Change in Deadline for Rulemaking to Address the Control of Emissions From New Marine Compression-Ignition Engines at or Above 30 Liters per Cylinder

[Federal Register: December 5, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 233)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 68518-68525]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05de07-17]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
40 CFR Part 94
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0120; FRL-8502-6]
RIN 2060-A026

Change in Deadline for Rulemaking to Address the Control of
Emissions From New Marine Compression-Ignition Engines at or Above 30
Liters per Cylinder

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: A February 2003 final rule established the first U.S. emission
standards for new compression-ignition Category 3 marine engines, those
with a per-cylinder displacement at or above 30 liters. It also
established a deadline of April 27, 2007 for EPA to promulgate a second
set of emission standards for these engines. This rulemaking schedule
was intended to allow time to consider the state of technology for
deeper emission reductions and the status of international action for
more stringent standards. Since 2003 we have continued to gain a
greater understanding of technical issues and assess the continuing
efforts of manufacturers to apply advanced emission control
technologies to these engines. In addition, we have continued to work
with and through the International Maritime Organization toward more
stringent emission standards that would apply to all new marine diesel
engines on ships engaged in international transportation. Much of the
information necessary to develop more stringent Category 3 marine
diesel engines standards has become available only recently and we
expect more information to come to light in the course of the current
negotiations underway as part of the international process. EPA is
therefore adopting a new deadline for the rulemaking to consider the
next tier of Category 3 marine diesel engine standards. Under this new
schedule, EPA would adopt a final rule by December 17, 2009. EPA has
started this rulemaking process by publishing an Advance Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking elsewhere in today's Federal Register.

DATES: This rule is effective on January 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: All documents in the docket are listed in the
http://www.regulations.gov index under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0120.
Some information listed in the index is not publicly available, such as
confidential business information or other information for which
disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy.
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically
in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center, EPA/
DC, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC.
The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the
Air Docket is (202) 566-1742.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Samulski, Assessment and
Standards Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, 2000
Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; telephone number: (734) 214-
4532; fax number: (734) 214-4050; e-mail address:
samulski.michael@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does This Action Apply to Me?

This action will affect companies that manufacture, sell, or import
into the United States new marine compression-ignition engines for use
on vessels flagged or registered in the United States; companies and
persons that make vessels that will be flagged or registered in the
United States and that use such engines; and the owners or operators of
such U.S. vessels. This action may also affect companies and persons
that rebuild or maintain these engines. Affected categories and
entities include the following:

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Category NAICS Code\a\ Examples of potentially affected entities
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Industry...................................... 333618 Manufacturers of new marine diesel engines.

[[Page 68519]]

Industry...................................... 336611 Manufacturers of marine vessels.
Industry...................................... 811310 Engine repair and maintenance.
Industry...................................... 483 Water transportation, freight and passenger.
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\a\ North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be regulated by this
action. To determine whether particular activities may be affected by
this action, you should carefully examine the regulations. You may
direct questions regarding the applicability of this action as noted in
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

I. Background

EPA published the intended change in the rulemaking schedule for
Category 3 marine diesel engines as a direct final rule (72 FR 20948,
April 27, 2007). We received adverse comments from six state and non-
governmental organizations. As a result, we retracted the direct final
rule and are proceeding with the rulemaking based on the proposal that
was published concurrent with the direct final rule. Comments received
on the direct final rule are therefore considered to be comments on the
concurrent proposed rule. In this action we are announcing our decision
to change the regulatory deadline as intended and responding to those
comments.

II. Summary of the Rule

In this final rule we are extending the regulatory deadline for
issuing a final rule setting more stringent standards for Category 3
marine diesel engines to December 17, 2009. This additional time will
allow us to better address significant remaining concerns about the
emission control technologies and create a compliance program that
ensures proper implementation of new standards. This approach will
allow us to set standards that achieve the maximum emission reductions
from these engines. We do not believe this extension will delay
emission reductions from Category 3 marine diesel engines beyond what
could be achieved by setting standards sooner. Instead, it creates the
opportunity for the development and implementation of a more effective
program for the longer term. Finally, this delay will allow us to take
advantage of information that is being prepared for consideration by
the International Maritime Organization as part of the ongoing
negotiations to amend MARPOL Annex VI under the International
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.

