EPA sets rules for lawn, boat engines

[Edstock]

From Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...0319/1148/rss25

 

The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled sweeping regulations limiting emissions from small engines in lawn mowers and boats Thursday -- requiring that most small engines have catalytic converters.

 

The new regulation applies to lawn mowers with a 25-horsepower engine or smaller and will reduce smog-forming emissions by 35 percent. Recreational boats will see a 70 percent reduction in evaporated fuel and NOx emissions.

 

Lawn-care and boat engines are major emitters of air pollution. The EPA said they account for about a quarter of carbon monoxide and other emissions. Small engines release up to 25 percent of the gasoline unburned in their exhaust. The EPA estimates the new regulations will save 190 million gallons of fuel annually as a result. They will cost the affected manufacturing industries $391 million a year, the EPA estimated.

[RangerM]

Watch for the Sierra Club to thwart this regulation as they did the PCWP MACT and Boiler MACT standards.

 

They sued saying the regulations didn't go far enough, so the regs were thrown out, and none were implemented, resulting in further pollution (presumably).

 

Ain't America grand?

[chiefstang]

I remember hearing years ago that running a lawnmower for one hour polluted the air as much as driving thousands of miles in a car. I have one of those hippy mowers with no engine, just the whirring blades. That's my only green eco-geek claim. I'm pretty sure I more than make up for it with my emissions- free Mustang, though! :happy feet:

[Edstock]

I'm pretty sure I more than make up for it with my emissions- free Mustang, though!

Probably not. Those 2-stroke lawnmower engines are unbelievably dirty.

[taxman100]

I'm still running a 10 year old LawnBoy, and a 14 year old string trimmer. I also have an extra mower I picked up for 75% off when I was working part time selling lawnmowers for Home Depot. I can rebuild the string trimmer when the time comes, so I think I'm good on owning engines that will actually run for extended perod.

 

I guess when it is time to replace my tractor, I'll have to get a 26 horsepower model.

[lfeg]

This might make me update the groundskeeping equipment over the next year or so. I am using Lawnboys older than many of the posters here, and the main grass cutting and snow plowing tractor is old enough to buy a Grand Marquis! (qualifies for AARP)

[Edstock]

AFAIK, old 4-strokes pollute, but nothing like the 2-strokes, where 1 lawnmower pollutes more than hundreds of cars, maybe more, considering that with current emissions specs, recent cars are so good for hydrocarbon emissions.

[Ron W.]

As I finish reading this thread, I think to myself

 

 

Time for a smoke. :happy feet:

[fmccap]

From Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...0319/1148/rss25

 

The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled sweeping regulations limiting emissions from small engines in lawn mowers and boats Thursday -- requiring that most small engines have catalytic converters.

 

The new regulation applies to lawn mowers with a 25-horsepower engine or smaller and will reduce smog-forming emissions by 35 percent. Recreational boats will see a 70 percent reduction in evaporated fuel and NOx emissions.

 

Lawn-care and boat engines are major emitters of air pollution. The EPA said they account for about a quarter of carbon monoxide and other emissions. Small engines release up to 25 percent of the gasoline unburned in their exhaust. The EPA estimates the new regulations will save 190 million gallons of fuel annually as a result. They will cost the affected manufacturing industries $391 million a year, the EPA estimated.

More Government meddling!!! Just what we need.

[94bronco]

Does anyone wants to guess the amount of heat that is going to be generated by a catyltic converter on a boat? A boat running at a sustained high RPM for a fair amount of time is going to heat them up pretty good. I am sick of this Global Whining bullshit that just makes me want to pollute more.

[Edstock]

More Government meddling!!! Just what we need.

Well, when you have people with pollutant-belching equipment who are too stupid to realize that pollution is a no-no, then more government "meddling" is just what you need. If you are bereft of the wisdom necessary to see that lightening the "footprint" on the environment is desirable, well, that's why we have regulations.

 

Do we have global warming? I don't know. Maybe. Are we causing it? Probably not.

 

But this is about chemical pollution. 50 years ago, we didn't know anything like we do today about the chemical pollution of our air and water. We know now, that there's a problem with a lot of our water. Responsible people understand this, jerks don't, and therefore we get regulations, so that the jerks are forced to clean up their act.

 

So, they can't run their old 75hp Thunder-Puke outboard. Too bad.

Edited September 5, 2008 by Edstock

[fmccap]

Well, when you have people with pollutant-belching equipment who are too stupid to realize that pollution is a no-no, then more government "meddling" is just what you need. If you are bereft of the wisdom necessary to see that lightening the "footprint" on the environment is desirable, well, that's why we have regulations.

 

Do we have global warming? I don't know. Maybe. Are we causing it? Probably not.

 

But this is about chemical pollution. 50 years ago, we didn't know anything like we do today about the chemical pollution of our air and water. We know now, that there's a problem with a lot of our water. Responsible people understand this, jerks don't, and therefore we get regulations, so that the jerks are forced to clean up their act.

