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EPA Press Advisory: (1) EPA Seeks Comments on Gas Mileage Testing Procedures; (2) Proposed Regulations Ensure Extended Life of Vehicle Emission Controls; (3) March Marks Significant Milestone in U.S. Efforts to Protect Ozone Layer; (4) Risk Assessment Principles and Practices Staff Paper Released (5) Norwegian Shipping Company to Pay $3.5 Million Fine(1) EPA Seeks Comments on Gas Mileage Testing Procedures In response to a petition submitted to EPA by the environmental organization Bluewater Network, EPA is asking for comments on its testing procedures for determining gas mileage estimates via a notice in the Federal Register. Each year, EPA’s city and highway gas mileage estimates are displayed on new vehicles and appear in the annual Fuel Economy Guide. The purpose of the notice is to obtain feedback on the topics raised by the petitioner who contends that EPA’s current testing procedures, which were established in 1985, do not reflect factors that may affect the fuel efficiency of today’s vehicles, such as increased highway speeds and urban traffic congestion. This action will have no effect on the fuel economy standards (CAFÉ) now in place and administered by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. A copy of the notice and the petition can be found at:http://www.epa.gov/otaq/mpg.htm#regs or in EPA Air Docket OAR-2003-0214. (2) Proposed Regulations Ensure Extended Life of Vehicle Emission Controls John Millett 202-564-7842 / millett.john@epa.gov Automotive manufacturers would be required to show that new vehicles would meet emissions standards throughout the “useful life period” or 120,000 miles for most cars and trucks, under a proposed rule to be issued by EPA this week. These procedures are part of EPA’s vehicle emission certification program, under which vehicle prototypes are tested to demonstrate compliance with the federal emission standards. Upon this demonstration, EPA issues certificates of conformity allowing the manufacturer to produce and sell cars in the U.S. The proposed aging procedures include methods to accumulate mileage on prototype vehicles on a track and to simulate mileage accumulation using rapid aging techniques. EPA is undertaking this action to fulfill a court mandate issued on October 22, 2002 by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to vacate the existing aging procedures and to write new regulations. This decision arose from a petition from the Ethyl Corporation to reconsider EPA’s existing durability regulations. Additional information is available at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/ld-hwy.htm#cap2k. (3) March Marks Significant Milestone in U.S. Efforts to Protect Ozone Layer John Millett 202-564-7842 / millett.john@epa.gov March 18, was the tenth anniversary of EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program which has made the U.S. a global leader in protecting the Earth’s stratospheric ozone layer. In 1987, the United States along with over 150 other nations signed the Montreal Protocol that established schedules for both developed and developing nations to phase out ozone destroying chemicals such as CFCs and halons. Under the SNAP program, authorized by the U.S. Clean Air Act, EPA has identified and reviewed over 300 alternatives to these chemicals in major industrial, consumer, and defense applications resulting in the prevention of emissions of 3.3 million tons of ozone depleting chemicals. The goal of SNAP is to expedite movement away from ozone-depleting compounds by identifying substitutes that offer lower overall risks to human health and the environment. SNAP continues to provide industry with incentive and guidelines to develop innovative and environmentally-friendly solutions for critical applications, including refrigeration, air conditioning, insulation, aerosols, fire suppression, and solvents and adhesives. For more information on the program visit: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap. (4) Risk Assessment Principles and Practices Staff Paper Released Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov On March 25, EPA will release a staff paper, “An Examination of EPA Risk Assessment Principles and Practices” for a 90-day review and public comment period. Risk assessments provide critical data for policy decisions to protect public and environmental health, such as reference doses and concentrations, the levels of exposure to a contaminant that will not result in adverse health effects. The paper was prepared by an Agency-wide task force of risk assessment professionals, formed at the request of the Science Advisor and other senior Agency officials. The task force completed a broad examination of Agency risk assessment principles and practices, and the resulting paper: 1) addresses concerns in the public comments, 2) presents the perspectives of EPA risk assessors on how they understand risk assessment to be conducted at EPA, and 3) recommends possible EPA actions to address these concerns and to improve the transparency and consistency of its risk assessment practices. By improving transparency, the public will better understand how the Agency uses science and policy defaults in risk assessments. The paper does not represent official EPA policy; it is the first step in opening a dialogue among EPA staff and managers, as well as external parties, about the practice of risk assessment. Options for improving EPA’s risk assessment are not limited to those in the paper. The paper is available at: http://www.epa.gov/osa/ratf.htm. Weekly Enforcement Wrap Up Suzanne Ackerman 202-564-7819 / ackerman.suzanne@epa.gov (5) Norwegian Shipping Company to Pay $3.5 Million Fine Hoegh Fleet Services, a Norwegian operator of ocean-going cargo ships, pled guilty on March 17 to seven felony counts of violating federal laws including keeping a falsified Oil Record book, obstructing justice and making false statements to the U.S. Coast Guard. Under the agreement, Hoegh must pay $3.5 million in penalties, develop a comprehensive environmental plan for its forty ships that visit U.S. waters, and serve four years probation. According to court documents, the case began in September 2003 when a whistle blower from the crew of the vessel Hoegh Minerva informed authorities that crew members had allegedly used a bypass pipe to route waste oil around the oil-water separator in the ship’s pollution control system. Investigators later uncovered evidence indicating that the ship’s Oil Record Book contained false entries. Not following pollution control procedures results in oily bilge waste being dumped into the ocean, which can harm fish and other aquatic life. The case was investigated by the Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland Area Offices of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Los Angeles and Portland Offices of U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, the Coast Guard Investigative Service and the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Spill Prevention, Preparedness and Response Program. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. R055 ### Release date:03/24/2004 Receive our News Releases Automatically by Email
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