Alternative Methods for Calculating Off-Cycle Credits Under the Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Program: Application From Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC, 77509-77510 [2024-21713]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 184 / Monday, September 23, 2024 / Notices
increase in burden and EPA’s updated
estimates according to the latest wage
rates. These changes qualify as
adjustments.
IV. What is the next step in the process
for this ICR?
EPA will consider the comments
received and amend the ICR as
appropriate. The final ICR package will
then be submitted to OMB for review
and approval pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.12. EPA will issue another Federal
Register document pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the
submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional
comments to OMB. If you have any
questions about this ICR or the approval
process, please contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
Dated: September 17, 2024.
Michal Freedhoff,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2024–21711 Filed 9–20–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ– EPA–HQ–OAR–2024–0345]
[FRL–12128–01–OAR]
Alternative Methods for Calculating
Off-Cycle Credits Under the Light-Duty
Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Program: Application From Jaguar
Land Rover North America, LLC
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is requesting comment on
an application from Jaguar Land Rover
North America, LLC (‘‘JLR’’) for offcycle carbon dioxide (CO2) credits
under EPA’s light-duty vehicle
greenhouse gas emissions standards.
‘‘Off-cycle’’ emission reductions can be
achieved by employing technologies
that result in real-world benefits, but
where that benefit is not adequately
captured on the test procedures used by
manufacturers to demonstrate
compliance with emission standards.
EPA’s light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas
program acknowledges these benefits by
giving automobile manufacturers several
options for generating ‘‘off-cycle’’ CO2
credits. Under the regulations, a
manufacturer may apply for CO2 credits
for off-cycle technologies that result in
off-cycle benefits. In these cases, a
manufacturer must provide EPA with a
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:57 Sep 20, 2024
Jkt 262001
proposed methodology for determining
the real-world off-cycle benefit. JLR
submitted their application describing a
methodology for determining off-cycle
credits from the technology described in
their application. Pursuant to applicable
regulations, EPA is making this off-cycle
credit calculation methodology
available for public comment.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before October 23, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments
referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2024–0345 online using
www.regulations.gov (our preferred
method), by email to a-and-r-Docket@
epa.gov or by mail to: EPA Docket
Center, Environmental Protection
Agency, Mailcode 28221T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460.
EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes profanity, threats,
information claimed to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Wright, Environmental Protection
Specialist, Office of Transportation and
Air Quality, Implementation, Analysis
and Compliance Division, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 2000
Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI
48105. Telephone: (734) 214–4467.
Email address: wright.davida@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
EPA’s light-duty vehicle greenhouse
gas (GHG) program provides three
pathways by which a manufacturer may
accrue off-cycle carbon dioxide (CO2)
credits for those technologies that
achieve CO2 reductions in the real
world but where those reductions are
not adequately captured on the test used
to determine compliance with the CO2
standards, and which are not otherwise
reflected in the standards’ stringency.
The first pathway is a predetermined
list of credit values for specific off-cycle
technologies that may be used beginning
in model year 2014.1 This pathway
allows manufacturers to use
conservative credit values established
by EPA for a wide range of technologies,
with minimal data submittal or testing
requirements, if the technologies meet
EPA regulatory definitions. In cases
where the off-cycle technology is not on
the menu but additional laboratory
testing can demonstrate emission
benefits, a second pathway allows
manufacturers to use a broader array of
emission tests (known as ‘‘5-cycle’’
testing because the methodology uses
five different testing procedures) to
demonstrate and justify off-cycle CO2
credits.2 The additional emission tests
allow emission benefits to be
demonstrated over some elements of
real-world driving not adequately
captured by the GHG compliance tests,
including high speeds, hard
accelerations, and cold temperatures.
These first two methodologies were
completely defined through notice and
comment rulemaking and therefore no
additional process is necessary for
manufacturers to use these methods.
The third and last pathway allows
manufacturers to seek EPA approval to
use an alternative methodology for
determining the off-cycle CO2 credits.3
This option is only available if the
benefit of the technology cannot be
adequately demonstrated using the 5cycle methodology. Manufacturers may
also use this option to demonstrate
reductions that exceed those available
via use of the predetermined list.
Under the regulations, a manufacturer
seeking to demonstrate off-cycle credits
with an alternative methodology (i.e.,
under the third pathway described
above) must describe a methodology
that meets the following criteria:
• Use modeling, on-road testing, onroad data collection, or other approved
analytical or engineering methods;
• Be robust, verifiable, and capable of
demonstrating the real-world emissions
benefit with strong statistical
significance;
• Result in a demonstration of
baseline and controlled emissions over
a wide range of driving conditions and
number of vehicles such that issues of
data uncertainty are minimized;
• Result in data on a model type basis
unless the manufacturer demonstrates
that another basis is appropriate and
adequate.