 

So, they can't run their old 75hp Thunder-Puke outboard. Too bad.

Was the name calling directed towards me?

 

I guess you are against freedom,

so that the jerks are forced to clean up their act.

 

I'm all for less pollution. We need more options of things to choose from which might come if we got rid of all the rules and regulation(which are costly) of starting a buisness. There are many things and ideas out there(many brought up on this board) that never see reality because of this.

[Edstock]

Was the name calling directed towards me?

No, because I don't know anything about you, so how could I comment? My comment is about people who have been told that what they are doing is UNDENIABLY damaging the environment = chemical pollution = and feel they have a right to continue.

 

I guess you are against freedom,

I am against freedom to spread chemical pollution.

 

I'm all for less pollution.

Sure doesn't sound like it.

 

We need more options of things to choose from which might come if we got rid of all the rules and regulation(which are costly) of starting a buisness. There are many things and ideas out there(many brought up on this board) that never see reality because of this.

Depends on what kind of business you're trying to start. I hope to be building acoustic guitars, myself, next year. So far, "all the rules and regulation" don't seem too daunting, but that's building guitars. As well, because I live in "socialist" Canada, where the province of Ontario has very strong workplace safety regs, I have arranged to have the tops spray-shellacked at a local paint-shop. This avoids a whole mountain of occupational-safety hoo-ha that I would have to contend with if I did the spraying in-house.

 

But I have no argument with those regs, because spraying shellac (natural, ground-up insect chitin) involves toxic solvents.

[fmccap]

Sure doesn't sound like it.

Just in a different way. I'm for doing it through education, not force. Take the War on Drugs, what has that really done except for waste a lot of money?? My two children are educated about this from me and have a very high chance will never do them. This because of me educating them not the War on Drugs which leaves them available just about anywhere in the US.

[armadamaster]

So...what I gotta outta that is a $125 dollar push mower just went up to $250 bucks.

 

Too much gubment authoritah is your friend!

[tim kakouris]

of course...any suggestion of "environment" and the right gets their panties in a bunch about government. clean air be damned, because it might impact a right wingers wallet.

[Edstock]

So...what I gotta outta that is a $125 dollar push mower just went up to $250 bucks.

 

Too much gubment authoritah is your friend!

But there's the opportunity for a competitive business to offer a $120 dollar push mower. Stop whining, as Phil Gramm says.

 

But it outlines the problem. A little old lawn mower pollutes more than hundreds of cars, and you have some brain-dead yumpum going "why should I spend money, it's just a lawnmower?" When you explain the problem, you get snide responses and a negative reaction to something that most rational adults can comprehend. Well, you might not care, but society can't afford not to care, so that's why we have legislation.

[armadamaster]

But there's the opportunity for a competitive business to offer a $120 dollar push mower. Stop whining, as Phil Gramm says.

 

Uh-huh...and how inferior will the rest of that mower have to be now to get it back down to that pricepoint? FWD....less HP....inferior/lighterweight materials...oops was I talking about U.S. automakers in the 80's after CAFE or lawnmowers after CAFE in 2009?

 

But it outlines the problem. A little old lawn mower pollutes more than hundreds of cars, and you have some brain-dead yumpum going "why should I spend money, it's just a lawnmower?" When you explain the problem, you get snide responses and a negative reaction to something that most rational adults can comprehend.

 

It called choice, something most of us DON'T want the gubment making for us or taking away from us. If an environazi wants to spend an extra $100 bucks on his lawnmower because he actually think he's "saving the children", then that is his CHOICE, no one elses.

 

Well, you might not care, but society can't afford not to care, so that's why we have legislation.

 

This isn't legislation, Congress didn't decide on this, it's not even legislation from the bench! The EPA has spoken and it is so! Without ANY input from the taxpayers of this nation! How can you NOT see that?

 

What happens tomorrow when the EPA decides that you use too much electricity cooling your house during the summer or too much fuel heating it in the winter and decide after two weeks into each billing period that you've used too many of your carbon credits and need to be in the dark "for the children"? Based on junk science!

Edited September 7, 2008 by Armada Master

[Savetheplanet]

It called choice, something most of us DON'T want the gubment making for us or taking away from us. If an environazi wants to spend an extra $100 bucks on his lawnmower because he actually think he's "saving the children", then that is his CHOICE, no one elses.

 

 

I am sure you are right, go ahead and burn old tires in your back yard, after all it's your choice.

[RangerM]

I am sure you are right, go ahead and burn old tires in your back yard, after all it's your choice.

 

When people are going to retreat into their respective ideological corners then middle ground is never attainable.

 

No one is advocating (seriously) that we pollute at will, but many like me understand that with anything, there can be a downside.

 

With lawnmowers/boats, it's a simple question of degree. While they may pollute (metaphorically) a quarter's worth, and a car a penny, there are a WHOLE LOT more pennies than quarters.

