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Title 40—Protection of Environment–Volume 27
CHAPTER I—ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
SUBCHAPTER F—RADIATION PROTECTION PROGRAMS
PART 190—ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR NUCLEAR POWER OPERATIONS
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 190.01 Applicability.
The provisions of this part apply to radiation doses received by members of the public in the general environment and to radioactive materials introduced into the general environment as the result of operations which are part of a nuclear fuel cycle.
§ 190.02 Definitions.
(a) Nuclear fuel cycle means the operations defined to be associated with the production of electrical power for public use by any fuel cycle through utilization of nuclear energy.
(b) Uranium fuel cycle means the operations of milling of uranium ore, chemical conversion of uranium, isotopic enrichment of uranium, fabrication of uranium fuel, generation of electricity by a light-water-cooled nuclear power plant using uranium fuel, and reprocessing of spent uranium fuel, to the extent that these directly support the production of electrical power for public use utilizing nuclear energy, but excludes mining operations, operations at waste disposal sites, transportation of any radioactive material in support of these operations, and the reuse of recovered non-uranium special nuclear and by-product materials from the cycle.
(c) General environment means the total terrestrial, atmospheric and aquatic environments outside sites upon which any operation which is part of a nuclear fuel cycle is conducted.
(d) Site means the area contained within the boundary of a location under the control of persons possessing or using radioactive material on which is conducted one or more operations covered by this part.
(e) Radiation means any or all of the following: Alpha, beta, gamma, or X-rays; neutrons; and high-energy electrons, protons, or other atomic particles; but not sound or radio waves, nor visible, infrared, or ultraviolet light.
(f) Radioactive material means any material which spontaneously emits radiation.
(g) Curie (Ci) means that quantity of radioactive material producing 37 billion nuclear transformations per second. (One millicurie (mCi) = 0.001 Ci.)
(h) Dose equivalent means the product of absorbed dose and appropriate factors to account for differences in biological effectiveness due to the quality of radiation and its spatial distribution in the body. The unit of dose equivalent is the “rem.” (One millirem (mrem)= 0.001 rem.)
(i) Organ means any human organ exclusive of the dermis, the epidermis, or the cornea.
(j) Gigawatt-year refers to the quantity of electrical energy produced at the busbar of a generating station. A gigawatt is equal to one billion watts. A gigawatt-year is equivalent to the amount of energy output represented by an average electric power level of one gigawatt sustained for one year.
(k) Member of the public means any individual that can receive a radiation dose in the general environment, whether he may or may not also be exposed to radiation in an occupation associated with a nuclear fuel cycle. However, an individual is not considered a member of the public during any period in which he is engaged in carrying out any operation which is part of a nuclear fuel cycle.
(l) Regulatory agency means the government agency responsible for issuing regulations governing the use of sources of radiation or radioactive materials or emissions therefrom and carrying out inspection and enforcement activities to assure compliance with such regulations.
Subpart B—Environmental Standards for the Uranium Fuel Cycle
§ 190.10 Standards for normal operations.
Operations covered by this subpart shall be conducted in such a manner as to provide reasonable assurance that:
(a) The annual dose equivalent does not exceed 25 millirems to the whole body, 75 millirems to the thyroid, and 25 millirems to any other organ of any member of the public as the result of exposures to planned discharges of radioactive materials, radon and its daughters excepted, to the general environment from uranium fuel cycle operations and to radiation from these operations.
(b) The total quantity of radioactive materials entering the general environment from the entire uranium fuel cycle, per gigawatt-year of electrical energy produced by the fuel cycle, contains less than 50,000 curies of krypton-85, 5 millicuries of iodine-129, and 0.5 millicuries combined of plutonium-239 and other alpha-emitting transuranic radionuclides with half-lives greater than one year.
§ 190.11 Variances for unusual operations.
The standards specified in § 190.10 may be exceeded if:
(a) The regulatory agency has granted a variance based upon its determination that a temporary and unusual operating condition exists and continued operation is in the public interest, and
(b) Information is promptly made a matter of public record delineating the nature of unusual operating conditions, the degree to which this operation is expected to result in levels in excess of the standards, the basis of the variance, and the schedule for achieving conformance with the standards.
§ 190.12 Effective date.
(a) The standards in § 190.10(a) shall be effective December 1, 1979, except that for doses arising from operations associated with the milling of uranium ore the effective date shall be December 1, 1980.
(b) The standards in § 190.10(b) shall be effective December 1, 1979, except that the standards for krypton-85 and iodine-129 shall be effective January 1, 1983, for any such radioactive materials generated by the fission process after these dates.
PART 191—ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL OF SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL, HIGH-LEVEL AND TRANSURANIC RADIOACTIVE WASTES
Subpart A—Environmental Standards for Management and Storage
§ 191.01 Applicability.
This subpart applies to:
(a) Radiation doses received by members of the public as a result of the management (except for transportation) and storage of spent nuclear fuel or high-level or transuranic radioactive wastes at any facility regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or by Agreement States, to the extent that such management and storage operations are not subject to the provisions of part 190 of title 40; and
(b) Radiation doses received by members of the public as a result of the management and storage of spent nuclear fuel or high-level or transuranic wastes at any disposal facility that is operated by the Department of Energy and that is not regulated by the Commission or by Agreement States.
§ 191.02 Definitions.
Unless otherwise indicated in this subpart, all terms shall have the same meaning as in Subpart A of Part 190.
(a) Agency means the Environmental Protection Agency.
(b) Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(c) Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
(d) Department means the Department of Energy.
(e) NWPA means the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-425).
(f) Agreement State means any State with which the Commission or the Atomic Energy Commission has entered into an effective agreement under subsection 274b of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (68 Stat. 919).
(g) Spent nuclear fuel means fuel that has been withdrawn from a nuclear reactor following irradiation, the constituent elements of which have not been separated by reprocessing.
(h) High-level radioactive waste, as used in this part, means high-level radioactive waste as defined in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (Pub. L. 97-425).
(i) Transuranic radioactive waste, as used in this part, means waste containing more than 100 nanocuries of alpha-emitting transuranic isotopes, with half-lives greater than twenty years, per gram of waste, except for: (1) High-level radioactive wastes; (2) wastes that the Department has determined, with the concurrence of the Administrator, do not need the degree of isolation required by this part; or (3) wastes that the Commission has approved for disposal on a case-by-case basis in accordance with 10 CFR Part 61.
(j) Radioactive waste, as used in this part, means the high-level and transuranic radioactive waste covered by this part.
(k) Storage means retention of spent nuclear fuel or radioactive wastes with the intent and capability to readily retrieve such fuel or waste for subsequent use, processing, or disposal.
(l) Disposal means permanent isolation of spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste from the accessible environment with no intent of recovery, whether or not such isolation permits the recovery of such fuel or waste. For example, disposal of waste in a mined geologic repository occurs when all of the shafts to the repository are backfilled and sealed.
(m) Management means any activity, operation, or process (except for transportation) conducted to prepare spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste for storage or disposal, or the activities associated with placing such fuel or waste in a disposal system.
(n) Site means an area contained within the boundary of a location under the effective control of persons possessing or using spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste that are involved in any activity, operation, or process covered by this subpart.
(o) General environment means the total terrestrial, atmospheric, and aquatic environments outside sites within which any activity, operation, or process associated with the management and storage of spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste is conducted.
(p) Member of the public means any individual except during the time when that individual is a worker engaged in any activity, operation, or process that is covered by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
(q) Critical organ means the most exposed human organ or tissue exclusive of the integumentary system (skin) and the cornea.
§ 191.03 Standards.
(a) Management and storage of spent nuclear fuel or high-level or transuranic radioactive wastes at all facilities regulated by the Commission or by Agreement States shall be conducted in such a manner as to provide reasonable assurance that the combined annual dose equivalent to any member of the public in the general environment resulting from: (1) Discharges of radioactive material and direct radiation from such management and storage and (2) all operations covered by Part 190; shall not exceed 25 millirems to the whole body, 75 millirems to the thyroid, and 25 millirems to any other critical organ.
(b) Management and storage of spent nuclear fuel or high-level or transuranic radioactive wastes at all facilities for the disposal of such fuel or waste that are operated by the Department and that are not regulated by the Commission or Agreement States shall be conducted in such a manner as to provide reasonable assurance that the combined annual dose equivalent to any member of the public in the general environment resulting from discharges of radioactive material and direct radiation from such management and storage shall not exceed 25 millirems to the whole body and 75 millirems to any critical organ.
§ 191.04 Alternative standards.
(a) The Administrator may issue alternative standards from those standards established in § 191.03(b) for waste management and storage activities at facilities that are not regulated by the Commission or Agreement States if, upon review of an application for such alternative standards:
(1) The Administrator determines that such alternative standards will prevent any member of the public from receiving a continuous exposure of more than 100 millirems per year dose equivalent and an infrequent exposure of more than 500 millirems dose equivalent in a year from all sources, excluding natural background and medical procedures; and
(2) The Administrator promptly makes a matter of public record the degree to which continued operation of the facility is expected to result in levels in excess of the standards specified in § 191.03(b).
(b) An application for alternative standards shall be submitted as soon as possible after the Department determines that continued operation of a facility will exceed the levels specified in § 191.03(b) and shall include all information necessary for the Administrator to make the determinations called for in § 191.04(a).
(c) Requests for alternative standards shall be submitted to the Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
§ 191.05 Effective date.
The standards in this subpart shall be effective on November 18, 1985.
Subpart B—Environmental Standards for Disposal
§ 191.11 Applicability.
