EPA is the abbreviation of U.S Environmental Protection Agency. There are 10 regional offices and more than 10 laboratories with the headquarters in Washington, and more than half of the 18000 employees in America are engineers, scientists and policy analysts. EPA is governed directly by the president.
The EPA’s primary mission is protecting human health and natural environment. EPA has been creating a clean and healthy environment for the American people since 1970.
EPA emission certification applies to motorcycles produced in America and the import motorcycle sold in America. Generally the EPA certification is applied for and held by manufacturer, the importer can do this as well but have to take the full responsibility of manufacturer’s. In addition, the manufacturers and importers of motorcycles both have duty to keep the products conform to regulations. The motorcycles without EPA certification and incorrect marks will be strictly prohibited to be imported, excepting for the motorcycles with exemption condition. The importers have responsibility to confirm the products get EPA certification and insure the manufacturers have the necessary communication processes, maintenance point and staff, infrastructure of emission quality assurance carried out in America. Besides, California has its sole motorcycle emission certification requirements. The importers should connect with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to know more emission requirements before importing the motorcycles to California. In addition, all the road motorcycles that export to America have to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) and affix the DOT compliance mark.
EPA and the officials of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have the rights to inspect the ports of America, motorcycles in storehouses and distributers, test the engines emission, audit the technical specifications and examine EPA emission certification marks. If EPA and CBP notice the motorcycles are not conform to EPA emission certification requirements, CBP can detain the motorcycles and EPA can ask the importers to carry away all the illegally imported motorcycles from America and bear high fines. The Clean Air Act prescribed heaviest fines of importing motorcycles illegally is 32500 dollars per motorcycle, if it’s the first violation for importer and corrected in time, they will be considered to lower the penalty. While the CBP and EPA will investigate criminal responsibility if the importer violate regulations knowingly and give fraudulent statements, or omit important information in CBP customs clearance documents.
EPA takes leadership position in national environmental science and relevant investigation, education and evaluation aspects. EPA takes charge of the investigation for various environment plans and formulates national standards, and represents states and departments issue relevant licenses and monitor to strengthen the consistency. If the national standard is not reached, EPA could issue approval to take other measures to help the state and local reach the required level. The EPA offices, industry organization and government at all levels do the various kinds of voluntary pollution prevention plans and energy work together.
Since 1978, the vehicle emission certification has been carried out and the non-road vehicles without head lamp, tail lamp and brake lamp are not included. America EPA carried out new environmental regulations in 2006, the road vehicles and non-road vehicles which export to America have to conform to the new emission regulations and pass the EPA certification, and the vehicles only have the right to access US market when pass EPA certification and affix with marks. Since 2008 not only the whole vehicle have to pass EPA certification, the fuel tank and fuel pipe also have to conform to 2008evaporative emissions regulations and pass certification.
1、EPA Certification Range
The inspection and certificate issuing of diesel/gasoline engine devices, motorcycle, vehicle, automobile components, gas, water treatment equipment, drinking water, pesticide, etc. Since January 1st 2006, US EPA has carried out new environmental regulation, the car, motorcycle, ATV exported to America market have to acquire the EPA certification and affixed with the marks.
It just needs to deal with the EPA certification if the products sold in the 49 states except for California. It needs to deal with the CARB certification if the products exported to California.
EPA emission applies to the vehicle produced in America and the vehicle sold in America. Generally the EPA certification is applied for and held by manufacturer, the importer can do this as well but have to take the full responsibility of manufacturer’s. In addition, the manufacturers and importers of motorcycles both have duty to keep the products conform to regulations. The motorcycles without EPA certification and incorrect marks will be strictly prohibited to be imported, excepting for the motorcycles with exemption condition. The importers have responsibility to confirm the products get EPA certification and insure the manufacturers have the necessary communication processes, maintenance point and staff, infrastructure of emission quality assurance carried out in America. Besides, California has its sole motorcycle emission certification requirements. The importers should connect with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to know more emission requirements before importing the motorcycles to California. In addition, all the road motorcycles that export to America have to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) and affix the DOT compliance mark.
EPA and the officials of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have the rights to inspect the ports of America, motorcycles in storehouses and distributers, test the engines emission, audit the technical specifications and examine EPA emission certification marks. If EPA and CBP notice the motorcycles are not conform to EPA emission certification requirements, CBP can detain the motorcycles and EPA can ask the importers to carry away all the illegally imported motorcycles from America and bear high fines. The Clean Air Act prescribed heaviest fines of importing motorcycles illegally is 32500 dollars per motorcycle, if it’s the first violation for importer and corrected in time, they will be considered to lower the penalty. While the CBP and EPA will investigate criminal responsibility if the importer violate regulations knowingly and give fraudulent statements, or omit important information in CBP customs clearance documents.
2、EPA/CARB Certification Process
（1）EPA certification consulting
（2）EPA certification application
（3）Signed
（4）Technical Support
（5）Prepare for inspection
（6）Check
（7）Repeat the test
（8）Through the product testing and document review, access to certificates
3、EPA vehicle classification and emission standards
As for motorcycle EPA divide it into road motorcycle, non-road motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle (ATV)
3.1 Definition of road motorcycle:
-Quote from (40 CFR § 86.402-98)
"motorcycle" means any vehicle which its curb weightless than or equal to 793kg (1749pound)with afront lamp, a rear lamp, a brake lamp and two or three wheels on it.