III. Basis for the Rule

A. History of EPA's Category 3 Standards

In February 2003, we adopted standards for new marine diesel
engines with per-cylinder displacement at or above 30 liters per
cylinder (also called Category 3 marine diesel engines; see 68 FR 9746,
February 28, 2003). The program consisted of a two-part approach.
First, we adopted near-term Tier 1 standards that went into effect in
2004 and were based on readily available control technology. Those
standards are identical to the international standards adopted at the
International Maritime Organization in MARPOL Annex VI. Second, we
adopted regulations that set a schedule for a future rulemaking to
assess and adopt an appropriate second tier of standards. We explained
that it was appropriate to defer a final decision on the longer-term
Tier 2 standard to a future rulemaking because there were several
outstanding technical issues concerning the widespread commercial use
of advanced control technologies on engines of this size. We
highlighted the following concerns in the 2003 final rule:
• Selective catalytic reduction has been widely used in
stationary applications and there are now efforts underway to use this
technology for marine applications. We expressed concerns that these
systems may not be capable of working effectively during the low-speed
and light-load operation typical of operation closest to port areas
where emission control is most important. We also noted that this
approach could lead to increased emissions of PM, especially direct
sulfate PM. There was also a concern that high fuel sulfur levels could
lead to premature wear of catalyst materials.
• Various approaches for adding water to the combustion
event were also cited as possible approaches to reduce NO_X
emissions by 50 to 80 percent. There were concerns that adding water
could increase engine wear with its low lubricity and increase PM
emissions (by decreasing combustion temperatures). We also noted that
new approaches to adding water--humidification and steam injection--
held promise for substantially greater control of NO_X emissions.
• We raised several questions related to implementation and
compliance provisions that would be appropriate with a new set of
standards. For example, we need to develop an effective approach to
address off-cycle emissions and uncertainties related to test-fuel
specifications and PM measurement methods relative to the high sulfur
concentrations typical of in-use fuels. We also raised the possible
need to create a compliance program that would allow for emission
controls to be disabled for operation on the open ocean and restored
upon entry into some defined boundary representing U.S. coastal waters.
These issues are complicated and need time for resolution.
We expected new information to become available with respect to (1)
new developments as manufacturers continue to make various improvements
with respect to emission aftertreatment; (2) data or experience from
recently initiated in-use installations using advanced technologies;
and (3) information from longer-term in-use experience that would be
helpful for evaluating the long-term durability of emission controls.
The revision of the deadline for Tier 2 of the standards for new
Category 3 marine diesel engine standards is permitted by the Clean Air
Act. Clean Air Act section 213(a)(3) requires EPA to adopt and
periodically revise regulations that contain standards concerning
certain pollutants reflecting the greatest degree of emission
reductions achievable through the application of technology that will
be available, taking into consideration the availability and costs of
the technology, and noise, energy, safety factors and existing motor
vehicle standards. EPA's strategy toward achieving the maximum level of
emission control from Category 3 marine diesel engines is consistent
with those statutory requirements. See Bluewater Network v. EPA, 372 F.
3d 404 D.C. Cir. (2004).

B. Need for Revised Schedule

Deferring the Tier 2 standards to a second rulemaking has allowed
us to obtain more information on the implementation of advanced
technologies. Toward that end, we are publishing an Advance Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking elsewhere in

[[Page 68520]]

