Further Reductions in Small Engine Emissions for Calif.

?EUR??,,????'??Using a commercial chain saw?EUR??,,????'??+powered by a two-stroke engine?EUR??,,????'??+for two hours, produces the same amount of smog-forming hydrocarbon emissions as driving 10 1995 cars about 250 miles each.?EUR??,,????'???EUR??,,????'??+California Air Resources Board Manufacturers and industry trade associations are working with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to meet regulations for further reductions in small engine emissions. Although the California Air Resources Board (CARB) acknowledges that emissions from small engines (25 hp or less) used in lawn, garden and other maintenance utility equipment are responsible for only about one percent of California?EUR??,,????'???s air pollution, federal and state mandates for clean air compel every source to reduce air pollution as much as is economically and technologically possible by 2010. CARB first regulated small engines in December 1990 (Tier I) and in January 1999 (Tier II standards) to curb pollution from high-polluting, two-stroke engines. CARB estimates that Tier I standards cut emissions from this equipment by 30-70 percent, but still allowed 25 percent raw, unburned gasoline emissions in their exhaust. Tier II regulations were delayed until January 2000 to give manufacturers and distributors time to comply. CARB believes Tier II will ?EUR??,,????'??significantly reduce smog-forming emissions from handheld equipment such as weed trimmers and chain saws.?EUR??,,????'?? The regulations are expected to ?EUR??,,????'??cut total emissions of hydrocarbons (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by 74 percent in 2010. For non-handheld equipment (mainly lawn mowers), the regulation calls for a 67 percent reduction in HC and NOx by 2010.?EUR??,,????'?? CARB projects that by 2010, California's small engine emission regulations will surpass the requirements of the EPA and ?EUR??,,????'??will reduce air pollutants by 20.5 tons a day?EUR??,,????'?? the equivalent of eliminating air pollution from 275,000 cars. The CARB staff calculate that the cost to consumers of equipment that meets the Tier II standards ?EUR??,,????'??will range from zero to about $35 over comparable equipment today.?EUR??,,????'?? Some engine manufacturers are already selling low-polluting, four-stroke engines to replace the two-stroke polluters; other manufacturers are modifying their two-stroke engines to meet the Tier II emission requirements. According to Tecumseh Products Co., industry members have come to a consensus to meet CARB?EUR??,,????'???s tonnage reductions for small engine emissions, including requirements to limit evaporative emissions beginning in 2005. It would require changes to fuel lines and gas tanks and possibly the addition of exhaust catalysts. Engine manufacturers would be required to perform more extensive testing. Design changes, usage of new materials and mandated testing will certainly generate cost increases to the industry and impact prices. The industry has also proposed stricter exhaust emissions regulations for California, which would take effect in 2007 for engines with a displacement under 225cc and in 2008 for engines with a displacement over 225cc.