Environmental Protection Agency May 18, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a request for an update to an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting this ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts to water quality and aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Rating EC2.

We are proposing emission standards for new nonroad spark- ignition engines that will substantially reduce emissions from these engines. The proposed exhaust emission standards would apply in 2009 for new marine spark-ignition engines, including first-time EPA standards for sterndrive and inboard engines. The proposed exhaust emission standards would apply starting in 2011 and 2012 for different sizes of new land-based, spark-ignition engines at or below 19 kilowatts (kW). These small engines are used primarily in lawn and garden applications. We are also proposing evaporative emission standards for vessels and equipment using any of these engines. In addition, we are making other minor amendments to our regulations. We estimate that by 2030, the proposed standards would result in significant annual reductions of pollutant emissions from regulated engine and equipment sources nationwide, including 631,000 tons of volatile organic hydrocarbon emissions, 98,200 tons of NOX emissions, and 6,300 tons of direct particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions. These reductions correspond to significant reductions in the formation of ground-level ozone. We also expect to see annual reductions of 2,690,000 tons of carbon monoxide emissions, with the greatest reductions in areas where there have been problems with individual exposures. The requirements in this proposal would result in substantial benefits to public health and welfare and the environment. We estimate that by 2030, on an annual basis, these emission reductions would prevent 450 PM-related premature deaths, approximately 500 hospitalizations, 52,000 work days lost, and other quantifiable benefits every year. The total estimated annual benefits of this rule in 2030 are approximately $3.4 billion. Estimated costs in 2030 are many times less at approximately $240 million.