WASHINGTON, DC, September
9, 2008 – Last Thursday, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) issued new emissions
regulations for gas-powered boat engines and
boat fuel systems. The regulations are a result
of a decade of negotiation and collaboration by
the National Marine Manufacturers Association
and the EPA and will result in substantial
benefits to the recreational marine industry,
public health, welfare and the environment as
well as long-term fuel savings.
The new regulations mean gasoline outboard,
personal watercraft and stern drive inboard
engine manufacturers will basically be required
to meet California emission standards. This
will also be the first time gasoline marine
engines will be required to meet a carbon
monoxide standard. For boat builders, these new
emission regulations will require the fuel
system to meet both permeation and diurnal
emission reductions.
The new standards require that fuel systems:
- Accommodate low
permeation fuel lines and low permeation
plastic fuel tanks
- Include carbon
canisters used to capture fumes from open
fuel vents
- Prevent fuel from
spitting back during fueling
“Because the EPA has
allowed sufficient time for compliance, boat
builders will have the time and resources
necessary to redesign their vessels to meet
these new standards,” said John McKnight,
director of environmental and safety compliance
for the National Marine Manufacturers
Association. “Because there is no reporting or
certification requirement for boat
manufacturers, they will only be required to
install certified equipment in their vessels and
affix a standard label that states that the
vessel is in compliance with EPA regulations for
the specific model year.”
Boats not in compliance will incur significant
penalties, including recall provisions. As a
result, manufacturers are urged to take
advantage of training sessions and compliance
information provided by the NMMA. The first
session, titled “Boat Fuel Systems Design and
Compliance (Session 309),” will take place at
the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and
Conference (IBEX) on Tuesday October 7, 2008
from 8:30 am to 10:00 am. Representatives from
the American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC), NMMA
and EPA will provide manufacturers will the
tools needed to properly plan for the changes
needed to meet both EPA and ABYC requirements.
Following IBEX, NMMA will develop a series of
Evaporative Emission seminars in key
boat-manufacturing states,=2 0similar to
sessions conducted following the implementation
of the Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT)
standard.
“NMMA, Grady-White Boats, and countless other
affected businesses worked tirelessly with the
EPA for many years on this set of rules. The
result is a true win-win situation,” said Jim
Hardin, compliance manager for Grady-White
Boats. “The rule allows us the flexibility we
need to implement the required changes while
helping the EPA meet their goal of reducing
emissions. Reduced emissions will help keep our
water and air clean, which is very important to
both us and our customers.”
For information on the new EPA emission
standards, contact NMMA director of
environmental and safety compliance John
McKnight at (202) 737-9757;
jmcknight@nmma.org.
National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)
is the leading association representing the
recreational boating industry. NMMA member
companies produce more than 80 percent of the
boats, engines, trailers, accessories and gear
used by boaters in the United States. The
association is dedicated to industry growth
through programs in public policy, market
research and data, product quality assurance and
marketing communications. |