(a) This subpart applies to:
(1) Radioactive materials released into the accessible environment as a result of the disposal of spent nuclear fuel or high-level or transuranic radioactive wastes;
(2) Radiation doses received by members of the public as a result of such disposal; and
(3) Radioactive contamination of certain sources of ground water in the vicinity of disposal systems for such fuel or wastes.
(b) This subpart does not apply to:
(1) Disposal directly into the oceans or ocean sediments;
(2) Wastes disposed of before November 18, 1985; and
(3) The characterization, licensing, construction, operation, or closure of any site required to be characterized under section 113(a) of Public Law 97-425, 96 Stat. 2201.
§ 191.12 Definitions.
Unless otherwise indicated in this subpart, all terms shall have the same meaning as in subpart A of this part.
Accessible environment means: (1) The atmosphere; (2) land surfaces; (3) surface waters; (4) oceans; and (5) all of the lithosphere that is beyond the controlled area.
Active institutional control means: (1) Controlling access to a disposal site by any means other than passive institutional controls; (2) performing maintenance operations or remedial actions at a site, (3) controlling or cleaning up releases from a site, or (4) monitoring parameters related to disposal system performance.
Annual committed effective dose means the committed effective dose resulting from one-year intake of radionuclides released plus the annual effective dose caused by direct radiation from facilities or activities subject to subparts B and C of this part.
Aquifer means an underground geological formation, group of formations, or part of a formation that is capable of yielding a significant amount of water to a well or spring.
Barrier means any material or structure that prevents or substantially delays movement of water or radionuclides toward the accessible environment. For example, a barrier may be a geologic structure, a canister, a waste form with physical and chemical characteristics that significantly decrease the mobility of radionuclides, or a material placed over and around waste, provided that the material or structure substantially delays movement of water or radionuclides.
Controlled area means: (1) A surface location, to be identified by passive institutional controls, that encompasses no more than 100 square kilometers and extends horizontally no more than five kilometers in any direction from the outer boundary of the original location of the radioactive wastes in a disposal system; and (2) the subsurface underlying such a surface location.
Disposal system means any combination of engineered and natural barriers that isolate spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste after disposal.
Dose equivalent means the product of absorbed dose and appropriate factors to account for differences in biological effectiveness due to the quality of radiation and its spatial distribution in the body; the unit of dose equivalent is the “rem” (“sievert” in SI units).
Effective dose means the sum over specified tissues of the products of the dose equivalent received following an exposure of, or an intake of radionuclides into, specified tissues of the body, multiplied by appropriate weighting factors. This allows the various tissue-specific health risks to be summed into an overall health risk. The method used to calculate effective dose is described in appendix B of this part.
Ground water means water below the land surface in a zone of saturation.
Heavy metal means all uranium, plutonium, or thorium placed into a nuclear reactor.
Implementing agency means:
(1) The Commission for facilities licensed by the Commission;
(2) The Agency for those implementation responsibilities for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, under this part, given to the Agency by the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Land Withdrawal Act (Pub. L. 102-579, 106 Stat. 4777) which, for the purposes of this part, are:
(i) Determinations by the Agency that the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is in compliance with subpart A of this part;
(ii) Issuance of criteria for the certifications of compliance with subparts B and C of this part of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s compliance with subparts B and C of this part;
(iii) Certifications of compliance with subparts B and C of this part of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s compliance with subparts B and C of this part;
(iv) If the initial certification is made, periodic recertification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s continued compliance with subparts B and C of this part;
(v) Review and comment on performance assessment reports of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant; and
(vi) Concurrence by the Agency with the Department’s determination under § 191.02(i) that certain wastes do not need the degree of isolation required by subparts B and C of this part; and
(3) The Department of Energy for any other disposal facility and all other implementation responsibilities for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, under this part, not given to the Agency.
International System of Units is the version of the metric system which has been established by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures and is administered in the United States by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The abbreviation for this system is “SI.”
Lithosphere means the solid part of the Earth below the surface, including any ground water contained within it.
Passive institutional control means: (1) Permanent markers placed at a disposal site, (2) public records and archives, (3) government ownership and regulations regarding land or resource use, and (4) other methods of preserving knowledge about the location, design, and contents of a disposal system.
Performance assessment means an analysis that: (1) Identifies the processes and events that might affect the disposal system; (2) examines the effects of these processes and events on the performance of the disposal system; and (3) estimates the cumulative releases of radionuclides, considering the associated uncertainties, caused by all significant processes and events. These estimates shall be incorporated into an overall probability distribution of cumulative release to the extent practicable.
Radioactive material means matter composed of or containing radionuclides, with radiological half-lives greater than 20 years, subject to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended.
SI unit means a unit of measure in the International System of Units.
Sievert is the SI unit of effective dose and is equal to 100 rem or one joule per kilogram. The abbreviation is “Sv.”
Undisturbed performance means the predicted behavior of a disposal system, including consideration of the uncertainties in predicted behavior, if the disposal system is not disrupted by human intrusion or the occurrence of unlikely natural events.
Waste, as used in this subpart, means any spent nuclear fuel or radioactive waste isolated in a disposal system.
Waste form means the materials comprising the radioactive components of waste and any encapsulating or stabilizing matrix.
§ 191.13 Containment requirements.
(a) Disposal systems for spent nuclear fuel or high-level or transuranic radioactive wastes shall be designed to provide a reasonable expectation, based upon performance assessments, that the cumulative releases of radionuclides to the accessible environment for 10,000 years after disposal from all significant processes and events that may affect the disposal system shall:
(1) Have a likelihood of less than one chance in 10 of exceeding the quantities calculated according to Table 1 (appendix A); and
(2) Have a likelihood of less than one chance in 1,000 of exceeding ten times the quantities calculated according to Table 1 (appendix A).
(b) Performance assessments need not provide complete assurance that the requirements of § 191.13(a) will be met. Because of the long time period involved and the nature of the events and processes of interest, there will inevitably be substantial uncertainties in projecting disposal system performance. Proof of the future performance of a disposal system is not to be had in the ordinary sense of the word in situations that deal with much shorter time frames. Instead, what is required is a reasonable expectation, on the basis of the record before the implementing agency, that compliance with § 191.13 (a) will be achieved.
§ 191.14 Assurance requirements.
To provide the confidence needed for long-term compliance with the requirements of § 191.13, disposal of spent nuclear fuel or high-level or transuranic wastes shall be conducted in accordance with the following provisions, except that these provisions do not apply to facilities regulated by the Commission (see 10 CFR Part 60 for comparable provisions applicable to facilities regulated by the Commission):
(a) Active institutional controls over disposal sites should be maintained for as long a period of time as is practicable after disposal; however, performance assessments that assess isolation of the wastes from the accessible environment shall not consider any contributions from active institutional controls for more than 100 years after disposal.
(b) Disposal systems shall be monitored after disposal to detect substantial and detrimental deviations from expected performance. This monitoring shall be done with techniques that do not jeopardize the isolation of the wastes and shall be conducted until there are no significant concerns to be addressed by further monitoring.
(c) Disposal sites shall be designated by the most permanent markers, records, and other passive institutional controls practicable to indicate the dangers of the wastes and their location.
(d) Disposal systems shall use different types of barriers to isolate the wastes from the accessible environment. Both engineered and natural barriers shall be included.
(e) Places where there has been mining for resources, or where there is a reasonable expectation of exploration for scarce or easily accessible resources, or where there is a significant concentration of any material that is not widely available from other sources, should be avoided in selecting disposal sites. Resources to be considered shall include minerals, petroleum or natural gas, valuable geologic formations, and ground waters that are either irreplaceable because there is no reasonable alternative source of drinking water available for substantial populations or that are vital to the preservation of unique and sensitive ecosystems. Such places shall not be used for disposal of the wastes covered by this part unless the favorable characteristics of such places compensate for their greater likelihood of being disturbed in the future.
(f) Disposal systems shall be selected so that removal of most of the wastes is not precluded for a reasonable period of time after disposal.
§ 191.15 Individual protection requirements.
(a) Disposal systems for waste and any associated radioactive material shall be designed to provide a reasonable expectation that, for 10,000 years after disposal, undisturbed performance of the disposal system shall not cause the annual committed effective dose, received through all potential pathways from the disposal system, to any member of the public in the accessible environment, to exceed 15 millirems (150 microsieverts).
(b) Annual committed effective doses shall be calculated in accordance with appendix B of this part.
(c) Compliance assessments need not provide complete assurance that the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section will be met. Because of the long time period involved and the nature of the processes and events of interest, there will inevitably be substantial uncertainties in projecting disposal system performance. Proof of the future performance of a disposal system is not to be had in the ordinary sense of the word in situations that deal with much shorter time frames. Instead, what is required is a reasonable expectation, on the basis of the record before the implementing agency, that compliance with paragraph (a) of this section will be achieved.
(d) Compliance with the provisions in this section does not negate the necessity to comply with any other applicable Federal regulations or requirements.
(e) The standards in this section shall be effective on January 19, 1994.
§ 191.16 Alternative provisions for disposal.
The Administrator may, by rule, substitute for any of the provisions of subpart B alternative provisions chosen after:
(a) The alternative provisions have been proposed for public comment in the
(b) A public comment period of at least 90 days has been completed, during which an opportunity for public hearings in affected areas of the country has been provided; and
(c) The public comments received have been fully considered in developing the final version of such alternative provisions.
§ 191.17 Effective date.
The standards in this subpart shall be effective on November 18, 1985.
Subpart C—Environmental Standards for Ground-Water Protection
§ 191.21 Applicability.
(a) This subpart applies to:
(1) Radiation doses received by members of the public as a result of activities subject to subpart B of this part; and
(2) Radioactive contamination of underground sources of drinking water in the accessible environment as a result of such activities.