Further, the regulations specify the
following requirements regarding an
application for off-cycle CO2 credits:
• A manufacturer requesting off-cycle
credits must develop a methodology for
demonstrating and determining the
benefit of the off-cycle technology and
carry out any necessary testing and
analysis required to support that
methodology.
• A manufacturer requesting off-cycle
credits must conduct testing and/or
prepare engineering analyses that
demonstrate the in-use durability of the
2 See
1 See
PO 00000
40 CFR 86.1869–12(b).
Frm 00039
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
77509
3 See
E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM
40 CFR 86.1869–12(c).
40 CFR 86.1869–12(d).
23SEN1
77510
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 184 / Monday, September 23, 2024 / Notices
technology for the full useful life of the
vehicle.
• The application must contain a
detailed description of the off-cycle
technology and how it functions to
reduce CO2 emissions under conditions
not represented on the compliance tests.
• The application must contain a list
of the vehicle model(s) which will be
equipped with the technology.
• The application must contain a
detailed description of the test vehicles
selected and an engineering analysis
that supports the selection of those
vehicles for testing.
• The application must contain all
testing and/or simulation data required
under the regulations, plus any other
data the manufacturer has considered in
the analysis.
Finally, the alternative methodology
must be approved by EPA prior to the
manufacturer using it to generate
credits. As part of the review process
defined by regulation, the alternative
methodology submitted to EPA for
consideration must be made available
for public comment.4 EPA will consider
public comments as part of its final
decision to approve or deny the request
for off-cycle credits.
II. Off-Cycle Credit Application
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
A. 48 Volt Efficient Motor-Generator
Combined With a 48 Volt/12 Volt DC/
DC Converter
JLR is applying for off-cycle GHG
credits for the use of a 48 Volt efficient
motor-generator combined with a 48
volt/12 volt DC/DC converter. The JLR
technology consists of two components,
a 48-volt motor-generator which is
either belt driven or connected to the
crankshaft of an internal combustion
engine, and a 48 volt/12 volt DC/DC
converter. The 48 volt motor generator
provides a couple of functions, it can
operate as a starter motor and crank the
engine and it also can operate as a
generator converting mechanical energy
into electrical energy. The efficiency of
the 48 volt generator when belt driven
is in the range of 80 to 85% and when
connected to the crankshaft of an engine
it can be as high as 90 to 95%. Once
generated the 48 volt electricity needs to
be converted to 12 volts for use by the
12 volt electronics in the vehicle. The
conversion of the 48 volt electricity to
12 volt is performed by the second
device associated with this technology,
a DC–DC converter. Converting 48 volt
electricity to 12 volt electricity produces
an energy loss which also needs to be
measured to determine the overall
efficiency of the combined 48 volt
4 See
motor-generator and DC–DC converter.
This application is only for determining
the off-cycle benefit of the generator
portion of the technology.
JLR is the first manufacturer to submit
a complete alternative method off-cycle
GHG application for a 48 volt motorgenerator combined with a 48 volt/12
volt DC–DC converter.
JLR is applying for credits for the
2023 and later model years for vehicles
sold in the U.S. and equipped with the
48 volt efficient motor-generator
combined with a 48 volt/12 volt DC/DC
converter. JLR is requesting a credit
value of 1.6 grams/mile. Details of the
testing and analysis can be found in the
manufacturer’s application.
III. EPA Decision Process
EPA has reviewed the applications for
completeness and is now making the
applications available for public review
and comment as required by the
regulations. The off-cycle credit
applications submitted by the
manufacturers (with confidential
business information redacted) have
been placed in the public docket (see
ADDRESSES section above) and on EPA’s
website at https://www.epa.gov/vecertification/compliance-informationlight-duty-greenhouse-gas-ghgstandards.
EPA is providing a 30-day comment
period on this application for off-cycle
credits described in this notice, as
specified by the regulations. The
manufacturer may submit a written
rebuttal of comments for EPA’s
consideration or may revise an
application in response to comments.
After reviewing any public comments
and any rebuttal of comments submitted
by manufacturers, EPA will make a final
decision regarding the credit request.
EPA will make its decision available to
the public by placing a decision
document (or multiple decision
documents) in the docket and on EPA’s
website at the same manufacturerspecific pages shown above.
Dated: September 18, 2024.
Byron Bunker,
Director, Implementation, Analysis and
Compliance Division, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality.