today's Federal Register in which we describe the new information and
our current thinking with regard to potential new requirements for
Category 3 marine diesel engines. This new information comes from field
experiences related to the continuing pilot projects to test new
technologies, several recently published technical papers, and ongoing
negotiations in the context of developing MARPOL Annex VI standards.
This includes a better understanding of the capabilities and
constraints associated with selective catalytic reduction, the
potential for seawater scrubbers to control PM emissions, and the
possibility of relying on the use of distillate fuel as a part of the
overall approach to reducing emissions. For example, it appears that
selective catalytic reduction can be quite tolerant of high fuel sulfur
levels, but reactors would need to be physically larger to avoid
sulfur-related problems. Also, pairing selective catalytic reduction
with oxidation catalysts allows for reactivity at substantially lower
exhaust temperatures. This would help to address the concern for
controlling emission at light engine loads.
As we prepare a proposed rule to set standards based on advanced
emission control technologies, we intend to resolve remaining questions
for crafting a complete set of requirements. This will include
consideration of testing requirements that reflect the need for engines
using selective catalytic reduction to control emissions at light
engine loads typical of operation in port areas. We will also consider
whether further technological developments with selective catalytic
reduction and water-based technologies will allow us to pursue PM
emission standards more stringent than we are currently contemplating.
Control of PM and SO_X emissions depends on a combination
of using distillate fuel and adding seawater scrubbers for removing
emissions from engines that burn residual fuel. EPA will be separately
pursuing the appropriate designations under MARPOL Annex VI such that
all vessels would need to either use distillate fuel or achieve an
equivalent level of emission control with seawater scrubbers. We intend
to address certification requirements for seawater scrubbers in the
rulemaking proposal for setting emission standards for Category 3
marine diesel engines. In addition, the proposal will address remaining
questions for applying such standards to the current fleet in addition
to new vessels, and for disposing of emissions removed from the exhaust
gases, including the possible negative impacts on water quality for
discharged wastewater.
The proposed rule will also rely on development and use of new
analytic tools to assess the costs and benefits of alternative emission
control strategies, especially related to at-sea emissions and how they
are transported to shore.
Additional time will also allow us to take advantage of the ongoing
negotiations for amendments to MARPOL Annex VI. When we finalized our
Tier 1 standards in 2003, we anticipated that negotiations for the next
round of international standards would begin shortly thereafter. Due to
many delays, Members of the Convention did not agree to begin
negotiations until July 2006, and the first round of negotiations did
not occur until November 2006. These negotiations are expected to
conclude in October 2008. These negotiations provide a key forum for
sharing information on the performance of current installations. In
addition, the IMO Secretary General has commissioned an experts group
to examine control alternatives for PM and SO_X emissions;
this information will also be important for developing the national
standards. EPA is involved in these negotiations as a member of the
U.S. delegation to IMO.
All these rulemaking issues are described in more detail in the
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published elsewhere in today's
Federal Register. This Advance Notice initiates the rulemaking process
for adopting a more stringent set of standards for Category 3 marine
diesel engines.

C. New Schedule

EPA remains committed to developing and proposing Tier 2 emission
standards for Category 3 marine diesel engines. Advanced technology
solutions are available or under development for these engines.
However, it is necessary to resolve the questions described above
before we are ready to propose a program with appropriate Tier 2
emission standards for these engines.
Our commitment to Tier 2 standards is evidenced by our position at
the IMO and in the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Specifically,
as part of the process for setting new emission standards under IMO,
the United States submitted a paper to the April 2007 BLG Sub-Committee
meeting (called BLG-11) setting out an approach for substantially
reducing emissions from marine diesel engines.\1\ If adopted, these
standards could achieve significant reductions in NO_X,
particulate matter (PM), and oxides of sulfur (SO_X)
emissions from marine vessels.\2\ This framework formed the basis of
the approach we are currently pursuing for an EPA rulemaking under the
Clean Air Act to establish Tier 2 standards for Category 3 marine
diesel engines, as described in the Advance Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking. We expect the information we receive during this
international process and as comments on the Advance Notice to provide
very useful information in addressing our remaining concerns.
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\1\ ``Revision of the MARPOL Annex VI, the NO_X
Technical Code and Related Guidelines; Development of Standards for
NO_X, PM, and SO_X,'' subitted by the United
States, BLG 11/5, Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases, 11th
Session, Agenda Item 5, February 9, 2007, Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-
0121-0034. This document is also available on our Web site:
www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.com.
\2\ ``Revision of MARPOL Annex VI, the NO_X, PM, and
SO_X,'' Submitted by the United States to the Sub-
Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases, 11th Session, 2007.
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We do not believe this extension will delay emission reductions
from Category 3 marine diesel engines beyond what could be achieved by
setting standards sooner. If we would adopt emission standards earlier,
we would need to allow several years of lead time to give manufacturers
opportunity to work out remaining technological issues in designing
engines with advanced emission control technologies for all sizes and
types of vessels. Manufacturers have continued to make progress in
developing these technologies in the meantime, which will help us
tailor requirements to what emission reductions are achievable and
should allow us to adopt a program with shorter lead time relative to
the final rule setting these emission standards. Any foregone emission
reductions from delaying the implementation of emission standards would
likely be offset by our ability to set more stringent standards based
on the additional information that is available by setting standards at
the later date.
In sum, the delay in issuing the final rule for more stringent
emission standards for Category 3 marine diesel engines is reasonable
given the need to address certain technical issues and collect further
information. We believe there will be no significant foregone emission
reductions resulting from the delayed rulemaking schedule. In contrast,
the additional time allows the opportunity to develop and implement a
more effective program for the longer term.
In recognition of the current situation, we are taking this action
to establish a new rulemaking deadline that will

[[Page 68521]]

facilitate our ability to adopt emission standards consistent with the
statutory directive, while advocating adoption of the same controls as
part of the international process. In this action we are adopting a new
deadline of December 17, 2009 for a final rule that will address
additional emission standards for Category 3 marine diesel engines as
appropriate under section 213(a)(3) of the Clean Air Act.