(b) This subpart does not apply to:
(1) Disposal directly into the oceans or ocean sediments;
(2) Wastes disposed of before the effective date of this subpart; and
(3) The characterization, licensing, construction, operation, or closure of any site required to be characterized under section 113(a) of Public Law 97-425, 96 Stat. 2201.
§ 191.22 Definitions.
Unless otherwise indicated in this subpart, all terms have the same meaning as in subparts A and B of this part.
Public water system means a system for the provision to the public of piped water for human consumption, if such system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves at least twenty-five individuals. Such term includes:
(1) Any collection, treatment, storage, and distribution facilities under control of the operator of such system and used primarily in connection with such system; and
(2) Any collection or pretreatment storage facilities not under such control which are used primarily in connection with such system.
Total dissolved solids means the total dissolved (filterable) solids in water as determined by use of the method specified in 40 CFR part 136.
Underground source of drinking water means an aquifer or its portion which:
(1) Supplies any public water system; or
(2) Contains a sufficient quantity of ground water to supply a public water system; and
(i) Currently supplies drinking water for human consumption; or
(ii) Contains fewer than 10,000 milligrams of total dissolved solids per liter.
§ 191.23 General provisions.
(a) Determination of compliance with this subpart shall be based upon underground sources of drinking water which have been identified on the date the implementing agency determines compliance with subpart C of this part.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 191.24 Disposal standards.
(a) Disposal systems.
(1) General. Disposal systems for waste and any associated radioactive material shall be designed to provide a reasonable expectation that 10,000 years of undisturbed performance after disposal shall not cause the levels of radioactivity in any underground source of drinking water, in the accessible environment, to exceed the limits specified in 40 CFR part 141 as they exist on January 19, 1994.
(2) Disposal systems above or within a formation which within one-quarter (
(b) Compliance assessments need not provide complete assurance that the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section will be met. Because of the long time period involved and the nature of the processes and events of interest, there will inevitably be substantial uncertainties in projecting disposal system performance. Proof of the future performance of a disposal system is not to be had in the ordinary sense of the word in situations that deal with much shorter time frames. Instead, what is required is a reasonable expectation, on the basis of the record before the implementing agency, that compliance with paragraph (a) of this section will be achieved.
§ 191.25 Compliance with other Federal regulations.
Compliance with the provisions in this subpart does not negate the necessity to comply with any other applicable Federal regulations or requirements.
§ 191.26 Alternative provisions.
The Administrator may, by rule, substitute for any of the provisions of this subpart alternative provisions chosen after:
(a) The alternative provisions have been proposed for public comment in the
(b) A public comment period of at least 90 days has been completed, during which an opportunity for public hearings in affected areas of the country has been provided; and
(c) The public comments received have been fully considered in developing the final version of such alternative provisions.
§ 191.27 Effective date.
The standards in this subpart shall be effective on January 19, 1994.
Appendix A to Part 191—Table for Subpart B
Table 1—Release Limits for Containment Requirements
[Cumulative releases to the accessible environment for 10,000 years after disposal]
| Radionuclide | Release limit per 1,000 MTHM or other unit of waste (see notes) (curies) |
|---|---|
| Americium-241 or -243 | 100 |
| Carbon-14 | 100 |
| Cesium-135 or -137 | 1,000 |
| Iodine-129 | 100 |
| Neptunium-237 | 100 |
| Plutonium-238, -239, -240, or -242 | 100 |
| Radium-226 | 100 |
| Strontium-90 | 1,000 |
| Technetium-99 | 10,000 |
| Thorium-230 or -232 | 10 |
| Tin-126 | 1,000 |
| Uranium-233, -234, -235, -236, or -238 | 100 |
| Any other alpha-emitting radionuclide with a half-life greater than 20 years | 100 |
| Any other radionuclide with a half-life greater than 20 years that does not emit alpha particles | 1,000 |
Units of Waste. The Release Limits in Table 1 apply to the amount of wastes in any one of the following:
(a) An amount of spent nuclear fuel containing 1,000 metric tons of heavy metal (MTHM) exposed to a burnup between 25,000 megawatt-days per metric ton of heavy metal (MWd/MTHM) and 40,000 MWd/MTHM;
(b) The high-level radioactive wastes generated from reprocessing each 1,000 MTHM exposed to a burnup between 25,000 MWd/MTHM and 40,000 MWd/MTHM;
(c) Each 100,000,000 curies of gamma or beta-emitting radionuclides with half-lives greater than 20 years but less than 100 years (for use as discussed in Note 5 or with materials that are identified by the Commission as high-level radioactive waste in accordance with part B of the definition of high-level waste in the NWPA);
(d) Each 1,000,000 curies of other radionuclides (i.e., gamma or beta-emitters with half-lives greater than 100 years or any alpha-emitters with half-lives greater than 20 years) (for use as discussed in Note 5 or with materials that are identified by the Commission as high-level radioactive waste in accordance with part B of the definition of high-level waste in the NWPA); or
(e) An amount of transuranic (TRU) wastes containing one million curies of alpha-emitting transuranic radionuclides with half-lives greater than 20 years.
Release Limits for Specific Disposal Systems. To develop Release Limits for a particular disposal system, the quantities in Table 1 shall be adjusted for the amount of waste included in the disposal system compared to the various units of waste defined in Note 1. For example:
(a) If a particular disposal system contained the high-level wastes from 50,000 MTHM, the Release Limits for that system would be the quantities in Table 1 multiplied by 50 (50,000 MTHM divided by 1,000 MTHM).
(b) If a particular disposal system contained three million curies of alpha-emitting transuranic wastes, the Release Limits for that system would be the quantities in Table 1 multiplied by three (three million curies divided by one million curies).
(c) If a particular disposal system contained both the high-level wastes from 50,000 MTHM and 5 million curies of alpha-emitting transuranic wastes, the Release Limits for that system would be the quantities in Table 1 multiplied by 55:
Adjustments for Reactor Fuels with Different Burnup. For disposal systems containing reactor fuels (or the high-level wastes from reactor fuels) exposed to an average burnup of less than 25,000 MWd/MTHM or greater than 40,000 MWd/MTHM, the units of waste defined in (a) and (b) of Note 1 shall be adjusted. The unit shall be multiplied by the ratio of 30,000 MWd/MTHM divided by the fuel’s actual average burnup, except that a value of 5,000 MWd/MTHM may be used when the average fuel burnup is below 5,000 MWd/MTHM and a value of 100,000 MWd/MTHM shall be used when the average fuel burnup is above 100,000 MWd/MTHM. This adjusted unit of waste shall then be used in determining the Release Limits for the disposal system.
For example, if a particular disposal system contained only high-level wastes with an average burnup of 3,000 MWd/MTHM, the unit of waste for that disposal system would be:
If that disposal system contained the high-level wastes from 60,000 MTHM (with an average burnup of 3,000 MWd/MTHM), then the Release Limits for that system would be the quantities in Table 1 multiplied by ten:
Treatment of Fractionated High-Level Wastes. In some cases, a high-level waste stream from reprocessing spent nuclear fuel may have been (or will be) separated into two or more high-level waste components destined for different disposal systems. In such cases, the implementing agency may allocate the Release Limit multiplier (based upon the original MTHM and the average fuel burnup of the high-level waste stream) among the various disposal systems as it chooses, provided that the total Release Limit multiplier used for that waste stream at all of its disposal systems may not exceed the Release Limit multiplier that would be used if the entire waste stream were disposed of in one disposal system.
Treatment of Wastes with Poorly Known Burnups or Original MTHM. In some cases, the records associated with particular high-level waste streams may not be adequate to accurately determine the original metric tons of heavy metal in the reactor fuel that created the waste, or to determine the average burnup that the fuel was exposed to. If the uncertainties are such that the original amount of heavy metal or the average fuel burnup for particular high-level waste streams cannot be quantified, the units of waste derived from (a) and (b) of Note 1 shall no longer be used. Instead, the units of waste defined in (c) and (d) of Note 1 shall be used for such high-level waste streams. If the uncertainties in such information allow a range of values to be associated with the original amount of heavy metal or the average fuel burnup, then the calculations described in previous Notes will be conducted using the values that result in the smallest Release Limits, except that the Release Limits need not be smaller than those that would be calculated using the units of waste defined in (c) and (d) of Note 1.
Uses of Release Limits to Determine Compliance with § 191.13 Once release limits for a particular disposal system have been determined in accordance with Notes 1 through 5, these release limits shall be used to determine compliance with the requirements of § 191.13 as follows. In cases where a mixture of radionuclides is projected to be released to the accessible environment, the limiting values shall be determined as follows: For each radionuclide in the mixture, determine the ratio between the cumulative release quantity projected over 10,000 years and the limit for that radionuclide as determined from Table 1 and Notes 1 through 5. The sum of such ratios for all the radionuclides in the mixture may not exceed one with regard to § 191.13(a)(1) and may not exceed ten with regard to § 191.13(a)(2).
For example, if radionuclides A, B, and C are projected to be released in amounts Q
Appendix B to Part 191—Calculation of Annual Committed Effective Dose
The calculation of the committed effective dose (CED) begins with the determination of the equivalent dose, H
Table B.1—Radiation Weighting Factors, w
1
| Radiation type and energy range 2 | w |
|---|---|
| Photons, all energies | 1 |
| Electrons and muons, all energies | 1 |
| Neutrons, energy | 5 |
| 10 keV to 100 keV | 10 |
| >100 keV to 2 MeV | 20 |
| >2 MeV to 20 MeV | 10 |
| >20 MeV | 5 |
| Protons, other than recoil protons, >2 MeV | 5 |
| Alpha particles, fission fragments, heavy nuclei | 20 |
1 All values relate to the radiation incident on the body or, for internal sources, emitted from the source.
2 See paragraph A14 in ICRP Publication 60 for the choice of values for other radiation types and energies not in the table.