[FR Doc. 2024–21713 Filed 9–20–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
40 CFR 86.1869–12(d)(2).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:57 Sep 20, 2024
Jkt 262001
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2024–0350; FRL 12138–02–
OAR]
Use of Advanced and Emerging
Technologies for Quantification of
Annual Facility Methane Emissions
Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting
Program
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA)
ACTION: Notice; extension of public
comment period.
AGENCY:
On August 29, 2024, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
published a request for information
(RFI) on the ‘‘Use of Advanced and
Emerging Technologies for
Quantification of Annual Facility
Methane Emissions Under the
Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program’’.
The EPA is extending the comment
period.
DATES: The comment period for the
document published on August 29,
2024, at 89 FR 70177, is extended.
Comments must be received on or
before November 27, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2024–0350, to the Federal Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow
online instructions for submitting
comments. Once submitted, comments
cannot be edited or withdrawn. Do not
submit electronically any information
you consider to be Confidential
Business Information (CBI). EPA may
publish any comment received to its
public docket, submitted, or sent via
email. For additional submission
methods, the full EPA public comment
policy, information about CBI, and
general guidance on making effective
comments, please visit https://
www.epa.gov/dockets/commenting-epadockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Vasco Roma, Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Air and Radiation,
Office of Atmospheric Protection,
Climate Change Division; telephone
number: 202–564–1662; email address:
Roma.Vasco@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August
29, 20204, the EPA published an RFI on
the ‘‘Use of Advanced and Emerging
Technologies for Quantification of
Annual Facility Methane Emissions
Under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting
Program’’. The public comment for this
RFI was scheduled to end on October
28, 2024. In response to multiple
extension requests received to date, the
EPA is extending that deadline to
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\23SEN1.SGM
23SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 184 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77509-77510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21713]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ- EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0345] [FRL-12128-01-OAR]
Alternative Methods for Calculating Off-Cycle Credits Under the
Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Program: Application From
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting
comment on an application from Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
(``JLR'') for off-cycle carbon dioxide (CO2) credits under
EPA's light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions standards. ``Off-
cycle'' emission reductions can be achieved by employing technologies
that result in real-world benefits, but where that benefit is not
adequately captured on the test procedures used by manufacturers to
demonstrate compliance with emission standards. EPA's light-duty
vehicle greenhouse gas program acknowledges these benefits by giving
automobile manufacturers several options for generating ``off-cycle''
CO2 credits. Under the regulations, a manufacturer may apply
for CO2 credits for off-cycle technologies that result in
off-cycle benefits. In these cases, a manufacturer must provide EPA
with a proposed methodology for determining the real-world off-cycle
benefit. JLR submitted their application describing a methodology for
determining off-cycle credits from the technology described in their
application. Pursuant to applicable regulations, EPA is making this
off-cycle credit calculation methodology available for public comment.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 23, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2024-0345 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by
email to [email protected] or by mail to: EPA Docket Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the
public docket without change including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Wright, Environmental Protection
Specialist, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Implementation,
Analysis and Compliance Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Telephone: (734) 214-4467.
Email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
EPA's light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) program provides
three pathways by which a manufacturer may accrue off-cycle carbon
dioxide (CO2) credits for those technologies that achieve
CO2 reductions in the real world but where those reductions
are not adequately captured on the test used to determine compliance
with the CO2 standards, and which are not otherwise
reflected in the standards' stringency. The first pathway is a
predetermined list of credit values for specific off-cycle technologies
that may be used beginning in model year 2014.\1\ This pathway allows
manufacturers to use conservative credit values established by EPA for
a wide range of technologies, with minimal data submittal or testing
requirements, if the technologies meet EPA regulatory definitions. In
cases where the off-cycle technology is not on the menu but additional
laboratory testing can demonstrate emission benefits, a second pathway
allows manufacturers to use a broader array of emission tests (known as
``5-cycle'' testing because the methodology uses five different testing
procedures) to demonstrate and justify off-cycle CO2
credits.\2\ The additional emission tests allow emission benefits to be
demonstrated over some elements of real-world driving not adequately
captured by the GHG compliance tests, including high speeds, hard
accelerations, and cold temperatures. These first two methodologies
were completely defined through notice and comment rulemaking and
therefore no additional process is necessary for manufacturers to use
these methods. The third and last pathway allows manufacturers to seek
EPA approval to use an alternative methodology for determining the off-
cycle CO2 credits.\3\ This option is only available if the
benefit of the technology cannot be adequately demonstrated using the
5-cycle methodology. Manufacturers may also use this option to
demonstrate reductions that exceed those available via use of the
predetermined list.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(b).
\2\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(c).
