Control of Emissions From New and In-use Highway Vehicles and Engines: Approval of New Scheduled Maintenance for Exhaust Recirculation Valves in Certain Applications, 79089 [E8-30681]
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Dated: December 18, 2008.
Richard B. Ossias,
Associate General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E8–30677 Filed 12–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–8756–5]
Control of Emissions From New and
In-use Highway Vehicles and Engines:
Approval of New Scheduled
Maintenance for Exhaust Recirculation
Valves in Certain Applications
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: This notice announces that
EPA has granted an engine
manufacturer a new and limited
variation in the emission-related
scheduled maintenance interval for the
exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve for
some heavy duty engine families for
model years 2007–2009. Diesel EGR
valve cleaning is considered critical
emission-related maintenance.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laura Baker, Compliance and
Innovative Strategies Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 2000
Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor,
Michigan 48105. Telephone: (734) 214–
4592. E-mail Address:
baker.laura@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Agency adopted new emission
standards for complete heavy-duty
vehicles fueled by gasoline, methanol
gas, and liquefied petroleum gas fuels in
2001. (66 FR 5002: January 18, 2001; 40
CFR 86.1816–08). The new standards
have stimulated new emission control
technologies, including new NOX
absorption technology for heavy-duty
vehicles which are still subject to the
emission-related scheduled
maintenance intervals.
However, under § 86.1834–01(b)(7)(ii)
a manufacturer may request EPA
approval for any new scheduled
maintenance the manufacturer wishes to
recommend. ‘‘New scheduled
maintenance’’ is maintenance which did
not exist prior to the 1980 model year.
A manufacturer’s request must include
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:45 Dec 23, 2008
Jkt 217001
(1) Detailed evidence, supportive data,
and other substantiation as well as (2)
a subject maintenance category (i.e.,
emission-related or non-emissionrelated, critical or non-critical)
recommendation and (3) the suggested
emission maintenance interval.
EPA received information from
Cummins Power Generation
Incorporated (Cummins), a heavy duty
engine manufacturer, indicating that it
was technologically necessary to
perform cleaning and maintenance to
the EGR valve more frequently than
100,000 miles, as is prescribed in 40
CFR 86.1834–01(b)(3)(vi)(H), to meet the
emission standards. In part, this
minimum service interval is included in
the regulations to ensure that the control
of emissions is not compromised by a
manufacturer’s overly frequent
scheduling of emission-related
maintenance.
The Agency received information
from Cummins indicating that its NOX
aftertreatment system, which utilizes
cooled EGR and a NOX adsorber
catalyst, a technology that did not exist
prior to 1980, and thus ‘‘new.’’ The
information received from Cummins
indicates that the EGR valve requires
cleaning to maintain the performance of
NOX adsorption technology for emission
compliance. Sulfur regeneration
requires a net rich air/fuel mixture
which can produce significant amounts
of unburned hydrocarbon and carbon in
the exhaust gas. These unburned
hydrocarbons (soot) can adhere to
engine components including the EGR
valve which ultimately affects engine
and emission performance. Therefore
the EGR valve requires cleaning
maintenance to remove the soot buildup prior to the 100,000 mile
maintenance interval prescribed in 40
CFR 86.1834–01(b)(3)(vi)(H).
An EGR valve is defined as a critical
emission-related component under 40
CFR 86.1834(b)(6)(i)(D) and thus the
scheduled maintenance must have a
reasonable likelihood of being
performed while in use, according to
§ 86.1834(b)(6)(ii). To this effect,
Cummins has equipped all vehicles
covered by this approval with a
messaging system alerting drivers to
‘‘Perform Service’’ as well as providing
vehicles with on-board diagnostic (OBD)
systems to detect when required
maintenance has not been performed
and illuminate an independent check
engine light.
Therefore, EPA has approved the
67,500 mile service emission
maintenance interval as suggested by
Cummins. However, the Agency has
limited this approval to the 2007–2009
model years due to the expectation that
PO 00000
Frm 00051
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
79089
EGR valve related technologies
compatible to NOX adsorption
technology will be developed by the
2010 model year.
Dated: December 16, 2008.
Robert J. Meyers,
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator,
Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. E8–30681 Filed 12–23–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–RCRA–2008–0645; FRL–8756–7]
RIN 2050–ZA04
Notice of Data Availability on Spent Oil
Shale From Above Ground Retorting
Operations
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Data Availability.