The next step is the calculation of the effective dose, E. The probability of occurrence of a stochastic effect in a tissue or organ is assumed to be proportional to the equivalent dose in the tissue or organ. The constant of proportionality differs for the various tissues of the body, but in assessing health detriment the total risk is required. This is taken into account using the tissue weighting factors, w
Table B.2—Tissue Weighting Factors, w
1
| Tissue or organ | w |
|---|---|
| Gonads | 0.25 |
| Breast | 0.15 |
| Red bone marrow | 0.12 |
| Lung | 0.12 |
| Thyroid | 0.03 |
| Bone surfaces | 0.03 |
| Remainder | 2 0.30 |
1 The values are considered to be appropriate for protection for individuals of both sexes and all ages.
2 For purposes of calculation, the remainder is comprised of the five tissues or organs not specifically listed in Table B.2 that receive the highest dose equivalents; a weighting factor of 0.06 is applied to each of them, including the various sections of the gastrointestinal tract which are treated as separate organs. This covers all tissues and organs except the hands and forearms, the feet and ankles, the skin and the lens of the eye. The excepted tissues and organs should be excluded from the computation of H
For internal irradiation from incorporated radionuclides, the total absorbed dose will be spread out in time, being gradually delivered as the radionuclide decays. The time distribution of the absorbed dose rate will vary with the radionuclide, its form, the mode of intake and the tissue within which it is incorporated. To take account of this distribution the quantity committed equivalent dose, HΤ(τ) where is the integration time in years following an intake over any particular year, is used and is the integral over time of the equivalent dose rate in a particular tissue or organ that will be received by an individual following an intake of radioactive material into the body. The time period, τ, is taken as 50 years as an average time of exposure following intake:
If the committed equivalent doses to the individual tissues or organs resulting from an annual intake are multiplied by the appropriate weighting factors, w
Appendix C to Part 191—Guidance for Implementation of Subpart B
[
The Agency believes that the implementing agencies must determine compliance with §§ 191.13, 191.15, and 191.16 of subpart B by evaluating long-term predictions of disposal system performance. Determining compliance with § 191.13 will also involve predicting the likelihood of events and processes that may disturb the disposal system. In making these various predictions, it will be appropriate for the implementing agencies to make use of rather complex computational models, analytical theories, and prevalent expert judgment relevant to the numerical predictions. Substantial uncertainties are likely to be encountered in making these predictions. In fact, sole reliance on these numerical predictions to determine compliance may not be appropriate; the implementing agencies may choose to supplement such predictions with qualitative judgments as well. Because the procedures for determining compliance with subpart B have not been formulated and tested yet, this appendix to the rule indicates the Agency’s assumptions regarding certain issues that may arise when implementing §§ 191.13, 191.15, and 191.16. Most of this guidance applies to any type of disposal system for the wastes covered by this rule. However, several sections apply only to disposal in mined geologic repositories and would be inappropriate for other types of disposal systems.
Consideration of Total Disposal System. When predicting disposal system performance, the Agency assumes that reasonable projections of the protection expected from all of the engineered and natural barriers of a disposal system will be considered. Portions of the disposal system should not be disregarded, even if projected performance is uncertain, except for portions of the system that make negligible contributions to the overall isolation provided by the disposal system.
Scope of Performance Assessments. Section 191.13 requires the implementing agencies to evaluate compliance through performance assessments as defined in § 191.12(q). The Agency assumes that such performance assessments need not consider categories of events or processes that are estimated to have less than one chance in 10,000 of occurring over 10,000 years. Furthermore, the performance assessments need not evaluate in detail the releases from all events and processes estimated to have a greater likelihood of occurrence. Some of these events and processes may be omitted from the performance assessments if there is a reasonable expectation that the remaining probability distribution of cumulative releases would not be significantly changed by such omissions.
Compliance with § 191.13. The Agency assumes that, whenever practicable, the implementing agency will assemble all of the results of the performance assessments to determine compliance with § 191.13 into a “complementary cumulative distribution function” that indicates the probability of exceeding various levels of cumulative release. When the uncertainties in parameters are considered in a performance assessment, the effects of the uncertainties considered can be incorporated into a single such distribution function for each disposal system considered. The Agency assumes that a disposal system can be considered to be in compliance with § 191.13 if this single distribution function meets the requirements of § 191.13(a).
Compliance with §§ 191.15 and 191.16. When the uncertainties in undisturbed performance of a disposal system are considered, the implementing agencies need not require that a very large percentage of the range of estimated radiation exposures or radionuclide concentrations fall below limits established in §§ 191.15 and 191.16, respectively. The Agency assumes that compliance can be determined based upon “best estimate” predictions (e.g., the mean or the median of the appropriate distribution, whichever is higher).
Institutional Controls. To comply with § 191.14(a), the implementing agency will assume that none of the active institutional controls prevent or reduce radionuclide releases for more than 100 years after disposal. However, the Federal Government is committed to retaining ownership of all disposal sites for spent nuclear fuel and high-level and transuranic radioactive wastes and will establish appropriate markers and records, consistent with § 191.14(c). The Agency assumes that, as long as such passive institutional controls endure and are understood, they: (1) Can be effective in deterring systematic or persistent exploitation of these disposal sites; and (2) can reduce the likelihood of inadvertent, intermittent human intrusion to a degree to be determined by the implementing agency. However, the Agency believes that passive institutional controls can never be assumed to eliminate the chance of inadvertent and intermittent human intrusion into these disposal sites.
Consideration of Inadvertent Human Intrusion into Geologic Repositories. The most speculative potential disruptions of a mined geologic repository are those associated with inadvertent human intrusion. Some types of intrusion would have virtually no effect on a repository’s containment of waste. On the other hand, it is possible to conceive of intrusions (involving widespread societal loss of knowledge regarding radioactive wastes) that could result in major disruptions that no reasonable repository selection or design precautions could alleviate. The Agency believes that the most productive consideration of inadvertent intrusion concerns those realistic possibilities that may be usefully mitigated by repository design, site selection, or use of passive controls (although passive institutional controls should not be assumed to completely rule out the possibility of intrusion). Therefore, inadvertent and intermittent intrusion by exploratory drilling for resources (other than any provided by the disposal system itself) can be the most severe intrusion scenario assumed by the implementing agencies. Furthermore, the implementing agencies can assume that passive institutional controls or the intruders’ own exploratory procedures are adequate for the intruders to soon detect, or be warned of, the incompatibility of the area with their activities.
Frequency and Severity of Inadvertent Human Intrusion into Geologic Repositories. The implementing agencies should consider the effects of each particular disposal system’s site, design, and passive institutional controls in judging the likelihood and consequences of such inadvertent exploratory drilling. However, the Agency assumes that the likelihood of such inadvertent and intermittent drilling need not be taken to be greater than 30 boreholes per square kilometer of repository area per 10,000 years for geologic repositories in proximity to sedimentary rock formations, or more than 3 boreholes per square kilometer per 10,000 years for repositories in other geologic formations. Furthermore, the Agency assumes that the consequences of such inadvertent drilling need not be assumed to be more severe than: (1) Direct release to the land surface of all the ground water in the repository horizon that would promptly flow through the newly created borehole to the surface due to natural lithostatic pressure—or (if pumping would be required to raise water to the surface) release of 200 cubic meters of ground water pumped to the surface if that much water is readily available to be pumped; and (2) creation of a ground water flow path with a permeability typical of a borehole filled by the soil or gravel that would normally settle into an open hole over time—not the permeability of a carefully sealed borehole.
PART 192—HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR URANIUM AND THORIUM MILL TAILINGS
Subpart A—Standards for the Control of Residual Radioactive Materials from Inactive Uranium Processing Sites
§ 192.00 Applicability.
This subpart applies to the control of residual radioactive material at designated processing or depository sites under section 108 of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (henceforth designated “the Act”), and to restoration of such sites following any use of subsurface minerals under section 104(h) of the Act.
(2) Other wastes (which the Secretary determines to be radioactive) at a processing site which relate to such processing, including any residual stock of unprocessed ores or low-grade materials.
(b) Remedial action means any action performed under section 108 of the Act.
(c) Control means any remedial action intended to stabilize, inhibit future misuse of, or reduce emissions or effluents from residual radioactive materials.
(d) Disposal site means the region within the smallest perimeter of residual radioactive material (excluding cover materials) following completion of control
§ 192.01 Definitions.
(a) Residual radioactive material means:
(1) Waste (which the Secretary determines to be radioactive) in the form of tailings resulting from the processing of ores for the extraction of uranium and other valuable constituents of the ores; and activities.
(e) Depository site means a site (other than a processing site) selected under Section 104(b) or 105(b) of the Act.
(f) Curie (Ci) means the amount of radioactive material that produces 37 billion nuclear transformation per second. One picocurie (pCi) = 10
(g) Act means the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, as amended.
(h) Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(i) Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.
(j) Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
(k) Indian tribe means any tribe, band, clan, group, pueblo, or community of Indians recognized as eligible for services provided by the Secretary of the Interior to Indians.
(l) Processing site means:
(1) Any site, including the mill, designated by the Secretary under Section 102(a)(1) of the Act; and
(2) Any other real property or improvement thereon which is in the vicinity of such site, and is determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Commission, to be contaminated with residual radioactive materials derived from such site.
(m) Tailings means the remaining portion of a metal-bearing ore after some or all of such metal, such as uranium, has been extracted.
(n) Disposal period means the period of time beginning March 7, 1983 and ending with the completion of all subpart A requirements specified under a plan for remedial action except those specified in § 192.03 and § 192.04.
