outboard and personal watercraft engines. We did, however, leave open the possibility of revisiting the need for emission standards for sterndrive and inboard engines in the future.


PAGE 53054

4. Recently Proposed EPA Standards for Nonroad Engines

This proposal is the second part of an effort to control emissions from nonroad engines that are currently unregulated and for updating Federal emissions standards for highway motorcycles. The first part of this effort was a proposal published on October 5, 2001 for emission control from large spark-ignition engines such as those used in forklifts and airport tugs; recreational vehicles using spark-ignition engines such as off-highway motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and snowmobiles; and recreational marine diesel engines. The October 5, 2001 proposal includes general provisions in proposed 40 CFR part 1068 that address the applicability of nonroad engine standards, which could be relevant to commenters.

With regard to Large SI engines, we proposed a two-phase program. The first phase of the standards, to go into effect in 2004, are the same as those recently adopted by the California Air Resources Board. In 2007, we propose to supplement these standards by setting limits that would require optimizing the same technologies but would be based on a transient test cycle. New requirements for evaporative emissions and engine diagnostics would also start in 2007.

For recreational vehicles, we proposed emission standards for snowmobiles separately from off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. For snowmobiles, we proposed a first phase of standards for HC and CO emissions based on the use of clean carburetion or 2-stroke electronic fuel injection (EFI) technology, and a second phase of emission standards for snowmobiles that would involve use of direct fuel injection 2-stroke and some 4-stroke technology.

For off highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, we proposed standards based mainly on moving these engines from 2-stroke to 4-stroke technology. In addition, we proposed a second phase of standards for all-terrain vehicles that could require some catalyst use.

For marine diesel engines, we proposed to extend our commercial marine diesel engine standards to diesel engines used on recreational vessels. These standards would phase in beginning in 2006.

............
5. Related Federal RulesThe Panel is aware of several other current Federal rules that relate to the proposed rule under development. During the Panel's outreach meeting, SERs specifically pointed to Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regulations covering ATVs, and noted that they may be relevant to crafting an appropriate definition for a competition exclusion in this category. The Panel recommends that EPA continue to consult with the CPSC in developing a proposed and final rule in order to better understand the scope of the Commission's regulations as they may relate to the competition exclusion.

..................
(E) Hardship Provisions.The Panel recommends that EPA propose two types of hardship programs for marine engine manufacturers, boat builders and fuel tank manufacturers: (1) Allow small businesses to petition EPA for additional lead time to comply with the standards; and (2) allow small businesses to apply for hardship relief if circumstances outside their control cause the failure to comply (i.e. supply contract broken by parts supplier) and if the failure to sell the subject fuel tanks or boats would have a major impact on the company's solvency. The Panel also recommends that EPA work with small manufacturers to develop these criteria and how they would be used

[BK]

That same document had the WRONG date for the hearing.
Here is the correction:

Control of Emissions from Spark-Ignition Marine Vessels and Highway Motorcycles; Correction

[Federal Register: September 9, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 174)][Proposed Rules][Page 57188-57189]From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov][DOCID:fr09se02-21]-----------------------------------------------------------------------ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY40 CFR Parts 86, 90, 1045, 1051, 1065, and 1068[AMS-FRL-7373-2]RIN 2060-AJ90


AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).ACTION:

Proposed rule; change of hearing date.----------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency published in the Federal Register of August 14, 2002 a document concerning new emission standards for spark-ignition marine vessels and highway motorcycles. This notice changes the hearing date for issues relating to marine vessels and corrects the preamble to reflect the correct hearing dates.

DATES: We will hold a public hearing on October 7, 2002 starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT. This hearing will focus on issues related to marine vessels. If you want to testify, notify the contact person listed below at least ten days before the hearing.

ADDRESSES: We will hold a public hearing for issues related to marine vessels on October 7, 2002 at the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, 2000 Traverwood Dr., Ann Arbor, Michigan (734-214-4334).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret Borushko, U.S. EPA, National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, 2000 Traverwood, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; Telephone (734) 214-4334; e-mail: borushko.margaret@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA published a document in the Federal Register of August 14, 2002 (c). That document proposed new emission standards for spark-ignition marine vessels and highway motorcycles.

[BK]

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-MEETINGS/2002/September/

This is the website that shows details of EPA meetings.

It may not be updated with Friday's info yet, as the last meeting noted is Sept 12.

[JW]

Knew you'd have it BK!
The next 10 years with the EPA are going to be a mess. What are we going to do if our govt. mandates yearly outboard testing every year for engines 1998 and newer? Sorry about your mods buddy, but you gotta fix it or park it. Too smokey? Sorry pal, you gotta re-ring it. I can see the cost of outboards going up so high that we'll all be driving 17' Bayliner bow-riders with the 3.0 Merc 4cyl (newly re-introduced at $9995 by the way!)

[175checkmate]

Try and keep a 6250HP Locomotive emmisons certified. Dam what a pain.

[vector mike]

E-mail me. I've been tring to get ahold of you!!!

[pyro]

Somehow the EPA hasn't figured out that Diesel **** is mostly to blame for the exhaust emissions, and over half of the smog problems in L.A.

Every day, I see gravel hauler trucks with no pollution controls whatsoever, heavy black smoke spews skyward, the swirling cloud of choking fuel-oil stench hangs in the air for several minutes, depending on wind.

AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT DIRT BIKES AND OUTBOARDS?!?

There's got to be at least two heavy trucks out there on the road for every four wheeler, sled, or outboard in use.

I spend 15 minutes on the lake and burn 4 or 5 gallons of fuel, and a tiny bit of oil. A big truck spends half the day burning whatever they scraped off the bottom of the oil refinery. Why are they harassing 2-stroke manufacturers?

I have no problem with big trucks, I know many people who make a living owning truck fleets or driving trucks. But why is the 2-stroke emission stuff always in the news, but they never talk about the real pollution machines?

[JW]

Man, I'm jealous!!!!
When I put the hammer down on my Promax, 15 minutes can easily eat 6-8 gallons! I've poured 7 gallons of Penn. 100% Syn into my oil injection tank since I bought the boat this spring. At least I know my oil is biodegradable.......:D

[at100plus]

I don't think George is very green. I once saw a picture of him piloting a large Cigarette.

Yearly inspections - I don't think they will ever happen for outboards, it would be too expensive for the gov't to do, and it's too small a market. Picking on them is just good politics to appeal to tree huggers. It's kind of like outlawing assault rifles. They were once legal guns. The legal ones aren't the problem, we can keep track of them, but tree huggers love when they are outlawed. Once they are outlawed, they become ILLEGAL guns. Now the once legitimate owners must turn them in (NOT) or scratch off the numbers and sell them on the street. Much more profitable. Stupid laws but they get votes...