IV. Summary and Analysis of Comments

A. Summary of Comments

Commenters pointed out that Category 3 marine diesel engines are
significant and growing contributors to air pollution in the United
States. This included reference to various EPA estimates and was
supplemented by several estimates for specific areas. Several
commenters pointed out the acute need for reduced emissions from these
engines in California, particularly in the South Coast Air Basin. For
example, over half of current or projected levels of SO_x and
diesel PM emissions in the South Coast Air Basin are estimated to come
from marine vessels (or all port-related sources). SO_x
emissions from marine vessels in particular would need to be reduced by
about 90 percent in the next few years for the South Coast Air Basin to
reach timely attainment of the air quality standard for
PM_2.5. The South Coast Basin is also home to the Ports of
Los Angeles and Long Beach, which are claimed to be the entry point for
40 percent of the nation's goods, with cargo throughput projected to
triple by 2025. Santa Barbara County, California was noted as another
particular concern, where 75 percent of local NO_X emissions
are projected to come from marine vessels, even though there are no
commercial ports within county boundaries. One commenter referenced a
finding that 70 percent of global shipping emissions occur within 400
kilometers of shore, where pollution transport may range from 400 to
1200 kilometers inland.
Commenters emphasized that the emissions from Category 3 marine
diesel engines contribute to serious public health and environmental
problems. Commenters cited the EPA finding that diesel exhaust is a
likely human carcinogen. Diesel particulate matter, ozone,
SO_x, and air toxic emissions were identified as substantial
causes of environmental degradation, illness, and/or death. Commenters
noted that emissions from marine diesel engines also raise concerns for
environmental justice, since the pollution effects fall
disproportionately on the relatively low-income residential areas
surrounding ports and transportation corridors.
Commenters cited Clean Air Act section 213 and EPA's 1994 and 1998
findings to establish the significance of emissions from nonroad
engines in general and Category 3 marine diesel engines specifically as
demonstration that EPA had a mandatory duty to set technology-forcing
emission standards for these engines. Commenters further maintained
that missing the regulatory deadline violated EPA's repeated statements
committing to take final action on the schedule reflected in the
regulation. Commenters noted that in similar circumstances the District
Court of the District of Columbia compelled EPA to take a final action
based on a regulatory deadline EPA had earlier adopted as part of the
effort to address hazardous air pollutants from motor vehicles.
Commenters further reasoned that the court decision upholding the
sufficiency of the Tier 1 standards adopted in February 2003 depended
on EPA's commitment to adopt more stringent emission standards for
these engines by the established deadline.
Commenters claimed that delaying implementation of emission
standards based on the need for more time to evaluate potential
emission controls is without merit and outside the scope of EPA's
rulemaking authority. Rather, commenters view Clean Air Act section 213
as requiring EPA to establish technology-forcing standards based on
projected future advances in pollution control capabilities. Commenters
further argue that the necessary advances for low-emission technologies
for these engines have already occurred and these technologies are
widely used in commercial applications today, and that EPA has provided
no reasoned basis describing why the originally adopted schedule was
not sufficient to address any remaining technical concerns related to
emission control technologies. For example, commenters cited EPA's
report of more than 300 marine engines operating worldwide with
selective catalytic reduction, including oceangoing vessels. Some
commenters also disagreed with the logic of EPA's argument that setting
intermediate-stringency standards would prevent more effective long-
term standards, noting Congress's intent for periodic review and update
of nonroad emission standards to reflect the evolutionary nature of
emission control technology. Commenters also pointed out that more
stringent emission controls are urgently needed, given the large number
of ships expected to be built over the coming years and the difficulty
of retrofitting vessels to reduce emissions.
Commenters also posit that it is impermissible and inappropriate
for EPA to allow international negotiations to nullify its obligations
under the Clean Air Act. Commenters point out that Clean Air Act
section 213 does not allow for foreign-policy considerations to serve
as the basis for determining whether or how to set emission standards
for nonroad engines, and that the Supreme Court recently reinforced
this principle in the decision related to greenhouse gas emissions.
This was presented as an inappropriate means of shifting power from the
Congress to the Executive Branch. Commenters further maintain that EPA
has failed to explain how emission standards adopted for the United
States under the Clean Air Act would hamper international negotiations
(or how the specific and feasible standards EPA has recommended for
consideration at IMO lack information needed for pursuing standards
under U.S. law). They emphasized other examples of international
agreements that followed implementation of domestic regulations in the
United States, and argued that the delays in adoption of international
standards for marine diesel engines were in fact a basis for EPA to
pursue separate requirements. Aside from a general skepticism that the
IMO process would lead to meaningful emission reductions from these
engines, commenters promoted the contrary view that rigorous U.S.
emission standards would provide the political and technical foundation
for international action regarding Category 3 marine diesel engines,
and that EPA has missed out on an opportunity to demonstrate to the IMO
that the United States is serious about reducing emissions from large
marine vessels and will act unilaterally if the IMO does not.
Commenters recommended that EPA pursue emission standards based on the
recent U.S. proposal for consideration under the IMO process.
Commenters noted that the decision to delay the deadline for
setting new emission standards also postpones EPA's promised decision
regarding the authority to apply U.S. emission standards to engines on
foreign-flagged vessels. Commenters also made the following arguments
to emphasize that EPA should decide affirmatively to apply emission
standards to engines on foreign-flagged vessels:
• Clean Air Act section 213 requires EPA to set emission
standards for all classes of nonroad engines that contribute to air
pollution in the United