(o) Plan for remedial action means a written plan (or plans) for disposal and cleanup of residual radioactive materials associated with a processing site that incorporates the results of site characterization studies, environmental assessments or impact statements, and engineering assessments so as to satisfy the requirements of subparts A and B of this part. The plan(s) shall be developed in accordance with the provisions of Section 108(a) of the Act with the concurrence of the Commission and in consultation, as appropriate, with the Indian Tribe and the Secretary of Interior.
(p) Post-disposal period means the period of time beginning immediately after the disposal period and ending at termination of the monitoring period established under § 192.03.
(q) Groundwater means water below the ground surface in a zone of saturation.
(r) Underground source of drinking water means an aquifer or its portion:
(1)(i) Which supplies any public water system as defined in § 141.2 of this chapter; or
(ii) Which contains a sufficient quantity of groundwater to supply a public water system; and
(A) Currently supplies drinking water for human consumption; or
(B) Contains fewer than 10,000 mg/l total dissolved solids; and
(2) Which is not an exempted aquifer as defined in § 144.7 of this chapter.
§ 192.02 Standards.
Control of residual radioactive materials and their listed constituents shall be designed
(a) Be effective for up to one thousand years, to the extent reasonably achievable, and, in any case, for at least 200 years, and,
(b) Provide reasonable assurance that releases of radon-222 from residual radioactive material to the atmosphere will not:
(1) Exceed an average
(2) Increase the annual average concentration of radon-222 in air at or above any location outside the disposal site by more than one-half picocurie per liter.
(c) Provide reasonable assurance of conformance with the following groundwater protection provisions:
(1) The Secretary shall, on a site-specific basis, determine which of the constituents listed in Appendix I to Part 192 are present in or reasonably derived from residual radioactive materials and shall establish a monitoring program adequate to determine background levels of each such constituent in groundwater at each disposal site.
(2) The Secretary shall comply with conditions specified in a plan for remedial action which includes engineering specifications for a system of disposal designed to ensure that constituents identified under paragraph (c)(1) of this section entering the groundwater from a depository site (or a processing site, if residual radioactive materials are retained on the site) will not exceed the concentration limits established under paragraph (c)(3) of this section (or the supplemental standards established under § 192.22) in the uppermost aquifer underlying the site beyond the point of compliance established under paragraph (c)(4) of this section.
(3) Concentration limits:
(i) Concentration limits shall be determined in the groundwater for listed constituents identified under paragraph (c)(1) of this section. The concentration of a listed constituent in groundwater must not exceed:
(A) The background level of that constituent in the groundwater; or
(B) For any of the constituents listed in Table 1 to subpart A, the respective value given in that Table if the background level of the constituent is below the value given in the Table; or
(C) An alternate concentration limit established pursuant to paragraph (c)(3)(ii) of this section.
(ii)(A) The Secretary may apply an alternate concentration limit if, after considering remedial or corrective actions to achieve the levels specified in paragraphs (c)(3)(i)(A) and (B) of this section, he has determined that the constituent will not pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health and the environment as long as the alternate concentration limit is not exceeded, and the Commission has concurred.
(B) In considering the present or potential hazard to human health and the environment of alternate concentration limits, the following factors shall be considered:
(1) Potential adverse effects on groundwater quality, considering:
(i) The physical and chemical characteristics of constituents in the residual radioactive material at the site, including their potential for migration;
(ii) The hydrogeological characteristics of the site and surrounding land;
(iii) The quantity of groundwater and the direction of groundwater flow;
(iv) The proximity and withdrawal rates of groundwater users;
(v) The current and future uses of groundwater in the region surrounding the site;
(vi) The existing quality of groundwater, including other sources of contamination and their cumulative impact on the groundwater quality;
(vii) The potential for health risks caused by human exposure to constituents;
(viii) The potential damage to wildlife, crops, vegetation, and physical structures caused by exposure to constituents;
(ix) The persistence and permanence of the potential adverse effects;
(x) The presence of underground sources of drinking water and exempted aquifers identified under § 144.7 of this chapter; and
(2) Potential adverse effects on hydraulically-connected surface-water quality, considering:
(i) The volume and physical and chemical characteristics of the residual radioactive material at the site;
(ii) The hydrogeological characteristics of the site and surrounding land;
(iii) The quantity and quality of groundwater, and the direction of groundwater flow;
(iv) The patterns of rainfall in the region;
(v) The proximity of the site to surface waters;
(vi) The current and future uses of surface waters in the region surrounding the site and any water quality standards established for those surface waters;
(vii) The existing quality of surface water, including other sources of contamination and their cumulative impact on surface water quality;
(viii) The potential for health risks caused by human exposure to constituents;
(ix) The potential damage to wildlife, crops, vegetation, and physical structures caused by exposure to constituents; and
(x) The persistence and permanence of the potential adverse effects.
(4) Point of compliance: The point of compliance is the location at which the groundwater concentration limits of paragraph (c)(3) of this section apply. The point of compliance is the intersection of a vertical plane with the uppermost aquifer underlying the site, located at the hydraulically downgradient limit of the disposal area plus the area taken up by any liner, dike, or other barrier designed to contain the residual radioactive material.
(d) Each site on which disposal occurs shall be designed and stabilized in a manner that minimizes the need for future maintenance.
§ 192.03 Monitoring.
A groundwater monitoring plan shall be implemented, to be carried out over a period of time commencing upon completion of remedial actions taken to comply with the standards in § 192.02, and of a duration which is adequate to demonstrate that future performance of the system of disposal can reasonably be expected to be in accordance with the design requirements of § 192.02(c). This plan and the length of the monitoring period shall be modified to incorporate any corrective actions required under § 192.04 or § 192.12(c).
§ 192.04 Corrective action.
If the groundwater concentration limits established for disposal sites under provisions of § 192.02(c) are found or projected to be exceeded, a corrective action program shall be placed into operation as soon as is practicable, and in no event later than eighteen (18) months after a finding of exceedance. This corrective action program will restore the performance of the system of disposal to the original concentration limits established under § 192.02(c)(3), to the extent reasonably achievable, and, in any case, as a minimum shall:
(a) Conform with the groundwater provisions of § 192.02(c)(3), and
(b) Clean up groundwater in conformance with subpart B, modified as appropriate to apply to the disposal site.
Table 1 to Subpart A of Part 192—Maximum Concentration of Constituents for Groundwater Protection
| Constituent concentration 1 | Maximum |
|---|---|
| Arsenic | 0.05 |
| Barium | 1.0 |
| Cadmium | 0.01 |
| Chromium | 0.05 |
| Lead | 0.05 |
| Mercury | 0.002 |
| Selenium | 0.01 |
| Silver | 0.05 |
| Nitrate (as N) | 10. |
| Molybdenum | 0.1 |
| Combined radium-226 and radium-228 | 5 pCi/liter |
| Combined uranium-234 and uranium-238 2 | 30 pCi/liter |
| Gross alpha-particle activity (excluding radon and uranium) | 15 pCi/liter |
| Endrin (1,2,3,4,10,10-hexachloro-6,7-exposy-1,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-1,4-endo,endo-5,8-dimethanonaphthalene) | 0.0002 |
| Lindane (1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane, gamma insomer) | 0.004 |
| Methoxychlor (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2′-bis(p-methoxyphenylethane)) | 0.1 |
| Toxaphene (C | 0.005 |
| 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) | 0.1 |
| 2,4,5-TP Silvex (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid) | 0.01 |
1 Milligrams per liter, unless stated otherwise.
2 Where secular equilibrium obtains, this criterion will be satisfied by a concentration of 0.044 milligrams per liter (0.044 mg/l). For conditions of other than secular equilibrium, a corresponding value may be derived and applied, based on the measured site-specific ratio of the two isotopes of uranium.
Subpart B—Standards for Cleanup of Land and Buildings Contaminated with Residual Radioactive Materials from Inactive Uranium Processing Sites
§ 192.10 Applicability.
This subpart applies to land and buildings that are part of any processing site designated by the Secretary of Energy under section 102 of the Act. section 101 of the Act, states, in part, that “processing site” means—
(a) Any site, including the mill, containing residual radioactive materials at which all or substantially all of the uranium was produced for sale to any Federal agency prior to January 1, 1971, under a contract with any Federal agency, except in the case of a site at or near Slick Rock, Colorado, unless—
(1) Such site was owned or controlled as of Januray 1, 1978, or is thereafter owned or controlled, by any Federal agency, or
(2) A license (issued by the (Nuclear Regulatory) Commission or its predecessor agency under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 or by a State as permitted under section 274 of such Act) for the production at site of any uranium or thorium product derived from ores is in effect on January 1, 1978, or is issued or renewed after such date; and
(b) Any other real property or improvement thereon which—
(1) Is in the vicinity of such site, and
(2) Is determined by the Secretary, in consultation with the Commission, to be contaminated with residual radioactive materials derived from such site.
§ 192.11 Definitions.
(a) Unless otherwise indicated in this subpart, all terms shall have the same meaning as defined in subpart A.
(b) Land means any surface or subsurface land that is not part of a disposal site and is not covered by an occupiable building.
(c) Working Level (WL) means any combination of short-lived radon decay products in one liter of air that will result in the ultimate emission of alpha particles with a total energy of 130 billion electron volts.
(d) Soil means all unconsolidated materials normally found on or near the surface of the earth including, but not limited to, silts, clays, sands, gravel, and small rocks.
(e) Limited use groundwater means groundwater that is not a current or potential source of drinking water because (1) the concentration of total dissolved solids is in excess of 10,000 mg/l, or (2) widespread, ambient contamination not due to activities involving residual radioactive materials from a designated processing site exists that cannot be cleaned up using treatment methods reasonably employed in public water systems, or (3) the quantity of water reasonably available for sustained continuous use is less than 150 gallons per day. The parameters for determining the quantity of water reasonably available shall be determined by the Secretary with the concurrence of the Commission.