 

The pollution created by mowers/boats is minor, and this 'solution' is a sledgehammer solution to a thumbtack problem.

[rc38]

When people are going to retreat into their respective ideological corners then middle ground is never attainable.

 

No one is advocating (seriously) that we pollute at will, but many like me understand that with anything, there can be a downside.

 

With lawnmowers/boats, it's a simple question of degree. While they may pollute (metaphorically) a quarter's worth, and a car a penny, there are a WHOLE LOT more pennies than quarters.

 

The pollution created by mowers/boats is minor, and this 'solution' is a sledgehammer solution to a thumbtack problem.

 

 

You have to understand Savetheplanet and his selective idealogy. He came on here bragging about the two big porkchops that he had at a resturant in Chicago.

And that small cities and towns could not provide the same quality of food.

First came to mind was why would a person that is so worried about the enviroment and wants gas prices to go even higher so as to force everyone to sell ther cars and homes. So they will be forced to live in the city and be dependent on public transportation.

Would eat such a vile meat for dinner. I wouldn't feed my worst enemy any pork product.

They could close every fast food resturant,that would solve the healthcare and pollution problem.

Yes i'm conservative,and i eat very healthy. I figure that is why he wants universal healthcare,since he doen't want to be accountable for his food selections

[Savetheplanet]

You have to understand Savetheplanet and his selective idealogy. He came on here bragging about the two big porkchops that he had at a resturant in Chicago.

And that small cities and towns could not provide the same quality of food.

First came to mind was why would a person that is so worried about the enviroment and wants gas prices to go even higher so as to force everyone to sell ther cars and homes. So they will be forced to live in the city and be dependent on public transportation.

Would eat such a vile meat for dinner. I wouldn't feed my worst enemy any pork product.

They could close every fast food resturant,that would solve the healthcare and pollution problem.

Yes i'm conservative,and i eat very healthy. I figure that is why he wants universal healthcare,since he doen't want to be accountable for his food selections

 

Can you show me the post where I said I want people to be forced to sell their homes and forced to live in the city?

FYI I live in the mountains, I moved out of Chicago over a year ago. And I still believe that big cities have a better food selection, I have to drive over an hour to go to a Trader Joe's.

[RangerM]

I have to drive over an hour to go to a Trader Joe's.

 

I hope you don't drive an hour. I'm sure there is a decent Farmer's Market much closer, with better produce than even Trader Joe's.

 

They have both TJ's and Whole Foods near where I live. There is no reason to believe that the food there, particularly pre-packaged, is ANY better.

 

Hannaford, Harris Teeter, or many Krogers/Safeways are just as good. (I mention them because I don't know what is in your neighborhood)

[armadamaster]

I am sure you are right, go ahead and burn old tires in your back yard, after all it's your choice.

 

Ahhh yes, the tired old "if you're not for the environazi dictated brand of clean air/water, then you must be for polluting", right?

Edited September 8, 2008 by Armada Master

[Len_A]

This isn't legislation, Congress didn't decide on this, it's not even legislation from the bench! The EPA has spoken and it is so! Without ANY input from the taxpayers of this nation! How can you NOT see that?

Actually, you're wrong. IF you go back and read the article, it said that "The EPA has been studying the issue since Congress ordered it to set non-road engine standards in the 1990 amendments to the Clean Air Act. Draft emission standards were published by the EPA in May 2007; the final rules were released Thursday." Sie the draft of the new regs were published in 2007, there's been, under the law, plenty of time for public comment on these new rules. There has also been plenty of time for the Republicans, who held the majority in both houses of Congress during the 104th through 106th Congress, to repeal that order to the EPA if they wanted to. Apparently, they did not.

 

When people are going to retreat into their respective ideological corners then middle ground is never attainable.

 

No one is advocating (seriously) that we pollute at will, but many like me understand that with anything, there can be a downside.

 

With lawnmowers/boats, it's a simple question of degree. While they may pollute (metaphorically) a quarter's worth, and a car a penny, there are a WHOLE LOT more pennies than quarters.

 

The pollution created by mowers/boats is minor, and this 'solution' is a sledgehammer solution to a thumbtack problem.

Maybe where you live in Raleigh, NC. Around here, in the Detroit area, as far up to our state capital in Lansing, and up to Flint/Saginaw, and even in Grand Rapids, MI, we have "ozone action days", where if the ozone levels at ground level are high enough, they suggest that you don't mow your lawn (or even refuel your car, except early in the morning and late at night). I have friends in Chicago and Cleveland that have commented on the same thing, occasionally. Personally, I get so annoyed with it, that I go out and mow anyway, but I can't deny that gas powered yard equipment doesn't pollute, because I know it does. I am especially glad that I just replaced my mower - I'm going to baby the sonofabitch, because I am very concerned about the heat of a catalytic converter, even a small one.

Edited September 8, 2008 by Len_A