[[Page 68522]]

States, without distinguishing between domestic and foreign engines.
• EPA has repeatedly acknowledged that foreign-flagged
vessels account for the clear majority of emissions from Category 3
marine diesel engines.
• Court decisions have established that foreign-flagged
vessels in U.S. ports and water are subject to U.S. regulations other
than those pertaining to a ship's ``internal management and affairs.''
• International law explicitly protects the right of the
U.S. to regulate foreign-flagged ships in U.S. ports and waters.
• As described above for emission standards, the court
upheld EPA's refusal to decide whether to regulate foreign flagged
vessels on the basis that EPA promised to address the issue in its 2007
rulemaking.
Commenters concluded by emphasizing their interest in seeing EPA
establish and commit to a firm and timely deadline to develop and
implement stringent emission standards for Category 3 marine diesel
engines, with rulemaking and implementation schedules expedited as much
as possible to address EPA's legal obligations and the compelling air
quality needs associated with these standards.

B. Analysis of Comments

We are mindful of the extent to which Category 3 marine diesel
engines contribute to air pollution in coastal and inland areas of the
United States. We do not disagree with the general characterization of
the emission contribution or health and environmental impacts described
by commenters.
However, we believe that amending the regulatory deadline to allow
more time to address several remaining technical issues and collect
some additional information is reasonable and consistent with our
authority under the statute. The February 2003 final rule fulfilled our
statutory obligation under Clean Air Act section 213 to set standards
for Category 3 marine diesel engines. In Bluewater Network v. EPA, 372
F. 3d 404 D.C. Cir. (2004), the Court upheld EPA's rulemaking as having
met the statutory requirement to establish standards that achieve the
greatest degree of emission reduction. As a result, we disagree with
the comments suggesting that we have failed to meet our mandatory
statutory duty to set initial emission standards.
We have an additional obligation to periodically revise the
emission standards to ensure that they reflect the greatest degree of
emission control considering various statutory factors. We set a
schedule for producing a new rulemaking to adopt these more stringent
emission standards by April 2007 but have found that this did not allow
sufficient time for completion, as described above. The delay
rulemaking schedule we are adopting in this notice is reasonable in
light of these issues and is consistent with Congress' intent that EPA
consider the availability of technologies that can achieve the desired
reductions, as well as the necessary lead time, cost, noise, energy and
safety issues with adopting such standards.
As part of the process for setting new emission standards under
IMO, the United States submitted a paper to the April 2007 BLG Sub-
Committee meeting (called BLG-11) setting out an approach for
substantially reducing emissions from marine diesel engines.\3\ In
parallel with this development toward a new set of international
standards, we are initiating a rulemaking under the Clean Air Act to
adopt these standards for the United States by publishing an Advance
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking elsewhere in today's Federal Register.
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\3\ ``Revision of the MARPOL Annex VI, the NO_X
Technical Code and Related Guidelines; Development of Standards for
NO_X, PM, and SO_X,'' submitted by the United
States, BLG 11/5, Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases, 11th
Session, Agenda Item 5, February 9, 2007, Docket ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-
0121-0034. This document is also available on our Web site:
www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.com.