§ 192.12 Standards.
Remedial actions shall be conducted so as to provide reasonable assurance that, as a result of residual radioactive materials from any designated processing site:
(a) The concentration of radium-226 in land averaged over any area of 100 square meters shall not exceed the background level by more than—
(1) 5 pCi/g, averaged over the first 15 cm of soil below the surface, and
(2) 15 pCi/g, averaged over 15 cm thick layers of soil more than 15 cm below the surface.
(b) In any occupied or habitable building—
(1) The objective of remedial action shall be, and reasonable effort shall be made to achieve, an annual average (or equivalent) radon decay product concentration (including background) not to exceed 0.02 WL. In any case, the radon decay product concentration (including background) shall not exceed 0.03 WL, and
(2) The level of gamma radiation shall not exceed the background level by more than 20 microroentgens per hour.
(c) The Secretary shall comply with conditions specified in a plan for remedial action which provides that contamination of groundwater by listed constituents from residual radioactive material at any designated processing site (§ 192.01(1)) shall be brought into compliance as promptly as is reasonably achievable with the provisions of § 192.02(c)(3) or any supplemental standards established under § 192.22. For the purposes of this subpart:
(1) A monitoring program shall be carried out that is adequate to define backgroundwater quality and the areal extent and magnitude of groundwater contamination by listed constituents from residual radioactive materials (§ 192.02(c)(1)) and to monitor compliance with this subpart. The Secretary shall determine which of the constituents listed in Appendix I to part 192 are present in or could reasonably be derived from residual radioactive material at the site, and concentration limits shall be established in accordance with § 192.02(c)(3).
(2) (i) If the Secretary determines that sole reliance on active remedial procedures is not appropriate and that cleanup of the groundwater can be more reasonably accomplished in full or in part through natural flushing, then the period for remedial procedures may be extended. Such an extended period may extend to a term not to exceed 100 years if:
(A) The concentration limits established under this subpart are projected to be satisfied at the end of this extended period,
(B) Institutional control, having a high degree of permanence and which will effectively protect public health and the environment and satisfy beneficial uses of groundwater during the extended period and which is enforceable by the administrative or judicial branches of government entities, is instituted and maintained, as part of the remedial action, at the processing site and wherever contamination by listed constituents from residual radioactive materials is found in groundwater, or is projected to be found, and
(C) The groundwater is not currently and is not now projected to become a source for a public water system subject to provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act during the extended period.
(ii) Remedial actions on groundwater conducted under this subpart may occur before or after actions under Section 104(f)(2) of the Act are initiated.
(3) Compliance with this subpart shall be demonstrated through the monitoring program established under paragraph (c)(1) of this section at those locations not beneath a disposal site and its cover where groundwater contains listed constituents from residual radioactive material.
Subpart C—Implementation
§ 192.20 Guidance for implementation.
Section 108 of the Act requires the Secretary of Energy to select and perform remedial actions with the concurrence of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the full participation of any State that pays part of the cost, and in consultation, as appropriate, with affected Indian Tribes and the Secretary of the Interior. These parties, in their respective roles under section 108, are referred to hereafter as “the implementing agencies.” The implementing agencies shall establish methods and procedures to provide “reasonable assurance” that the provisions of Subparts A and B are satisfied. This should be done as appropriate through use of analytic models and site-specific analyses, in the case of Subpart A, and for Subpart B through measurements performed within the accuracy of currently available types of field and laboratory instruments in conjunction with reasonable survey and sampling procedures. These methods and procedures may be varied to suit conditions at specific sites. In particular:
(a)(1) The purpose of Subpart A is to provide for long-term stabilization and isolation in order to inhibit misuse and spreading of residual radioactive materials, control releases of radon to air, and protect water. Subpart A may be implemented through analysis of the physical properties of the site and the control system and projection of the effects of natural processes over time. Events and processes that could significantly affect the average radon release rate from the entire disposal site should be considered. Phenomena that are localized or temporary, such as local cracking or burrowing of rodents, need to be taken into account only if their cumulative effect would be significant in determining compliance with the standard. Computational models, theories, and prevalent expert judgment may be used to decide that a control system design will satisfy the standard. The numerical range provided in the standard for the longevity of the effectiveness of the control of residual radioactive materials allows for consideration of the various factors affecting the longevity of control and stabilization methods and their costs. These factors have different levels of predictability and may vary for the different sites.
(2) Protection of water should be considered on a case-specific basis, drawing on hydrological and geochemical surveys and all other relevant data. The hydrologic and geologic assessment to be conducted at each site should include a monitoring program sufficient to establish background groundwater quality through one or more upgradient or other appropriately located wells. The groundwater monitoring list in Appendix IX of part 264 of this chapter (plus the additional constituents in Table A of this paragraph) may be used for screening purposes in place of Appendix I of part 192 in the monitoring program. New depository sites for tailings that contain water at greater than the level of “specific retention” should use aliner or equivalent. In considering design objectives for groundwater protection, the implementing agencies should give priority to concentration levels in the order listed under § 192.02(c)(3)(i). When considering the potential for health risks caused by human exposure to known or suspected carcinogens, alternate concentration limits pursuant to paragraph 192.02(c)(3)(ii) should be established at concentration levels which represent an excess lifetime risk, at a point of exposure, to an average individual no greater than between 10
Table A to § 192.20(
| Nitrate (as N) |
| Molybdenum |
| Combined radium-226 and radium-228 |
| Combined uranium-234 and uranium-238 |
| Gross alpha-particle activity (excluding radon and uranium) |
(3) The plan for remedial action, concurred in by the Commission, will specify how applicable requirements of subpart A are to be satisfied. The plan should include the schedule and steps necessary to complete disposal operations at the site. It should include an estimate of the inventory of wastes to be disposed of in the pile and their listed constituents and address any need to eliminate free liquids; stabilization of the wastes to a bearing capacity sufficient to support the final cover; and the design and engineering specifications for a cover to manage the migration of liquids through the stabilized pile, function without maintenance, promote drainage and minimize erosion or abrasion of the cover, and accommodate settling and subsidence so that cover integrity is maintained. Evaluation of proposed designs to conform to subpart A should be based on realistic technical judgments and include use of available empirical information. The consideration of possible failure modes and related corrective actions should be limited to reasonable failure assumptions, with a demonstration that the disposal design is generally amenable to a range of corrective actions.
(4) The groundwater monitoring list in Appendix IX of part 264 of this chapter (plus the additional constituents in Table A in paragraph (a)(2) of this section) may be used for screening purposes in place of Appendix I of part 192 in monitoring programs. The monitoring plan required under § 192.03 should be designed to include verification of site-specific assumptions used to project the performance of the disposal system. Prevention of contamination of groundwater may be assessed by indirect methods, such as measuring the migration of moisture in the various components of the cover, the tailings, and the area between the tailings and the nearest aquifer, as well as by direct monitoring of groundwater. In the case of vicinity properties (§ 192.01(l)(2)), such assessments may not be necessary, as determined by the Secretary, with the concurrence of the Commission, considering such factors as local geology and the amount of contamination present. Temporary excursions from applicable limits of groundwater concentrations that are attributable to a disposal operation itself shall not constitute a basis for considering corrective action under § 192.04 during the disposal period, unless the disposal operation is suspended prior to completion for other than seasonal reasons.
(b)(1) Compliance with § 192.12(a) and (b) of subpart B, to the extent practical, should be demonstrated through radiation surveys. Such surveys may, if appropriate, be restricted to locations likely to contain residual radioactive materials. These surveys should be designed to provide for compliance averaged over limited areas rather than point-by-point compliance with the standards. In most cases, measurement of gamma radiation exposure rates above and below the land surface can be used to show compliance with § 192.12(a). Protocols for making such measurements should be based on realistic radium distributions near the surface rather than extremes rarely encountered.
(2) In § 192.12(a), “background level” refers to the native radium concentration in soil. Since this may not be determinable in the presence of contamination by residual radioactive materials, a surrogate “background level” may be established by simple direct or indirect (e.g., gamma radiation) measurements performed nearby but outside of the contaminated location.
(3) Compliance with § 192.12(b) may be demonstrated by methods that the Department of Energy has approved for use under Pub. L. 92-314 (10 CFR part 712), or by other methods that the implementing agencies determine are adequate. Residual radioactive materials should be removed from buildings exceeding 0.03 WL so that future replacement buildings will not pose a hazard [unless removal is not practical—see § 192.21(c)]. However, sealants, filtration, and ventilation devices may provide reasonable assurance of reductions from 0.03 WL to below 0.02 WL. In unusual cases, indoor radiation may exceed the levels specified in § 192.12(b) due to sources other than residual radioactive materials. Remedial actions are not required in order to comply with the standard when there is reasonable assurance that residual radioactive materials are not the cause of such an excess.
