In an October 1, 2015 comments letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its Phase 2 Greenhouse Gas Proposal the California Air Resources Board (ARB) said it will begin development of mandatory NOx engine standards in 2017 that are lower than those proposed by EPA, according to a report from Diesel Net.

ARB also plans to petition the EPA to establish lower, federal NOx engine standards. If US EPA fails to initiate its rulemaking by 2017, California ARB will continue with its efforts to establish a California-only NOx standard, said the agency.

“After a thorough assessment by CARB’s Phase 2 team of scientists and engineers, we have concluded, unfortunately, that the (EPA’s) proposal falls short of the program needed for California. (EPA’s) proposal lacks any acknowledgement of the needs for future national heavy-duty engine standards to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and, in fact, lacks adequate safeguard to protect against NOx increases in some heavy duty vehicle applications,” said Mary Nichols, ARB Chairman.

Commenting on the proposed Phase 2 GHG rule, the ARB said the EPA proposal misses opportunities to maximize GHG emission reductions and spur development of critical advanced technologies that can provide early climate benefits.

What this means to you
California has concluded it needs lower heavy duty engine NOx standards than EPA has proposed in its Phase 2 GHG proposal and plans to develop and propose a California plan in 2017 upon adoption of the federal Phase 2 standard.

MIRATECH can help
Contact MIRATECH to learn more about controlling NOx in your engines.