Finally, the two-stroke line of new atv's are about to be discontinued for good. Tree huggers chalk up another victory....
New Off-Road Emissions Standards May End Two-Strokes
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The federal government has sent a clear signal that
it wants an end to two-stroke off-highway motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles
by 2006, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports.
In its recently released proposal for national emissions standards covering
off-highway motorcycles and ATVs, the Environmental Protection Agency has set
requirements only slightly less stringent than those in place in California,
which have severely restricted two-stroke off-highway machines there. Currently,
there are no national emissions standards governing off-road motorcycles and
ATVs. However, there are requirements for road motorcycles that have been in
place for 20 years, and those will be revised in November.
Under the EPA proposal, which is scheduled to be published in the Federal
Register early next month, new off-highway motorcycles and ATVs would be subject
to strict emissions requirements that would be partially phased-in in 2006 and
require 100 percent compliance in 2007. In addition, ATVs would be required to
meet even tougher standards beginning in 2009.
The requirements wouldn't affect machines built through 2005, but would
apply to machines built in 2006 and thereafter. The EPA said it expects that
manufacturers will meet these new, stringent off-highway standards by using
four-stroke engines.
The EPA has decided to allow exemptions for off-road competition-only
machines, described as vehicles lacking lights or a spark arrester, having
suspension travel of more than 10 inches, and having an engine displacement
larger than 50cc.
"Vehicles not meeting the applicable criteria?would be excluded (from the
emissions requirements) only in cases where the manufacturer has clear and
convincing evidence that the vehicles for which the exemption is being sought
will be used solely for competition," the EPA rules note.
During the initial comment period on the proposal, the AMA asked the EPA to
avoid regulations that would eliminate two-stroke machines, favored by many
off-highway riders for their light weight and power characteristics.
The AMA told the agency that it shouldn't mandate the use of fuel
injection, catalytic converters or other means to meet the new emissions
requirements. Instead, the AMA said, manufacturers should be given the
opportunity to meet performance-based standards through research and
development. The Association suggested the EPA establish separate emissions
standards for two-stroke and four-stroke motors, and then let the manufacturers
work to meet those standards.
"We'll oppose any efforts to do away with two-stroke off-road motorcycles
and ATVs," said Edward Moreland, the AMA vice president for government
relations. "Enthusiasts should be able to choose whether to use two-stroke or
four-stroke machines."
The EPA had planned to propose new emissions standards for highway
motorcycles alongside the off-highway standards, but now says the streetbike
proposal will be made separately in November.
The AMA urges motorcyclists to write to the EPA and ask that the agency
create separate emissions standards for four-stroke and two-stroke motorcycles
and ATVs. Tell the agency that officials need to consider safety, cost and
performance in creating the new standards.
The comment deadline is Dec. 19.
The easiest way to let the EPA know how you feel is by using the AMA's
Rapid Response Center at the AMA website at www.AMADirectlink.com. There, you
will find a letter that you can send with a click of the mouse.
Or write to: Margaret Borushko (Docket No. A-2000-01), U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, 2000 Traverwood
Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.
You may also submit comments by e-mail to nranprm@epa.gov.
The EPA plans to hold public hearings on the proposed rules on Oct. 24 in
Washington, D.C., and Oct. 30 in Denver.
The off-highway emissions proposal and related developments can be read at
the EPA website at www.epa.gov/otaq.
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