(4) The plan(s) for remedial action will specify how applicable requirements of subpart B would be satisfied. The plan should include the schedule and steps necessary to complete the cleanup of groundwater at the site. It should document the extent of contamination due to releases prior to final disposal, including the identification and location of listed constituents and the rate and direction of movement of contaminated groundwater, based upon the monitoring carried out under § 192.12(c)(1). In addition, the assessment should consider future plume movement, including an evaluation of such processes as attenuation and dilution and future contamination from beneath a disposal site. Monitoring for assessment and compliance purposes should be sufficient to establish the extent and magnitude of contamination, with reasonable assurance, through use of a carefully chosen minimal number of sampling locations. The location and number of monitoring wells, the frequency and duration of monitoring, and the selection of indicator analytes for long-term groundwater monitoring, and, more generally, the design and operation of the monitoring system, will depend on the potential for risk to receptors and upon other factors, including characteristics of the subsurface environment, such as velocity of groundwater flow, contaminant retardation, time of groundwater or contaminant transit to receptors, results of statistical evaluations of data trends, and modeling of the dynamics of the groundwater system. All of these factors should be incorporated into the design of a site-specific monitoring program that will achieve the purpose of the regulations in this subpart in the most cost-effective manner. In the case of vicinity properties (§ 192.01(l)(2)), such assessments will usually not be necessary. The Secretary, with the concurrence of the Commission, may consider such factors as local geology and amount of contamination present in determining criteria to decide when such assessments are needed. In cases where § 192.12(c)(2) is invoked, the plan should include a monitoring program sufficient to verify projections of plume movement and attenuation periodically during the extended cleanup period. Finally, the plan should specify details of the method to be used for cleanup of groundwater.
§ 192.21 Criteria for applying supplemental standards.
Unless otherwise indicated in this subpart, all terms shall have the same meaning as defined in Title I of the Act or in subparts A and B. The implementing agencies may (and in the case of paragraph (h) of this section shall) apply standards under § 192.22 in lieu of the standards of subparts A or B if they determine that any of the following circumstances exists:
(a) Remedial actions required to satisfy subpart A or B would pose a clear and present risk of injury to workers or to members of the public, notwithstanding reasonable measures to avoid or reduce risk.
(b) Remedial actions to satisfy the cleanup standards for land, § 192.12(a), and groundwater, § 192.12(c), or the acquisition of minimum materials required for control to satisfy §§ 192.02(b) and (c), would, notwithstanding reasonable measures to limit damage, directly produce health and environmental harm that is clearly excessive compared to the health and environmental benefits, now or in the future. A clear excess of health and environmental harm is harm that is long-term, manifest, and grossly disproportionate to health and environmental benefits that may reasonably be anticipated.
(c) The estimated cost of remedial action to satisfy § 192.12(a) at a “vicinity” site (described under section 101(6)(B) of the Act) is unreasonably high relative to the long-term benefits, and the residual radioactive materials do not pose a clear present or future hazard. The likelihood that buildings will be erected or that people will spend long periods of time at such a vicinity site should be considered in evaluating this hazard. Remedial action will generally not be necessary where residual radioactive materials have been placed semi-permanently in a location where site-specific factors limit their hazard and from which they are costly or difficult to remove, or where only minor quantities of residual radioactive materials are involved. Examples are residual radioactive materials under hard surface public roads and sidewalks, around public sewer lines, or in fence post foundations. Supplemental standards should not be applied at such sites, however, if individuals are likely to be exposed for long periods of time to radiation from such materials at levels above those that would prevail under § 192.12(a).
(d) The cost of a remedial action for cleanup of a building under § 192.12(b) is clearly unreasonably high relative to the benefits. Factors that should be included in this judgment are the anticipated period of occupancy, the incremental radiation level that would be affected by the remedial action, the residual useful lifetime of the building, the potential for future construction at the site, and the applicability of less costly remedial methods than removal of residual radioactive materials.
(e) There is no known remedial action.
(f) The restoration of groundwater quality at any designated processing site under § 192.12(c) is technically impracticable from an engineering perspective.
(g) The groundwater meets the criteria of § 192.11(e).
(h) Radionuclides other than radium-226 and its decay products are present in sufficient quantity and concentration to constitute a significant radiation hazard from residual radioactive materials.
§ 192.22 Supplemental standards.
Federal agencies implementing subparts A and B may in lieu thereof proceed pursuant to this section with respect to generic or individual situations meeting the eligibility requirements of § 192.21.
(a) When one or more of the criteria of § 192.21(a) through (g) applies, the Secretary shall select and perform that alternative remedial action that comes as close to meeting the otherwise applicable standard under § 192.02(c)(3) as is reasonably achievable.
(b) When § 192.21(h) applies, remedial actions shall reduce other residual radioactivity to levels that are as low as is reasonably achievable and conform to the standards of subparts A and B to the maximum extent practicable.
(c) The implementing agencies may make general determinations concerning remedial actions under this section that will apply to all locations with specified characteristics, or they may make a determination for a specific location. When remedial actions are proposed under this section for a specific location, the Department of Energy shall inform any private owners and occupants of the affected location and solicit their comments. The Department of Energy shall provide any such comments to the other implementing agencies. The Department of Energy shall also periodically inform the Environmental Protection Agency of both general and individual determinations under the provisions of this section.
(d) When § 192.21(b), (f), or (g) apply, implementing agencies shall apply any remedial actions for the restoration of contamination of groundwater by residual radioactive materials that is required to assure, at a minimum, protection of human health and the environment. In addition, when § 192.21(g) applies, supplemental standards shall ensure that current and reasonably projected uses of the affected groundwater are preserved.
§ 192.23 Effective date.
Subparts A, B, and C shall be effective March 7, 1983.
Subpart D—Standards for Management of Uranium Byproduct Materials Pursuant to Section 84 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as Amended
§ 192.30 Applicability.
This subpart applies to the management of uranium byproduct materials under section 84 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (henceforth designated “the Act”), as amended, during and following processing of uranium ores, and to restoration of disposal sites following any use of such sites under section 83(b)(1)(B) of the Act.
§ 192.31 Definitions and cross-references.
References in this subpart to other parts of the Code of Federal Regulations are to those parts as codified on January 1, 1983.
(a) Unless otherwise indicated in this subpart, all terms shall have the same meaning as in Title II of the Uranium Mill Tailings Rediation Control Act of 1978, subparts A and B of this part, or parts 190, 260, 261, and 264 of this chapter. For the purposes of this subpart, the terms “waste,” “hazardous waste,” and related terms, as used in parts 260, 261, and 264 of this chapter shall apply to byproduct material.
(b) Uranium byproduct material means the tailings or wastes produced by the extraction or concentration of uranium from any ore processed primarily for its source material content. Ore bodies depleted by uranium solution extraction operations and which remain underground do not constitute “byproduct material” for the purpose of this subpart.
(c) Control means any action to stabilize, inhibit future misuse of, or reduce emissions or effluents from uranium byproduct materials.
(d) Licensed site means the area contained within the boundary of a location under the control of persons generating or storing uranium byproduct materials under a license issued pursuant to section 84 of the Act. For purposes of this subpart, “licensed site” is equivalent to “regulated unit” in subpart F of part 264 of this chapter.
(e) Disposal site means a site selected pursuant to section 83 of the Act.
(f) Disposal area means the region within the perimeter of an impoundment or pile containing uranium by product materials to which the post-closure requirements of § 192.32(b)(1) of this subpart apply.
(g) Regulatory agency means the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
(h) Closure period means the period of time beginning with the cessation, with respect to a waste impoundment, of uranium ore processing operations and ending with completion of requirements specified under a closure plan.
(i) Closure plan means the plan required under § 264.112 of this chapter.
(j) Existing portion means that land surface area of an existing surface impoundment on which significant quantities of uranium byproduct materials have been placed prior to promulgation of this standard.
(k) As expeditiously as practicable considering technological feasibility means as quickly as possible considering: the physical characteristics of the tailings and the site; the limits of available technology; the need for consistency with mandatory requirements of other regulatory programs; and factors beyond the control of the licensee. The phrase permits consideration of the cost of compliance only to the extent specifically provided for by use of the term “available technology.”
(l) Permanent Radon Barrier means the final radon barrier constructed to achieve compliance with, including attainment of, the limit on releases of radon-222 in § 192.32(b)(1)(ii).
(m) Available technology means technologies and methods for emplacing a permanent radon barrier on uranium mill tailings piles or impoundments. This term shall not be construed to include extraordinary measures or techniques that would impose costs that are grossly excessive as measured by practice within the industry or one that is reasonably analogous, (such as, by way of illustration only, unreasonable overtime, staffing or transportation requirements, etc., considering normal practice in the industry; laser fusion, of soils, etc.), provided there is reasonable progress toward emplacement of a permanent radon barrier. To determine grossly excessive costs, the relevant baseline against which cost increases shall be compared is the cost estimate for tailings impoundment closure contained in the licensee’s tailings closure plan, but costs beyond such estimates shall not automatically be considered grossly excessive.
(n) Tailings Closure Plan (Radon) means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or Agreement State approved plan detailing activities to accomplish timely emplacement of a permanent radon barrier. A tailings closure plan shall include a schedule for key radon closure milestone activities such as wind blown tailings retrieval and placement on the pile, interim stabilization (including dewatering or the removal of freestanding liquids and recontouring), and emplacement of a permanent radon barrier constructed to achieve compliance with the 20 pCi/m
(o) Factors beyond the control of the licensee means factors proximately causing delay in meeting the schedule in the applicable license for timely emplacement of the permanent radon barrier notwithstanding the good faith efforts of the licensee to achieve compliance. These factors may include, but are not limited to, physical conditions at the site; inclement weather or climatic conditions; an act of God; an act of war; a judicial or administrative order or decision, or change to the statutory, regulatory, or other legal requirements applicable to the licensee’s facility that would preclude or delay the performance of activities required for compliance; labor disturbances; any modifications, cessation or delay ordered by state, Federal or local agencies; delays beyond the time reasonably required in obtaining necessary governmental permits, licenses, approvals or consent for activities described in the tailings closure plan (radon) proposed by the licensee that result from agency failure to take final action after the licensee has made a good faith, timely effort to submit legally sufficient applications, responses to requests (including relevant data requested by the agencies), or other information, including approval of the tailings closure plan by NRC or the affected Agreement State; and an act or omission of any third party over whom the licensee has no control.
