Catalyst possibility in diesel rules worries NMMA
The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting public opinion on its plan to publish proposed new emission standards for
marine diesel engines.
The EPA May 5 issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for
marine diesel
engine standards that are modeled after highway and non-road diesel
engine programs. These new standards could take effect as early as 2011.
“It’s a big thing,” John McKnight, director of environmental and
safety compliance for the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), said in a telephone interview. “It’s going to cost a lot of
money and it’s going to have a big impact on our industry.”
McKnight says the proposed
rule would affect everything from sailboat auxiliary diesel engines to luxury yachts and
offshore fishing boats. He said the industry’s main concern is that it may require catalyst technology on diesel engines.
“If you put a catalyst on these engines you have to use low-sulfur diesel
fuel,” he explained. “Right now there is not a lot of availability of low-sulfur diesel
fuel. It’s kind of like putting the cart before the horse.”
The advance notice precedes an actual proposed
rule, providing industry stakeholders the opportunity to support the proposal, or raise issues with specific elements of the plan. NMMA says it will be working closely with the Engine Manufacturers Association, as well as its own engine manufacturer members and boatbuilders to provide comments on the EPA plan.
“This proposal will define technology for future diesel-powered yachts, and we have the opportunity to help craft the rule before it is final,” said McKnight. “With more than 10,000 marine diesel engines
sold in the U.S. each year, the outcome of this rule will have a tremendous impact on many
boat and engine manufacturers.”
McKnight said NMMA has been in contact with the Small Business Administration to request that the recreational marine industry be included in the Small Business Regulatory, Enforcement and Fairness Act panel when it is assembled. The panel will give small boatbuilders and marine diesel engine manufacturers the opportunity to outline and seek relief from the economic and technical challenges any possible EPA proposed action might have on the industry.
Contact John McKnight (NMMA) at (202) 737-9757 or
jmcknight@nmma.org .
N.J. offers help with pumpout funding
The
New Jersey Clean Vessel Act
Steering Committee has scheduled a workshop to provide information about the Clean Vessel Act program and how marina owners and municipalities can apply for
funding to install pumpout stations, dump stations and operate pumpout vessels.
The one-day workshop will be held June 9 at the Garden State Marina in Somers Point, N.J. The workshop is free and includes educational seminars, resource materials and a continental breakfast.
The Clean Vessel Act was passed by Congress in 1992. The primary goal of the federally funded program is to reduce
overboard sewage by providing funds to states for the construction,
renovation, operation, and
maintenance of pumpout stations and dump stations.
A total of 178 pumpout facilities have been installed and five pumpout vessels are in operation in
New Jersey since the inception of the program. In 2003 about 30,000 pumpouts were performed and over 600,000 gallons of sewage were collected, according to the
steering committee.
Contact Michael Danko, chairman of the New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Steering Committee, at (732) 872-1300, Ext. 29, or at
mdanko@njmsc.org
FLUKE RECALL NOTICE:
Dear Fluke customer,
As part of our focus on
safety and our continuous commitment to producing the highest quality products, Fluke Corporation is voluntarily recalling its TL221, TL222 and TL224 SureGrip™ modular test lead sets. We are asking you to send back your test leads for replacement. This
recall does not affect the test leads permanently attached to test probes that come standard with most Fluke Digital Multimeters...
More info’
http://www.fluke.nl/comx/action_rcl.aspx?locale=usen
Regards,
Gord
Linear Mode
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