SUMMARY: The Agency recognizes that
there may have been some uncertainty
regarding the Bevill status of spent oil
shale from above ground retorting
operations. This notice reiterates that
spent oil shale from the above ground
retorting of oil shale is not a Bevill
waste excluded from regulation under
Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA). However, the
fact that such material is not excluded
from regulation as Bevill waste does not
mean that it is regulated under Subtitle
C of RCRA. In fact, the notice
summarizes, for comment, available
analytical data on the characteristics of
spent shale from oil shale above ground
retorting operations (especially leachate
characteristics), which indicate that this
material is unlikely to exhibit a
hazardous characteristic under Subtitle
C of RCRA. This Notice does not reopen
any prior EPA rulemakings which
address the Bevill status of wastes from
the extraction, beneficiation, or
processing of ores and minerals.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
January 23, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
RCRA–2008–0645 by one of the
following methods:
• https://www.regulations.gov: Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• E-mail: Comments may be sent by
electronic mail (e-mail) to rcradocket@epa.gov Attention Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–RCRA–2008–0645.
• Fax: Comments may be faxed to
202–566–9744. Attention Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–RCRA–2008–0645.
E:\FR\FM\24DEN1.SGM
24DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 79089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30681]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-8756-5]
Control of Emissions From New and In-use Highway Vehicles and
Engines: Approval of New Scheduled Maintenance for Exhaust
Recirculation Valves in Certain Applications
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces that EPA has granted an engine
manufacturer a new and limited variation in the emission-related
scheduled maintenance interval for the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR)
valve for some heavy duty engine families for model years 2007-2009.
Diesel EGR valve cleaning is considered critical emission-related
maintenance.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Baker, Compliance and Innovative
Strategies Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000
Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105. Telephone: (734) 214-4592.
E-mail Address: baker.laura@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Agency adopted new emission standards
for complete heavy-duty vehicles fueled by gasoline, methanol gas, and
liquefied petroleum gas fuels in 2001. (66 FR 5002: January 18, 2001;
40 CFR 86.1816-08). The new standards have stimulated new emission
control technologies, including new NOX absorption
technology for heavy-duty vehicles which are still subject to the
emission-related scheduled maintenance intervals.
However, under Sec. 86.1834-01(b)(7)(ii) a manufacturer may
request EPA approval for any new scheduled maintenance the manufacturer
wishes to recommend. ``New scheduled maintenance'' is maintenance which
did not exist prior to the 1980 model year. A manufacturer's request
must include (1) Detailed evidence, supportive data, and other
substantiation as well as (2) a subject maintenance category (i.e.,
emission-related or non-emission-related, critical or non-critical)
recommendation and (3) the suggested emission maintenance interval.
EPA received information from Cummins Power Generation Incorporated
(Cummins), a heavy duty engine manufacturer, indicating that it was
technologically necessary to perform cleaning and maintenance to the
EGR valve more frequently than 100,000 miles, as is prescribed in 40
CFR 86.1834-01(b)(3)(vi)(H), to meet the emission standards. In part,
this minimum service interval is included in the regulations to ensure
that the control of emissions is not compromised by a manufacturer's
overly frequent scheduling of emission-related maintenance.
The Agency received information from Cummins indicating that its
NOX aftertreatment system, which utilizes cooled EGR and a
NOX adsorber catalyst, a technology that did not exist prior
to 1980, and thus ``new.'' The information received from Cummins
indicates that the EGR valve requires cleaning to maintain the
performance of NOX adsorption technology for emission
compliance. Sulfur regeneration requires a net rich air/fuel mixture
which can produce significant amounts of unburned hydrocarbon and
carbon in the exhaust gas. These unburned hydrocarbons (soot) can
adhere to engine components including the EGR valve which ultimately
affects engine and emission performance. Therefore the EGR valve
requires cleaning maintenance to remove the soot build-up prior to the
100,000 mile maintenance interval prescribed in 40 CFR 86.1834-
01(b)(3)(vi)(H).
An EGR valve is defined as a critical emission-related component
under 40 CFR 86.1834(b)(6)(i)(D) and thus the scheduled maintenance
must have a reasonable likelihood of being performed while in use,
according to Sec. 86.1834(b)(6)(ii). To this effect, Cummins has
equipped all vehicles covered by this approval with a messaging system
alerting drivers to ``Perform Service'' as well as providing vehicles
with on-board diagnostic (OBD) systems to detect when required
maintenance has not been performed and illuminate an independent check
engine light.
Therefore, EPA has approved the 67,500 mile service emission
maintenance interval as suggested by Cummins. However, the Agency has
limited this approval to the 2007-2009 model years due to the
expectation that EGR valve related technologies compatible to
NOX adsorption technology will be developed by the 2010
model year.
Dated: December 16, 2008.
Robert J. Meyers,
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. E8-30681 Filed 12-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P