Products caught up in harmonization

The EPA announced in late May that it will make an effort to "harmonize" its new car emission requirements with those adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The agency made that commitment as part of the Obama administration's continuing effort to reduce the cost of federal regulations on business. A proposed rule, which will center on new Tier 3 emission standards, is expected by the end of the year.

The agency did not specifically commit to upgrade federal requirements for aftermarket catalytic converters, but that may well become a byproduct of the harmonization project. California tightened its aftermarket catalytic converter requirements in 2009, and they now substantially exceed EPA's, which were established in 1987 and have never been upgraded. Joseph Kubsh, executive director, Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association, says Massachusetts has adopted the California standard and New York is headed in that same direction. But aftermarket manufacturers would like to see EPA require California converters in all 50 states, in part because they are a higher margin product, in part because new-style converters make much bigger reductions in tailpipe emissions of what are called criteria pollutants, such things as ozone, particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide.

"We've been talking to the EPA for quite some time, so we know they have interest in mandating upgraded catalytic converters," explains Kubsh. "But it is always a question of priorities. However, there is interest from the states, too, because of the potential emission benefits." States are required to reduce levels of ozone and particulate matter below certain levels. If they fail to do so, the EPA forces them to take additional steps, which can sometimes be painful to local economies.

 

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers has been the major advocate for EPA/CARB "harmonization." That effort will be just one small piece of a broader Obama administration "21st Century Regulatory Reform" initiative. It was kicked off when Obama issued Executive Order 13563 — in January 2011 — called “Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.” It stated that: "Some sectors and industries face a significant number of regulatory requirements, some of which may be redundant, inconsistent or overlapping." He ordered all federal agencies to promote "simplification and harmonization."

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In response to administration request for suggestions on what regulations needed adjusting, the Alliance asked for the EPA to harmonize vehicle test procedures, certification processes, vehicle criteria emission standards and fuels. "The Alliance believes this is a worthwhile effort and we are willing to work with CARB and EPA to establish a common set of vehicle criteria emission standards nationwide," wrote Julie C. Becker, vice president, environmental affairs at the Alliance.

The White House issued its detailed regulatory reform agenda on May 24. The EPA portion called "A Preliminary Plan for Periodic Retrospective Reviews of Existing Regulations," contained 31 actions, 16 of which were denoted as "early," meaning rules would be proposed by the end of the year. One of those 16 was vehicle standards compliance harmonization with CARB. This rulemaking will done in conjunction with the rulemaking on the next set of vehicle and fuel standards, known as Tier 3 motor vehicle emission and fuel standards. That means that besides potential changes to aftermarket catalytic converter standards, the EPA could make changes in other aftermarket areas, such as onboard canisters and state inspection and maintenance programs.

Currently, aftermarket catalytic converters must meet Tier 2 emissions standards established in 2000. Technology has passed those standards by. In 2009, CARB adopted new standards for aftermarket catalytic converters, which doubled the durability period from 25,000 to 50,000 miles. It outlawed the resale of used OEM converters, which have no durability requirements.

The EPA announced in late May that it will make an effort to "harmonize" its new car emission requirements with those adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The agency made that commitment as part of the Obama administration's continuing effort to reduce the cost of federal regulations on business. A proposed rule, which will center on new Tier 3 emission standards, is expected by the end of the year.

The agency did not specifically commit to upgrade federal requirements for aftermarket catalytic converters, but that may well become a byproduct of the harmonization project. California tightened its aftermarket catalytic converter requirements in 2009, and they now substantially exceed EPA's, which were established in 1987 and have never been upgraded. Joseph Kubsh, executive director, Manufacturers of Emission Controls Association, says Massachusetts has adopted the California standard and New York is headed in that same direction. But aftermarket manufacturers would like to see EPA require California converters in all 50 states, in part because they are a higher margin product, in part because new-style converters make much bigger reductions in tailpipe emissions of what are called criteria pollutants, such things as ozone, particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide.

"We've been talking to the EPA for quite some time, so we know they have interest in mandating upgraded catalytic converters," explains Kubsh. "But it is always a question of priorities. However, there is interest from the states, too, because of the potential emission benefits." States are required to reduce levels of ozone and particulate matter below certain levels. If they fail to do so, the EPA forces them to take additional steps, which can sometimes be painful to local economies.

 

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers has been the major advocate for EPA/CARB "harmonization." That effort will be just one small piece of a broader Obama administration "21st Century Regulatory Reform" initiative. It was kicked off when Obama issued Executive Order 13563 — in January 2011 — called “Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review.” It stated that: "Some sectors and industries face a significant number of regulatory requirements, some of which may be redundant, inconsistent or overlapping." He ordered all federal agencies to promote "simplification and harmonization."

PAGE 2

In response to administration request for suggestions on what regulations needed adjusting, the Alliance asked for the EPA to harmonize vehicle test procedures, certification processes, vehicle criteria emission standards and fuels. "The Alliance believes this is a worthwhile effort and we are willing to work with CARB and EPA to establish a common set of vehicle criteria emission standards nationwide," wrote Julie C. Becker, vice president, environmental affairs at the Alliance.

The White House issued its detailed regulatory reform agenda on May 24. The EPA portion called "A Preliminary Plan for Periodic Retrospective Reviews of Existing Regulations," contained 31 actions, 16 of which were denoted as "early," meaning rules would be proposed by the end of the year. One of those 16 was vehicle standards compliance harmonization with CARB. This rulemaking will done in conjunction with the rulemaking on the next set of vehicle and fuel standards, known as Tier 3 motor vehicle emission and fuel standards. That means that besides potential changes to aftermarket catalytic converter standards, the EPA could make changes in other aftermarket areas, such as onboard canisters and state inspection and maintenance programs.

Currently, aftermarket catalytic converters must meet Tier 2 emissions standards established in 2000. Technology has passed those standards by. In 2009, CARB adopted new standards for aftermarket catalytic converters, which doubled the durability period from 25,000 to 50,000 miles. It outlawed the resale of used OEM converters, which have no durability requirements.