The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued two actions regarding technical adjustments to improve testing procedures for vehicle and engine emissions programs. These amendments will increase compliance flexibility, improve harmonization with other requirements, increase clarity, correct errors, and remove outdated and unnecessary regulatory text.
The first action is a final rulemaking that will reduce testing burden and improve accuracy of required emissions testing procedures for heavy duty vehicles and engines. The action also amends test procedures for exhaust emissions standards for light duty vehicles, heavy duty vehicles, highway motorcycles, locomotives, marine engines, other nonroad engines and vehicles, and stationary engines.
EPA is also issuing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking that would issue corrections, clarifications, flexibilities and adjustment factors to improve the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Model (GEM) compliance tool for heavy duty vehicles. The proposed amendments concerning GEM included in this notice would be required for model year 2022 and later vehicles and optional for model year 2021.
Final heavy-duty technical amendments:
https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/final-rule-improvements-heavy-duty-engine-and-vehicle
Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking:
https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engines/supplemental-rule-improvements-heavy-duty-engine-and
Published in the March 2021 Edition