CARB proposes updates to test procedure modifications for Tier 4 off-road engines

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is proposing updates to the existing test procedures for new off-road diesel engines, primarily to align with similar federal requirements, and requests comments from affected stakeholders prior to releasing the official 45 day notice for the December 2011 Board hearing.

The Air Resources Board (ARB) has released a draft of the proposed amendments to the California tier 4 off-road compression-ignition (CI) engine test procedures. The basis of these test procedures are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (U.S. EPA’s) nonroad CI engine regulations contained in title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR) Parts 1039, 1065, and 1068, and which ARB adopted originally on Oct. 20, 2005.

The released ARB draft proposal reflects both the amendments that U.S. EPA has made to Parts 1039, 1065, and 1068 since 2005, as well as ARB’s proposed amendments for aligning with those federal amendments.

Except for draft amendments of Table 1b (Tier 4 Exhaust Emission Standards) and Table 2b (Upper Limit for Tier 4 Family Emission Limits (FELs) and Alternative Allowances), from title 13, California Code of Regulations (13 CCR) §2423, a draft of the other amendments that will be proposed to the California tier 4 off-road CI engine regulations in 13 CCR §2420 is not included with this release.

However, such amendments are forthcoming and will reflect the amendments being proposed in the draft test procedures proposal.