Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 42 : Section 7554


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 7554. Urban bus standards

    (a) Standards for model years after 1993
      Not later than January 1, 1992, the Administrator shall
    promulgate regulations under section 7521(a) of this title
    applicable to urban buses for the model year 1994 and thereafter.
    Such standards shall be based on the best technology that can
    reasonably be anticipated to be available at the time such measures
    are to be implemented, taking costs, safety, energy, lead time, and
    other relevant factors into account. Such regulations shall require
    that such urban buses comply with the provisions of subsection (b)
    of this section (and subsection (c) of this subsection,)1(! if
    applicable) in addition to compliance with the standards applicable
    under section 7521(a) of this title for heavy-duty vehicles of the
    same type and model year.

    (b) PM standard
      (1) 50 percent reduction
        The standards under section 7521(a) of this title applicable to
      urban buses shall require that, effective for the model year 1994
      and thereafter, emissions of particulate matter (PM) from urban
      buses shall not exceed 50 percent of the emissions of particulate
      matter (PM) allowed under the emission standard applicable under
      section 7521(a) of this title as of November 15, 1990, for
      particulate matter (PM) in the case of heavy-duty diesel vehicles
      and engines manufactured in the model year 1994.
      (2) Revised reduction
        The Administrator shall increase the level of emissions of
      particulate matter allowed under the standard referred to in
      paragraph (1) if the Administrator determines that the 50 percent
      reduction referred to in paragraph (1) is not technologically
      achievable, taking into account durability, costs, lead time,
      safety, and other relevant factors. The Administrator may not
      increase such level of emissions above 70 percent of the
      emissions of particulate matter (PM) allowed under the emission
      standard applicable under section 7521(a) of this title as of
      November 15, 1990, for particulate matter (PM) in the case of
      heavy-duty diesel vehicles and engines manufactured in the model
      year 1994.
      (3) Determination as part of rule
        As part of the rulemaking under subsection (a) of this section,
      the Administrator shall make a determination as to whether the 50
      percent reduction referred to in paragraph (1) is technologically
      achievable, taking into account durability, costs, lead time,
      safety, and other relevant factors.
    (c) Low-polluting fuel requirement
      (1) Annual testing
        Beginning with model year 1994 buses, the Administrator shall
      conduct annual tests of a representative sample of operating
      urban buses subject to the particulate matter (PM) standard
      applicable pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to
      determine whether such buses comply with such standard in use
      over their full useful life.
      (2) Promulgation of additional low-polluting fuel requirement
        (A) If the Administrator determines, based on the testing under
      paragraph (1), that urban buses subject to the particulate matter
      (PM) standard applicable pursuant to subsection (b) of this
      section do not comply with such standard in use over their full
      useful life, he shall revise the standards applicable to such
      buses to require (in addition to compliance with the PM standard
      applicable pursuant to subsection (b) of this section) that all
      new urban buses purchased or placed into service by owners or
      operators of urban buses in all metropolitan statistical areas or
      consolidated metropolitan statistical areas with a 1980
      population of 750,000 or more shall be capable of operating, and
      shall be exclusively operated, on low-polluting fuels. The
      Administrator shall establish the pass-fail rate for purposes of
      testing under this subparagraph.
        (B) The Administrator shall promulgate a schedule phasing in
      any low-polluting fuel requirement established pursuant to this
      paragraph to an increasing percentage of new urban buses
      purchased or placed into service in each of the first 5 model
      years commencing 3 years after the determination under
      subparagraph (A). Under such schedule 100 percent of new urban
      buses placed into service in the fifth model year commencing 3
      years after the determination under subparagraph (A) shall comply
      with the low-polluting fuel requirement established pursuant to
      this paragraph.
        (C) The Administrator may extend the requirements of this
      paragraph to metropolitan statistical areas or consolidated
      metropolitan statistical areas with a 1980 population of less
      than 750,000, if the Administrator determines that a significant
      benefit to public health could be expected to result from such
      extension.
    (d) Retrofit requirements
      Not later than 12 months after November 15, 1990, the
    Administrator shall promulgate regulations under section 7521(a) of
    this title requiring that urban buses which - 
        (1) are operating in areas referred to in subparagraph (A) of
      subsection (c)(2) of this section (or subparagraph (C) of
      subsection (c)(2) of this section if the Administrator has taken
      action under that subparagraph);
        (2) were not subject to standards in effect under the
      regulations under subsection (a) of this section; and
        (3) have their engines replaced or rebuilt after January 1,
      1995,

    shall comply with an emissions standard or emissions control
    technology requirement established by the Administrator in such
    regulations. Such emissions standard or emissions control
    technology requirement shall reflect the best retrofit technology
    and maintenance practices reasonably achievable.
    (e) Procedures for administration and enforcement
      The Administrator shall establish, within 18 months after
    November 15, 1990, and in accordance with section 7525(h) of this
    title, procedures for the administration and enforcement of
    standards for buses subject to standards under this section,
    testing procedures, sampling protocols, in-use compliance
    requirements, and criteria governing evaluation of buses.
    Procedures for testing (including, but not limited to,
    certification testing) shall reflect actual operating conditions.
    (f) Definitions
      For purposes of this section - 
      (1) Urban bus
        The term "urban bus" has the meaning provided under regulations
      of the Administrator promulgated under section 7521(a) of this
      title.
      (2) Low-polluting fuel
        The term "low-polluting fuel" means methanol, ethanol, propane,
      or natural gas, or any comparably low-polluting fuel. In
      determining whether a fuel is comparably low-polluting, the
      Administrator shall consider both the level of emissions of air
      pollutants from vehicles using the fuel and the contribution of
      such emissions to ambient levels of air pollutants. For purposes
      of this paragraph, the term "methanol" includes any fuel which
      contains at least 85 percent methanol unless the Administrator
      increases such percentage as he deems appropriate to protect
      public health and welfare.



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