State of California AIR RESOURCES BOARD Notice of Public Availability of Modified Text and Supporting Documents and Information PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR LOW-EMISSION PASSENGER CARS, LIGHT-DUTY TRUCKS AND MEDIUM-DUTY VEHICLES Public Hearing Date: September 28, 1995 Public Availability Date: October 20, 1995 Deadline for Public Comment: November 3, 1995 At a public hearing held September 28, 1995, the Air Resources Board (the Board) considered amendments to certification requirements and test procedures for low-emission passenger cars, light-duty trucks and medium-duty vehicles, including the accelerated introduction of ultra-low-emission medium-duty vehicles; adoption of baseline specific reactivities for medium-duty low-emission vehicles (LEVs) and ultra-low-emission vehicles (ULEVs); adoption of interim reactivity adjustment factors (RAFs) for the remaining emission categories for Phase 2 reformulated gasoline, methanol, compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas; and numerous technical amendments pertaining to the implementation of the low-emission vehicle regulations. The amendments proposed in this rulemaking cover a wide range of topics and affect sections 1956, 1960.1, 1965, 2062, 2101 and 2292.1, Title 13, California Code of Regulations (CCR) and six ARB test procedures that are incorporated by reference in those sections: "California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 1988 and Subsequent Model Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks and Medium-Duty Vehicles," "California Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for 1987 and Subsequent Model Heavy-Duty Otto-Cycle Engines and Vehicles," "California Non-Methane Organic Gas Test Procedures," "California Assembly-Line Test Procedures for 1998 and Subsequent Model-Year Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks and Medium-Duty Vehicles," "California New Vehicle Compliance Test Procedure," and "California Motor Vehicle Emission Control and Smog Index Label Specifications." The proposed regulatory action is described in detail in the Staff Report: Initial Statement of Proposed Rulemaking released on August 11, 1995. At the hearing, the Board approved the regulatory amendments with some modifications to the originally proposed regulatory language. The modifications, which were suggested by the staff at the hearing, include: - Modify the ULEV emission standards for medium-duty vehicles certified to the optional heavy-duty engine standards to align with the United States Environmental Protection Agency Statement of Principles issued in July, 1995; - Require the inclusion of a smog index on the window label of 1998 and subsequent model light-duty vehicles; - Increase the 50oF multiplier for LEVs and ULEVs to 2.0 from 1.75 and 1.0, respectively; - Add intermediate in-use compliance standards for medium-duty LEVs and ULEVs certified to the optional heavy-duty engine standards; - Add intermediate in-use compliance standards for chassis-certified Super-Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicles (SULEVs); - Allow 1998-2000 model year medium-duty LEVs to line-cross applicable NOx standards; - Allow the stock solution used in the measurement of alcohols in automotive exhaust to be prepared volumetrically as well as gravimetrically; and - Modify various provisions of the Assembly-Line Test Procedures to clarify previous requirements. Appended as Attachment I to this notice is a copy of Board Resolution 95-40, which sets forth the Board's action. Included in the resolution is Attachment H, which describes the modifications to the original proposal suggested by the staff and approved by the Board. The resolution directed the Executive Officer to incorporate into the approved amendments the modifications described in Attachment H, with such other conforming modifications as may be appropriate, and to make the modified regulatory language available to the public for a supplemental 15-day comment period. Attachment II to this notice contains the modified texts of sections 1956.8, 1960.1 and 1965 with additions to the originally proposed text shown by bold italics and deletions shown by bold strikeout. The six Test Procedures being amended in this rulemaking are voluminous and include very technical and detailed provisions that are of limited general interest. For all persons who testified at the hearing, submitted written comments at the hearing or during the public comment period, or requested notification of the availability of the modifications to the originally proposed text, Attachment III to this notice includes the complete texts of the test procedures being amended in this rulemaking, with the modifications to the originally proposed texts clearly indicated. For the other recipients of this notice, Attachment III contains a form that may be used to request copies of the complete modified texts of the Test Procedures. Copies of the Test Procedures showing the modifications to the original proposal can be requested from Ms. Donna Barragan, Mobile Source Division,California Air Resources Board, 9528 Telstar Avenue, El Monte, California 91731, fax no. (818) 575-6699. These documents will also be available on the Air Resources Board Information System (ARBIS) electronic bulletin board. The documents may be found in the "LEV Program" menu item in the"System Features" menu. The ARBIS may be accessed via modem by calling (916) 322-2826. Please make sure your communications parameters are set to 8-N-1. If you have a 9600 Baud modem or greater, use the ANSI capabilities that are provided by the more recent modem software packages. Modems slower than 9600 will work with VT-100 or TTY terminal emulation. If you have questions regarding access to the ARBIS, please contact the Business Assistance Hot Line at 1-800-ARB-HLP2 (in California) or (916) 323-3336. The modified texts of the regulations and Test Procedures being made available in conjunction with this notice include four additional modifications identified subsequent to the September 28, 1995 hearing. These modifications are described in Attachment IV to this notice, and concern in-use standards for light-duty LEVs, changing the designation of Super Low-Emission Vehicle to Super-Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicle (SULEV), conforming the SULEV certification requirements with those applicable to other low-emission vehicles, and adding an in-use standard for SULEVs certified to the optional heavy-duty engine standards. In addition, staff has added to the rulemaking record a document entitled, "Establishment of Smog Indices for New Light-Duty Vehicles," appended as Attachment V herein, which summarizes the methodology used in calculating the proposed smog indices. In accordance with section 11346.8 of the Government Code, the Board directed the Executive Officer to adopt the proposed amendments after making the modified regulatory language available to the public for comment for a period of at least 15 days, provided that the Executive Officer is to consider such written comments as may be submitted during this period, to make such modifications as may be appropriate in light of the comments received, and to present the regulations to the Board for further consideration if he determines that this is warranted. Written comments on the proposed modifications and the information in Attachment V must be submitted to the Board Secretary, Air Resources Board, P.O. Box 2815, Sacramento, California 95812, no later than the deadline for public comment identified above, for consideration by the Executive Officer prior to final action. Only comments relating to the modifications or the supporting document described in this notice will be considered by the Executive Officer. Sincerely, K. D. Drachand, Chief Mobile Source Division Attachments