\3\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(d).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under the regulations, a manufacturer seeking to demonstrate off-
cycle credits with an alternative methodology (i.e., under the third
pathway described above) must describe a methodology that meets the
following criteria:
Use modeling, on-road testing, on-road data collection, or
other approved analytical or engineering methods;
Be robust, verifiable, and capable of demonstrating the
real-world emissions benefit with strong statistical significance;
Result in a demonstration of baseline and controlled
emissions over a wide range of driving conditions and number of
vehicles such that issues of data uncertainty are minimized;
Result in data on a model type basis unless the
manufacturer demonstrates that another basis is appropriate and
adequate.
Further, the regulations specify the following requirements
regarding an application for off-cycle CO2 credits:
A manufacturer requesting off-cycle credits must develop a
methodology for demonstrating and determining the benefit of the off-
cycle technology and carry out any necessary testing and analysis
required to support that methodology.
A manufacturer requesting off-cycle credits must conduct
testing and/or prepare engineering analyses that demonstrate the in-use
durability of the
[[Page 77510]]
technology for the full useful life of the vehicle.
The application must contain a detailed description of the
off-cycle technology and how it functions to reduce CO2
emissions under conditions not represented on the compliance tests.
The application must contain a list of the vehicle
model(s) which will be equipped with the technology.
The application must contain a detailed description of the
test vehicles selected and an engineering analysis that supports the
selection of those vehicles for testing.
The application must contain all testing and/or simulation
data required under the regulations, plus any other data the
manufacturer has considered in the analysis.
Finally, the alternative methodology must be approved by EPA prior
to the manufacturer using it to generate credits. As part of the review
process defined by regulation, the alternative methodology submitted to
EPA for consideration must be made available for public comment.\4\ EPA
will consider public comments as part of its final decision to approve
or deny the request for off-cycle credits.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ See 40 CFR 86.1869-12(d)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Off-Cycle Credit Application
A. 48 Volt Efficient Motor-Generator Combined With a 48 Volt/12 Volt
DC/DC Converter
JLR is applying for off-cycle GHG credits for the use of a 48 Volt
efficient motor-generator combined with a 48 volt/12 volt DC/DC
converter. The JLR technology consists of two components, a 48-volt
motor-generator which is either belt driven or connected to the
crankshaft of an internal combustion engine, and a 48 volt/12 volt DC/
DC converter. The 48 volt motor generator provides a couple of
functions, it can operate as a starter motor and crank the engine and
it also can operate as a generator converting mechanical energy into
electrical energy. The efficiency of the 48 volt generator when belt
driven is in the range of 80 to 85% and when connected to the
crankshaft of an engine it can be as high as 90 to 95%. Once generated
the 48 volt electricity needs to be converted to 12 volts for use by
the 12 volt electronics in the vehicle. The conversion of the 48 volt
electricity to 12 volt is performed by the second device associated
with this technology, a DC-DC converter. Converting 48 volt electricity
to 12 volt electricity produces an energy loss which also needs to be
measured to determine the overall efficiency of the combined 48 volt
motor-generator and DC-DC converter. This application is only for
determining the off-cycle benefit of the generator portion of the
technology.
JLR is the first manufacturer to submit a complete alternative
method off-cycle GHG application for a 48 volt motor-generator combined
with a 48 volt/12 volt DC-DC converter.
JLR is applying for credits for the 2023 and later model years for
vehicles sold in the U.S. and equipped with the 48 volt efficient
motor-generator combined with a 48 volt/12 volt DC/DC converter. JLR is
requesting a credit value of 1.6 grams/mile. Details of the testing and
analysis can be found in the manufacturer's application.
III. EPA Decision Process
EPA has reviewed the applications for completeness and is now
making the applications available for public review and comment as
required by the regulations. The off-cycle credit applications
submitted by the manufacturers (with confidential business information
redacted) have been placed in the public docket (see ADDRESSES section
above) and on EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/ve-certification/compliance-information-light-duty-greenhouse-gas-ghg-standards.
EPA is providing a 30-day comment period on this application for
off-cycle credits described in this notice, as specified by the
regulations. The manufacturer may submit a written rebuttal of comments
for EPA's consideration or may revise an application in response to
comments. After reviewing any public comments and any rebuttal of
comments submitted by manufacturers, EPA will make a final decision
regarding the credit request. EPA will make its decision available to
the public by placing a decision document (or multiple decision
documents) in the docket and on EPA's website at the same manufacturer-
specific pages shown above.
Dated: September 18, 2024.
Byron Bunker,
Director, Implementation, Analysis and Compliance Division, Office of
Transportation and Air Quality.
[FR Doc. 2024-21713 Filed 9-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P