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We believe there has been great progress toward establishing the
feasibility of controlling NO_X, SO_X, and PM
emissions from these engines. Laboratory and in-field pilot
demonstrations have significantly advanced the development of emission
control technologies and allowed for relatively near-term projections
for deploying these technologies in commercial service. These
developments have allowed us to advocate specific emission targets as
participating members of IMO in the effort to adopt more stringent
emission standards. These targets are also the basis of our Advance
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. As described in the Advance Notice, we
are still concluding resolution of the technological issues described
above. We also expect to receive information through the international
process and as comment on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to
help us address these remaining concerns.
While we are supporting the efforts in an international forum to
set global emission standards, we are not deferring to that process in
pursuing emission standards under the Clean Air Act. By initiating our
own rulemaking to set new emission standards, we are pursuing an
approach in which harmonized U.S. and global standards would be
developed in parallel. While we are mindful of the timing of the
international process and the state of these negotiations, the reasons
described above for taking additional time to adopt a new round of
emission standards hinge on the factors specified by Congress for
considering the timing for implementing new emission standards,
especially for the feasibility, lead time, and costs associated with
new emission controls.
Regarding the question of applying emission standards to foreign-
flagged vessels, we understand the positions expressed by commenters,
as well as the contrary views expressed by commenters in previous
rulemaking activity, and will be taking these concerns into account as
we pursue a decision on this issue, which we will describe with
supporting rationale in the proposal for setting emission standards for
these engines.
The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is the next step toward
developing more stringent emission standards for Category 3 marine
diesel engines under the Clean Air Act. We intend to pursue these
aggressive emission reductions, both in the EPA rulemaking and in the
international process. The revised regulatory deadline included in this
final rule indeed reflects a delay from the original April 2007 target,
but we believe the revised schedule will allow for a thorough
consideration of a wide range of important issues that need to be
addressed before we can adopt an appropriate set of requirements for
these engines. We continue to believe that pursuing resolution of these
issues in an EPA rulemaking in parallel with the ongoing international
negotiations will be the best path to leverage the most effective
program for reducing the emissions impact from Category 3 marine diesel
engines on U.S. air quality.

V. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews

A. Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Planning and Review

Under section (3)(f)(1) Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735, October
4, 1993), the Agency must determine whether the regulatory action is
``significant'' and therefore subject to review by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and the requirements of this Executive
Order. This final rule has been sent to OMB for review under Executive
Order 12866 and any changes

[[Page 68523]]

made in response to OMB recommendations have been documented in the
docket for this action.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act

This action does not impose any new information collection burden.
This final rule merely changes the regulatory schedule for a rulemaking
to address emissions from Category 3 marine diesel engines. However,
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has previously approved the
information collection requirements contained in the existing
regulations in 40 CFR part 94 under the provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. and has assigned OMB control
number 2060-0287, EPA ICR number 1684.10. A copy of the approved
Information Collection Request (ICR) may be obtained from Susan Auby,
Collection Strategies Division; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(2822T); 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460 or by
calling (202) 566-1672.
Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time
needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize
technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and
verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and
disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to
comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information;
search data sources; complete and review the collection of information;
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's
regulations in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) generally requires an agency
to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis of any rule subject to
notice and comment rulemaking requirements under the Administrative
Procedures Act or any other statute unless the agency certifies that
the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. Small entities include small businesses,
small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions.
For purposes of assessing the impacts of this final rule on small
entities, a small entity is defined as: (1) A small business that meets
the definition for business based on SBA size standards at 13 CFR
121.201; (2) a small governmental jurisdiction that is a government of
a city, county, town, school district or special district with a
population of less than 50,000; and (3) a small organization that is
any not-for-profit enterprise which is independently owned and operated
and is not dominant in its field.
After considering the economic impacts of this final rule on small
entities, I certify that this action will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. In
determining whether a rule has a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities, the impact of concern is any
significant adverse economic impact on small entities, since the
primary purpose of the regulatory flexibility analyses is to identify
and address regulatory alternatives ``which minimize any significant
economic impact of the rule on small entities.'' 5 U.S.C. 603 and 604.
Thus, an agency may certify that a rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities if the rule
relieves regulatory burden, or otherwise has a positive economic effect
on all of the small entities subject to the rule.
This final rule merely changes the regulatory schedule for a
rulemaking to address emissions from Category 3 marine engines. We have
therefore concluded that this final rule will relieve regulatory burden
for all affected small businesses.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA), Public
Law 104-4, establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess the
effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal
governments and the private sector. Under section 202 of the UMRA, EPA
generally must prepare a written statement, including a cost-benefit
analysis, for proposed and final rules with ``federal mandates'' that
may result in expenditures to State, local, and tribal governments, in
the aggregate, or to the private sector, of $100 million or more in any
one year. Before promulgating an EPA rule for which a written statement
is needed, section 205 of the UMRA generally requires EPA to identify
and consider a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives and to
adopt the least costly, most cost-effective, or least burdensome
alternative that achieves the objectives of the rule. The provisions of
section 205 do not apply when they are inconsistent with applicable
law. Moreover, section 205 allows EPA to adopt an alternative other
than the least costly, most cost-effective, or least burdensome
alternative if the Administrator publishes with the final rule an
explanation of why such an alternative was adopted.
Before EPA establishes any regulatory requirements that may
significantly or uniquely affect small governments, including tribal
governments, it must have developed under section 203 of the UMRA a
small government agency plan. The plan must provide for notifying
potentially affected small governments, enabling officials of affected
small governments to have meaningful and timely input in the
development of EPA regulatory proposals with significant Federal
intergovernmental mandates, and informing, educating, and advising
small governments on compliance with the regulatory requirements.
This rule contains no Federal mandates for State, local, or tribal
governments, or the private sector as defined by the provisions of
Title II of the UMRA. The rule imposes no enforceable duties on any of
these governmental entities. This rule contains no regulatory
requirements that would significantly or uniquely affect small
governments. EPA has determined that this rule contains no Federal
mandates that may result in expenditures of more than $100 million to
the private sector in any single year. This final rule merely changes
the regulatory schedule for a rulemaking to address emissions from
Category 3 marine engines. This rule is not subject to the requirements
of sections 202 and 205 of UMRA.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

