USEPA Proposes Updates to Air Standards for Newly Manufactured Woodstoves and Heaters

USEPA will accept written comments until May 5, 2014.

• Comments on the proposed New Source Performance Standards for Residential Wood Heaters must reference Docket ID:  EPA-HQ-OAR-2009-0734

Comments may be submitted by one of the following methods:

• Online at:  Regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
• E-mail: Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov.
• Fax: Fax your comments to: 202-566-9744.
• Mail: Send your comments to: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20460.
• Hand Delivery or Courier: Deliver your comments to: USEPA Docket Center, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20460.  Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.

 
For more information visit: http://www2.epa.gov/residential-wood-heaters. 

USEPA and Army Corps of Engineers Clarify Protection for Nation's Streams and Wetlands

• Most seasonal and rain dependent streams are protected.
• Wetlands near rivers and streams are protected.
• Other types of waters may have more uncertain connections with downstream water and protection will be evaluated through a case specific analysis of whether the connection is or is not protecting similarly situated waters in certain geographic areas or adding to the categories of waters protected without case specific analysis. 

United States Environmental Protection Agency Finalizes Tighter Vehicle and Fuel Standards to Reduce Emissions

On March 3, 2014 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) finalized amendments to establish new tailpipe standards for the sum of non-methane organic gases (NMOG) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), presented as NMOG+NOX, and for particular matter (PM) that apply to all light-duty vehicles and some heavy-duty vehicles. Compared to current standards, the NMOG and NOX tailpipe standards for light-duty vehicles represent approximately an 80% reduction from today's fleet average and a 70% reduction in per-vehicle PM standards. Heavy-duty tailpipe standards represent about a 60% reduction in both fleet average NMOG+NOX and per-vehicle PM standards. USEPA also extended the regulatory useful life period during which the standards apply from 120,000 miles to 150,000 miles.

The tailpipe standards include different phase-in schedules that vary by vehicle class, but generally phase in between model years 2017 and 2025. In addition to the gradual phase-in schedules, several other provisions are designed to further ease manufacturers' paths to compliance with the stringent new standards. Depending on the standards and the vehicle class, these flexibility provisions include credits for early compliance and the ability to offset some higher-emitting vehicles with extra-clean models. USEPA included more lead time for small businesses and small volume manufactures as well as a hardship provision that allows for additional time to comply if a manufacturer cannot meet requirements after a good faith effort and would face severe economic hardship without the additional lead time.

PM Standards: The PM standards are expressed on a per-vehicle basis, meaning the standards apply to each vehicle separately (i.e., not as a fleet average). USEPA is setting PM standards that differ by vehicle class and test cycle.

Evaporative Emission Standards: USEPA is setting more stringent standards designed to eliminate fuel vapor-related evaporative emissions and improve durability. The evaporative emissions program represents about a 50 per­cent reduction from current standards and applies to all light-duty and onroad gasoline-powered heavy-duty vehicles. As with the tailpipe standards, the evaporative emissions standards include phase-in flexibilities, credit and allowance programs, and more lead time and a hardship provi­sion for small businesses and small volume manufacturers. USEPA is also extending the regulatory useful life period during which the standards apply from 120,000 miles to 150,000 miles.

Fuel Standards: USEPA is finalizing gasoline sulfur reductions that are critical to enabling manufacturers to comply across the fleet with the stringent vehicle standards. The gasoline sulfur standards will also achieve significant immediate benefits by reducing emissions from existing vehicles. Under the final Tier 3 program, federal gasoline will be required to meet an annual average standard of 10 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur by January 1, 2017. USEPA is also finalizing standards that main­tain the current 80 ppm refinery gate and 95 ppm downstream cap. The Tier 3 gasoline sulfur standards are similar to levels already being achieved in California, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and several other countries.

For the gasoline sulfur standards, USEPA is finalizing averaging, banking, and trading (ABT) pro­gram that allows refiners and importers to spread out their investments through an early credit program and rely on ongoing nationwide averaging to meet the 10 ppm sulfur standard. New to the final rule, USEPA is including the ability to carry over credits from Tier 2 to Tier 3 in the ABT program. USEPA is also finalizing a three-year delay for small refiners and small volume refineries processing 75,000 barrels of crude oil per day or less, as well as other flexibilities for refiners such as hardship provisions for extenuating circumstances.

Emissions Test Fuel: USEPA is updating the federal emissions test fuel to better match today's in-use gasoline and also to be forward-looking with respect to future ethanol and sulfur content. The new test fuel specifi­cations apply to new vehicle certification, assembly line, and in-use testing. USEPA is transitioning to the new test fuel during the first few years that the Tier 3 tailpipe and evaporative standards are phasing in. Key changes include moving to a test fuel containing 10 percent ethanol by vol­ume, lowering octane, and lowering the existing sulfur specification to be consistent with Tier 3 requirements. USEPA is also setting test fuel specifications for E85 for the first time.

You can find more information about the new standards at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/tier3.htm#new 

Combined Heat and Power: A guide to developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs

This guide describes how local governments can lead by example and increase use of combined heat and power (CHP) in their facilities and throughout their communities. CHP, also known as cogeneration, refers to the simultaneous production of electricity and thermal energy from a single fuel source. This guide includes an overview of the benefits of CHP systems, costs, sources of funding, and case studies. The guide is designed to be used by staff at local energy or environment agencies, local code enforcement officials and city planners, city councils, and mayors or county executives. It also provides information useful for local government partners, such as local businesses, utilities, energy service companies, and non-profit organizations. Readers of the guide should come away with an understanding of options to improve energy efficiency using CHP, a clear idea of the steps and considerations involved in implementing CHP systems, and an awareness of expected investment and funding opportunities.

You can download the guide at: http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/documents/pdf/CHPguide508.pdf