(Washington D.C. - Sept. 4, 2008) From lawn mowers and weed
trimmers, to personal watercraft and speedboats, gas-powered engines will soon
contribute to healthier and cleaner air for Americans. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has set strict new standards for gas-powered lawn
equipment and marine engines, enhancing public health by substantially reducing
the amount of gas fumes, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and smog-forming
pollutants emitted from a wide range of engines. The regulations will take
effect in 2010 and 2011.
"EPA's new small engine standards will allow
Americans to cut air pollution as well as grass," said EPA Administrator Stephen
L. Johnson. "These standards help fight smog in our neighborhoods and waterways
as we continue to improve the environmental landscape."
When fully
implemented, the rule will yield annual emission reductions of 600,000 tons of
hydrocarbons, 130,000 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx), 5,500 tons of direct
particulate matter, and 1.5 million tons of carbon monoxide (CO). EPA expects
the new standards to save approximately 190 million gallons of gasoline each
year.
The rule kicks into gear in 2011 for lawn and garden equipment of
25 horsepower or less. For a full range of gas-powered personal watercraft and
inboard and outboard engines, the rule powers up in 2010.
To meet the
new exhaust emission standards, manufacturers will likely employ catalytic
converters for the first time in many small watercraft and lawn and garden
equipment. After rigorous analysis and work with stakeholders, EPA determined
this strategy was feasible and safe. This regulation also includes the first
national standards for boats powered by stern-drive or inboard engines, and
carbon monoxide standards for gasoline-powered engines used in recreational
watercraft.
Non-road gasoline-powered engines, such as those used in
lawn and garden equipment, will see an additional 35 percent reduction in
smog-forming hydrocarbon (HC) and NOx emissions. These cuts go beyond the 60
percent reduction that saw final implementation two years ago under an earlier
rulemaking. The updated engines will also achieve a 45 percent reduction in fuel
evaporative emissions.
Recreational watercraft powered by gasoline
engines will incur a 70 percent reduction in HC and NOx emissions, a 20 percent
reduction in CO and a 70 percent reduction in fuel evaporative emissions.
Each year, Americans spend more than 3 billion hours using lawn and
garden equipment and more than 500 million hours in recreational boating. As a
result, the total estimated public health benefits range between $1.6 and $4.4
billion by 2030. These benefits outweigh estimated costs by at least eight to
one, while preventing over 300 premature deaths, 1,700 hospitalizations, and
23,000 lost workdays annually.
The rule opens another chapter in EPA's
success story of curbing emissions from non-road sources. EPA has recently set
stringent emission standards for farm and construction equipment, off-road
recreational vehicles, and for locomotives and commercial marine
sources.
For more information, visit:
- Lawn and Garden
(Small Gasoline) Equipment: epa.gov/otaq/equip-ld.htm
-
Gasoline
Boats and Personal Watercraft: epa.gov/otaq/marinesi.htm