Executive Order 13132, entitled ``Federalism'' (64 FR 43255, August
10, 1999), requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure
``meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the
development of regulatory policies that have federalism implications.''
``Policies that have federalism implications'' are defined in the
Executive Order to include regulations that have ``substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government.''
Under Section 6 of Executive Order 13132, EPA may not issue a
regulation that has federalism implications, that imposes substantial
direct compliance costs, and that is not required by statute,

[[Page 68524]]

unless the Federal government provides the funds necessary to pay the
direct compliance costs incurred by State and local governments, or EPA
consults with State and local officials early in the process of
developing the regulation. EPA also may not issue a regulation that has
federalism implications and that preempts State law, unless the Agency
consults with State and local officials early in the process of
developing the regulation.
Section 4 of the Executive Order contains additional requirements
for rules that preempt State or local law, even if those rules do not
have federalism implications (i.e., the rules will not have substantial
direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the states, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government). Those
requirements include providing all affected State and local officials
notice and an opportunity for appropriate participation in the
development of the regulation. If the preemption is not based on
express or implied statutory authority, EPA also must consult, to the
extent practicable, with appropriate State and local officials
regarding the conflict between State law and Federally protected
interests within the agency's area of regulatory responsibility.
This rule does not have federalism implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power
and responsibilities among the various levels of government, as
specified in Executive Order 13132. This final rule merely changes the
regulatory schedule for a rulemaking to address emissions from Category
3 marine diesel engines. Thus, Executive Order 1312 does not apply to
this rule.

F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation and Coordination With Indian
Tribal Governments

Executive Order 13175, entitled ``Consultation and Coordination
with Indian Tribal Governments'' (59 FR 22951, November 6, 2000),
requires EPA to develop an accountable process to ensure ``meaningful
and timely input by tribal officials in the development of regulatory
policies that have tribal implications.'' ``Policies that have tribal
implications'' is defined in the Executive Order to include regulations
that have ``substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes, on
the relationship between the Federal government and the Indian tribes,
or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the
Federal government and Indian tribes.''
This rule does not have tribal implications. It will not have
substantial direct effects on tribal governments, on the relationship
between the Federal government and Indian tribes, or on the
distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal
government and Indian tribes, as specified in Executive Order 13175.
This rule does not uniquely affect the communities of Indian Tribal
Governments. Further, no circumstances specific to such communities
exist that would cause an impact on these communities beyond those
discussed in the other sections of this rule. This final rule merely
changes the regulatory schedule for a rulemaking to address emissions
from Category 3 marine engines. Thus, Executive Order 13175 does not
apply to this rule.

