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September 26, 2001
For Immediate Release
Bill Kresnak
Phone: (614) 856-1900
Fax: (614) 856-1920
New Off-Road Emissions Standards May
End Two-Strokes
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The federal government has sent a clear signal that
it wants an end to two-stroke off-highway motorcycles and
all-terrain vehicles by 2006, the American Motorcyclist
Association (AMA) reports.
In its recently released proposal for national emissions
standards covering off-highway motorcycles and ATVs, the
Environmental Protection Agency has set requirements only
slightly less stringent than those in place in California, which
have severely restricted two-stroke off-highway machines there.
Currently, there are no national emissions standards governing
off-road motorcycles and ATVs. However, there are requirements
for road motorcycles that have been in place for 20 years, and
those will be revised in November.
Under the EPA proposal, which is scheduled to be published in
the Federal Register early next month, new off-highway
motorcycles and ATVs would be subject to strict emissions
requirements that would be partially phased-in in 2006 and
require 100 percent compliance in 2007. In addition, ATVs would
be required to meet even tougher standards beginning in 2009.
The requirements wouldn't affect machines built through 2005,
but would apply to machines built in 2006 and thereafter. The
EPA said it expects that manufacturers will meet these new,
stringent off-highway standards by using four-stroke engines.
The EPA has decided to allow exemptions for off-road
competition-only machines, described as vehicles lacking lights
or a spark arrester, having suspension travel of more than 10
inches, and having an engine displacement larger than 50cc.
"Vehicles not meeting the applicable criteria?would be excluded
(from the emissions requirements) only in cases where the
manufacturer has clear and convincing evidence that the vehicles
for which the exemption is being sought will be used solely for
competition," the EPA rules note.
During the initial comment period on the proposal, the AMA asked
the EPA to avoid regulations that would eliminate two-stroke
machines, favored by many off-highway riders for their light
weight and power characteristics.
The AMA told the agency that it shouldn't mandate the use of
fuel injection, catalytic converters or other means to meet the
new emissions requirements. Instead, the AMA said, manufacturers
should be given the opportunity to meet performance-based
standards through research and development. The Association
suggested the EPA establish separate emissions standards for
two-stroke and four-stroke motors, and then let the
manufacturers work to meet those standards.
"We'll oppose any efforts to do away with two-stroke off-road
motorcycles and ATVs," said Edward Moreland, the AMA vice
president for government relations. "Enthusiasts should be able
to choose whether to use two-stroke or four-stroke machines."
The EPA had planned to propose new emissions standards for
highway motorcycles alongside the off-highway standards, but now
says the streetbike proposal will be made separately in
November.
The AMA urges motorcyclists to write to the EPA and ask that the
agency create separate emissions standards for four-stroke and
two-stroke motorcycles and ATVs. Tell the agency that officials
need to consider safety, cost and performance in creating the
new standards.
The comment deadline is Dec. 19.
The easiest way to let the EPA know how you feel is by using the
AMA's Rapid Response Center at the AMA website at
www.AMADirectlink.com. There, you will find a letter that you
can send with a click of the mouse.
Or write to:
Margaret Borushko (Docket No. A-2000-01)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
You may also submit comments by e-mail to
nranprm@epa.gov.
The EPA plans to hold public hearings on the proposed rules on
Oct. 24 in Washington, D.C., and Oct. 30 in Denver.
The off-highway emissions proposal and related developments can
be read at the EPA website at www.epa.gov/otaq.
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