Public Hearing to Consider Proposed Amendments to the Small Off-Road Engine Regulations: Transition to Zero Emissions

The California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) will conduct a public hearing at the date and time noted below to consider approving for adoption the Proposed Amendments to the Small Off-Road Engine Regulations: Transition to Zero Emissions.

Date: December 9, 2021
Time: 9:00 a.m.

This public meeting may continue at 8:30 a.m., on December 10, 2021. Please consult the public agenda, which will be posted ten days before the December 9, 2021, Board Meeting, for important details, including, but not limited to, the day on which this item will be considered and any appropriate direction regarding a possible remote-only Board Meeting. If the meeting is to be held in person – in addition to remote access – it will be held at the California Air Resources Board, Byron Sher Auditorium, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814.

Background
Small off-road engines (SORE) are spark-ignition engines with rated power at or below 19 kilowatts (25.5 horsepower) used in non-stationary equipment. Because of SORE emission regulations and increasing adoption of zero-emission equipment (ZEE) by residential and professional users, SORE emissions have decreased by 50 percent since 2000. Despite this progress, SORE emissions are expected to increase as California’s population grows. CARB staff is now proposing amendments to the SORE regulations that would transition SORE equipment to ZEE as soon as possible.

The proposed amendments would set emission standards for smog-forming pollutants to zero beginning with model year (MY) 2024 for all new SORE except for portable generator engines. The proposed amendments would set more stringent emission standards for portable generator engines beginning with MY 2024, and emission standards of zero for portable generators beginning with MY 2028. The SORE regulations and the proposed amendments do not apply to stationary generators. The proposed amendments would add a new emission reduction credit program for zero-emission portable generators to incentivize manufacturers to increase production of zero-emission generators with the greatest energy storage and highest power output. The proposed amendments also include updates to the SORE regulations to better reflect real-world operating conditions and ensure expected emission reductions are achieved.

Inquiries concerning the substance of the proposed regulatory action may be directed to the agency representative Dorothy Fibiger, Air Resources Engineer, Testing and Certification Section, at (916) 324-8426 or (designated back-up contact) Chris Burford, Air Resources Engineer, Testing and Certification Section, at (916) 327-4719.

Notice of Public Hearing
The Notice, ISOR, and all subsequent regulatory documents are available on CARB's Rulemaking webpage.
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/rulemaking/2021/sore2021?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Written Comment Period & Comment Submittal
In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, interested members of the public may present comments orally or in writing during the hearing and may provide comments by postal mail or by electronic submittal before the hearing. The public comment period for this regulatory action will begin on October 15, 2021. Written comments not submitted during the hearing must be submitted on or after October 15, 2021, and received no later than November 29, 2021. Comments submitted outside that comment period are considered untimely. CARB may, but is not required to, respond to untimely comments, including those raising significant environmental issues. The Board also encourages members of the public to bring to the attention of staff in advance of the hearing any suggestions for modification of the proposed regulatory action. Comments submitted in advance of the hearing must be addressed to one of the following:

Clerk of the Board, California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street, Sacramento, California 95814

Electronic Submittal
https://www.arb.ca.gov/lispub/comm/bclist.php?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Please note that under the California Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250 et seq.), your written and oral comments, attachments, and associated contact information (e.g., your address, phone, email, etc.) become part of the public record and can be released to the public upon request.