G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of Children from Environmental
Health and Safety Risks

Executive Order 13045, ``Protection of Children from Environmental
Health Risks and Safety Risks'' (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997) applies
to any rule that (1) is determined to be ``economically significant''
as defined under Executive Order 12866, and (2) concerns an
environmental health or safety risk that EPA has reason to believe may
have a disproportionate effect on children. If the regulatory action
meets both criteria, Section 5-501 of the Order directs the Agency to
evaluate the environmental health or safety effects of the planned rule
on children, and explain why the planned regulation is preferable to
other potentially effective and reasonably feasible alternatives
considered by the Agency.
This rule is not subject to the Executive Order because it is not
economically significant as defined in Executive Order 12866, and
because the Agency does not have reason to believe the environmental
health or safety risks addressed by this action present a
disproportionate risk to children. This final rule merely changes the
regulatory schedule for a rulemaking to address emissions from Category
3 marine diesel engines.

H. Executive Order 13211: Actions That Significantly Affect Energy
Supply, Distribution, or Use

This rule is not a ``significant energy action'' as defined in
Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use'' (66 FR 28355,
May 22, 2001) because it is not likely to have a significant
adverse effect on the supply, distribution or use of energy. This final
rule merely changes the regulatory schedule for a rulemaking to address
emissions from Category 3 marine engines.

I. National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act

Section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement
Act of 1995 (``NTTAA''), Public Law 104-113, section 12(d) (15 U.S.C.
272 note) directs EPA to use voluntary consensus standards in its
regulatory activities unless doing so would be inconsistent with
applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards
are technical standards (such as materials specifications, test
methods, sampling procedures, and business practices) that are
developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies. NTTAA
directs EPA to provide Congress, through OMB, explanations when the
Agency decides not to use available and applicable voluntary consensus
standards.
This final rule does not involve technical standards. This final
rule merely changes the regulatory schedule for a rulemaking to address
emissions from Category 3 marine engines. Therefore, EPA did not
consider the use of any voluntary consensus standards.

J. Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations

Executive Order 12898 (59 FR 7629 (Feb. 16, 1994)) establishes
federal executive policy on environmental justice. Its main provision
directs federal agencies, to the greatest extent practicable and
permitted by law, to make environmental justice part of their mission
by identifying and addressing, as appropriate, disproportionately high
and adverse human health or environmental effects of their programs,
policies, and activities on minority populations and low-income
populations in the United States.
EPA has determined that this rule will not have disproportionately
high and adverse human health or environmental effects on minority or
low-income populations because it does not affect the level of
protection provided to human health or the environment. This final rule
merely changes the regulatory schedule for a rulemaking to address
emissions from Category 3 marine diesel engines.

[[Page 68525]]

K. Congressional Review Act

The Congressional Review Act, 5 U.S.C. 801 et seq., as amended by
the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996,
generally provides that before a rule may take effect, the agency
promulgating the rule must submit a rule report, which includes a copy
of the rule, to Congress and the Comptroller General of the United
States. We will submit a report containing this rule and other required
information to the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and
the Comptroller General of the United States before publication of the
rule in the Federal Register. A major rule cannot take effect until 60
days after it is published in the Federal Register. This action is not
a ``major rule'' as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). This final rule is
effective on January 4, 2008.

L. Statutory Authority

The statutory authority for this action comes from section 213 of
the Clean Air Act as amended (42 U.S.C. 7547). This action is a
rulemaking subject to the provisions of Clean Air Act section 307(d).
See 42 U.S.C. 7607(d).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 94

Environmental protection, Administrative practice and procedure,
Air pollution control, Confidential business information, Imports,
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Vessels, Warranties.

Dated: November 29, 2007.
Stephen L. Johnson,
Administrator.

• For the reasons set out in the preamble, title 40, chapter I of the
Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 94--CONTROL OF AIR POLLUTION FROM MARINE COMPRESSION--IGNITION
EMISSIONS

• 1. The authority citation for part 94 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q.

• 2. Section 94.8 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(2)(ii) to read as
follows:

Sec. 94.8 Exhaust emission standards.

(a) * * *
(2) * * *
(ii) EPA has not finalized Tier 2 standards for Category 3 engines.
EPA will promulgate final Tier 2 standards for Category 3 engines on or
before December 17, 2009.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E7-23557 Filed 12-4-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

Notices For
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994

Change in Deadline for Rulemaking to Address the Control of Emissions From New Marine Compression-Ignition Engines at or Above 30 Liters per Cylinder

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