The road vehicle will be divided into I-A、I-B、II、III four types based on engine displacement
| Types of motorcycle | Engine displacement (ml) |
| I-A | <50 |
| I-B | 50~169 |
| II | 170~279 |
| III | ≥280 |
EPA USAfederal motorcycle emission regulations process
| Year of vehicle type | Regulation state | Test type | Engine displacement(ml) | emission(g/km) | |
| HC | CO | ||||
| USA federal standard | |||||
| 1978 | execute | Modified FTP-75 |
50~169 170~750 >750 |
5.0 5+0.0155(D2-170) 14.0 |
17.0 17.0 17.0 |
| 1980 and later | execute | Modified FTP-75 | all | 5.0 | 12.0 |
| 2006 and later |
≤170 170~279 |
1.0 | 12.0 | ||
| HC+NOx | CO | ||||
| 2006~2009 |
≥280 |
1.4 | 12.0 | ||
| 2010 and later | 0.8 | 12.0 | |||
3.2 Definition of non-road vehicle:
Quote from (40 CFR § 1051.801)
“non-road motorcycle” means a two wheeled vehicle with a non-road engine and seat (shipping and aircraft are not included)
Emission standard
|
engine displacement |
emission standard | minimum lifespan | |
| HC+NOx（g/km） | CO（g/km） | ||
| ≤70cc | 2.0 | 25 | 5，000km/5 years |
| 〉70cc | 2.0 | 25 | 10,000km/5 years |
3.3Definition ofall-terrain vehicle (ATV):
-Quote from (40 CFR § 1051.801)
"All-terrain vehicle" means the vehicle used on land or used for amphibious, according with section (3.1) or section (3.2) but not section (3.3).
（3.1） All-terrain vehicle means the vehicle that has four balloon tires and with a seat to be bestridden by driver and a steering control handle, it only available for one driver but no passenger.
（3.2）The all-terrain vehicle designed for rough road with three or more wheels, one or more seats are mainly used for transportation and the maximum speedgreater than 25 mile/h. The golf cart is not designed for rough road so generallyit doesn’t conform to those standards.
（3.3）The vehicle which conforms to the definition of “non-road vehicle” is not all- terrain vehicle. But 1051.1(a) requires some non-road vehicles to conform to the definition of all- terrain vehicle.
As for vehicle emission:
Since 2006 the EPA has executed ATV emission control and decided to carry out fully 2007 later. ATV will carry out the whole vehicle certification since 2009 and abolish the engine test.
Emission standard
|
engine displacement |
emission standard | minimum lifespan | |
| HC+NOx（g/km） | CO（g/km） | ||
| < 100cc | 1.5 | 35 | 5，000km/500小時/5years |
| ≥100cc | 1.5 | 35 | 10,000km/500小時/5years |
4、EPA fuel tank tubing certification
Fuel tank and relevant pervaporation emission
Since 2008 the EPA has set out the HC emission test of oil gas pervaporation for ATV fuel pipe and fuel tank. The oil gasinfiltration capacity of new type vehicle has to under the guaranteed using mileage/ age limit declared by manufacturer and the HC leak amount is no more than 1.5g/m2, while the fuel pipe have to conform to the relevant regulation of SAE J226 and SAE J30, the oil gas infiltration capacity also have to under the guaranteed using mileage/ age limit declared by manufacturer and the HC leak amount is no more than 15g/m2
Oil gas pervaporation standard: apply to 2008 type year
| Vehicle devices |
unit |
HC |
Gradually adopt the model year |
Testprocedure |
|
Fuel tank |
g/m2/day, 82°F | 1.5 |
2008 and later :100%
|
40 CFR 1051.515 |
| Fuel tubing | g/m2/day, 73°F | 15 |
drivepreparation: §1051.501（c）（2） evaporation test： 40 CFR 1051.810（SAE J30） |
5、The relevant products and corresponding regulatory information of EPA certification
|
Types |
Description |
Specification |
Type year |
|
Motorcycle 40CFR Part 86FMVSS |
Road motorcycle |
all |
2006 |
| Fuel tank, fuel pipe 40CFR Part 1051 |
Fuel System |
All |
2008 |
|
locomotive engine40CFR Part 92 |
Production and reproduction of engine |
all |
2000 |
| Marine diesel engine40CFR Part 94 | Recreational engine of commercial ships |
≥50Hp |
2004 |
|
diesel engine40CFR Part89,1039,1068 |
Farm,architecture, mine |
all |
1996 |
| Marine diesel engine40CFR Part 91 |
outboard motor for personal vessel |
all |
1998,1999 |
|
Recreational vehicles40CFR Part 1051,1068 |
Snowmobile, SUV, ATV |
all |
2006 |
|
Small gasoline engine 40CFR Part 90 |
lawn mower, chain saw, generator, pump |
≤25Hp |
1997 |
|
gasoline engine with large displacement40CFR Part 1048,1068 |
Forklift, generator, Miniature vehicle
|
＞Hp |
2004 |
|
Note: from the corresponding type year on, the engine has to pass EPA certification to prove is has conformed to the emission regulation. |
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