(p) Operational means that a uranium mill tailings pile or impoundment is being used for the continued placement of uranium byproduct material or is in standby status for such placement. A tailings pile or impoundment is operational from the day that uranium byproduct material is first placed in the pile or impoundment until the day final closure begins.
(q) Milestone means an enforceable date by which action, or the occurrence of an event, is required for purposes of achieving compliance with the 20 pCi/m
§ 192.32 Standards.
(a) Standards for application during processing operations and prior to the end of the closure period. (1) Surface impoundments (except for an existing portion) subject to this subpart must be designed, constructed, and installed in such manner as to conform to the requirements of § 264.221 of this chapter, except that at sites where the annual precipitation falling on the impoundment and any drainage area contributing surface runoff to the impoundment is less than the annual evaporation from the impoundment, the requirements of § 264.228(a)(2) (iii)(E) referenced in § 264.221 do not apply.
(2) Uranium byproduct materials shall be managed so as to conform to the ground water protection standard in § 264.92 of this chapter, except that for the purposes of this subpart:
(i) To the list of hazardous constituents referenced in § 264.93 of this chapter are added the chemical elements molybdenum and uranium,
(ii) To the concentration limits provided in Table 1 of § 264.94 of this chapter are added the radioactivity limits in Table A of this subpart,
(iii) Detection monitoring programs required under § 264.98 to establish the standards required under § 264.92 shall be completed within one (1) year of promulgation,
(iv) The regulatory agency may establish alternate concentration limits (to be satisfied at the point of compliance specified under § 264.95) under the criteria of § 264.94(b), provided that, after considering practicable corrective actions, these limits are as low as reasonably achievable, and that, in any case, the standards of § 264.94(a) are satisfied at all points at a greater distance than 500 meters from the edge of the disposal area and/or outside the site boundary, and
(v) The functions and responsibilities designated in Part 264 of this chapter as those of the “Regional Administrator” with respect to “facility permits” shall be carried out by the regulatory agency, except that exemptions of hazardous constituents under § 264.93 (b) and (c) of this chapter and alternate concentration limits established under § 264.94 (b) and (c) of this chapter (except as otherwise provided in § 192.32(a)(2)(iv)) shall not be effective until EPA has concurred therein.
(3)(i) Uranium mill tailings piles or impoundments that are nonoperational and subject to a license by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or an Agreement State shall limit releases of radon-222 by emplacing a permanent radon barrier. This permanent radon barrier shall be constructed as expeditiously as practicable considering technological feasibility (including factors beyond the control of the licensee) after the pile or impoundment ceases to be operational. Such control shall be carried out in accordance with a written tailings closure plan (radon) to be incorporated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or Agreement State into individual site licenses.
(ii) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission or Agreement State may approve a licensee’s request to extend the time for performance of milestones if, after providing an opportunity for public participation, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or Agreement State finds that compliance with the 20 pCi/m
(iii) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission or Agreement State may extend the final compliance date for emplacement of the permanent radon barrier, or relevant milestone, based upon cost if the new date is established after a finding by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or Agreement State, after providing an opportunity for public participation, that the licensee is making good faith efforts to emplace a permanent radon barrier; the delay is consistent with the definition of “available technology” in § 192.31(m); and the delay will not result in radon releases that are determined to result in significant incremental risk to the public health.
(iv) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission or Agreement State may, in response to a request from a licensee, authorize by license or license amendment a portion of the site to remain accessible during the closure process to accept uranium byproduct material as defined in section 11(e)(2) of the Atomic Energy Act, 42 U.S.C. 2014(e)(2), or to accept materials similar to the physical, chemical and radiological characteristics of the in situ uranium mill tailings and associated wastes, from other sources. No such authorization may be used as a means for delaying or otherwise impeding emplacement of the permanent radon barrier over the remainder of the pile or impoundment in a manner that will achieve compliance with the 20 pCi/m
(v) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission or Agreement State may, in response to a request from a licensee, authorize by license or license amendment a portion of a pile or impoundment to remain accessible after emplacement of a permanent radon barrier to accept uranium byproduct material as defined in section 11(e)(2) of the Atomic Energy Act, 42 U.S.C. 2014(e)(2), if compliance with the 20 pCi/m
(4)(i) Upon emplacement of the permanent radon barrier pursuant to 40 CFR 192.32(a)(3), the licensee shall conduct appropriate monitoring and analysis of the radon-222 releases to demonstrate that the design of the permanent radon barrier is effective in limiting releases of radon-222 to a level not exceeding 20 pCi/m
(ii) When phased emplacement of the permanent radon barrier is included in the applicable tailings closure plan (radon), then radon flux monitoring required under § 192.32(a)(4)(i) shall be conducted, however the licensee shall be allowed to conduct such monitoring for each portion of the pile or impoundment on which the radon barrier has been emplaced by conducting flux monitoring on the closed portion.
(5) Uranium byproduct materials shall be managed so as to conform to the provisions of:
(i) Part 190 of this chapter, “Environmental Radiation Protection Standards for Nuclear Power Operations” and
(ii) Part 440 of this chapter, “Ore Mining and Dressing Point Source Category: Effluent Limitations Guidelines and New Source Performance Standards, Subpart C, Uranium, Radium, and Vanadium Ores Subcategory.”
(6) The regulatory agency, in conformity with Federal Radiation Protection Guidance (FR, May 18, 1960, pgs. 4402-4403), shall make every effort to maintain radiation doses from radon emissions from surface impoundments of uranium byproduct materials as far below the Federal Radiation Protection Guides as is practicable at each licensed site.
(b) Standards for application after the closure period. At the end of the closure period:
(1) Disposal areas shall each comply with the closure performance standard in § 264.111 of this chapter with respect to nonradiological hazards and shall be designed
(i) Be effective for one thousand years, to the extent reasonably achievable, and, in any case, for at least 200 years, and,
(ii) Limit releases of radon-222 from uranium byproduct materials to the atmosphere so as to not exceed an average
(2) The requirements of § 192.32(b)(1) shall not apply to any portion of a licensed and/or disposal site which contains a concentration of radium-226 in land, averaged over areas of 100 square meters, which, as a result of uranium byproduct material, does not exceed the background level by more than:
(i) 5 picocuries per gram (pCi/g), averaged over the first 15 centimeters (cm) below the surface, and
(ii) 15 pCi/g, averaged over 15 cm thick layers more than 15 cm below the surface.
§ 192.33 Corrective action programs.
If the ground water standards established under provisions of § 192.32(a)(2) are exceeded at any licensed site, a corrective action program as specified in § 264.100 of this chapter shall be put into operation as soon as is practicable, and in no event later than eighteen (18) months after a finding of exceedance.
§ 192.34 Effective date.
Subpart D shall be effective December 6, 1983.
Table A to Subpart D of Part 192
| pCi/liter | |
|---|---|
| Combined radium-226 and radium-228 | 5 |
| Gross alpha-particle activity (excluding radon and uranium) | 15 |
Subpart E—Standards for Management of Thorium Byproduct Materials Pursuant to Section 84 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as Amended
§ 192.40 Applicability.
This subpart applies to the management of thorium byproduct materials under section 84 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, during and following processing of thorium ores, and to restoration of disposal sites following any use of such sites under section 83(b)(1)(B) of the Act.
§ 192.41 Provisions.
Except as otherwise noted in § 192.41(e), the provisions of subpart D of this part, including §§ 192.31, 192.32, and 192.33, shall apply to thorium byproduct material and:
(a) Provisions applicable to the element uranium shall also apply to the element thorium;
(b) Provisions applicable to radon-222 shall also apply to radon-220; and
(c) Provisions applicable to radium-226 shall also apply to radium-228.
(d) Operations covered under § 192.32(a) shall be conducted in such a manner as to provide reasonable assurance that the annual dose equivalent does not exceed 25 millirems to the whole body, 75 millirems to the thyroid, and 25 millirems to any other organ of any member of the public as a result of exposures to the planned discharge of radioactive materials, radon-220 and its daughters excepted, to the general environment.
(e) The provisions of § 192.32(a) (3) and (4) do not apply to the management of thorium byproduct material.
§ 192.42 Substitute provisions.
The regulatory agency may, with the concurrence of EPA, substitute for any provisions of § 192.41 of this subpart alternative provisions it deems more practical that will provide at least an equivalent level of protection for human health and the environment.
§ 192.43 Effective date.
Subpart E shall be effective December 6, 1983.
Appendix I to Part 192—Listed Constituents
PART 194—CRITERIA FOR THE CERTIFICATION AND RE-CERTIFICATION OF THE WASTE ISOLATION PILOT PLANT’S COMPLIANCE WITH THE 40 CFR PART 191 DISPOSAL REGULATIONS
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 194.1 Purpose, scope, and applicability.
This part specifies criteria for the certification or any re-certification, or subsequent actions relating to the terms or conditions of certification of the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s compliance with the disposal regulations found at part 191 of this chapter and pursuant to section 8(d)(1) and section 8(f), respectively, of the WIPP LWA. The compliance certification application submitted pursuant to section 8(d)(1) of the WIPP LWA and any compliance re-certification application submitted pursuant to section 8(f) of the WIPP LWA shall comply with the requirements of this part.
§ 194.2 Definitions.
Unless otherwise indicated in this part, all terms have the same meaning as in part 191 of this chapter.
Acceptable knowledge means any information about the process used to generate waste, material inputs to the process, and the time period during which the waste was generated, as well as data resulting from the analysis of waste, conducted prior to or separate from the waste certification process authorized by EPA’s Certification Decision, to show compliance with Condition 3 of the certification decision (appendix A of this part).
Administrator’s authorized representative means the director in charge of radiation programs at the Agency.
Certification means any action taken by the Administrator pursuant to section 8(d)(1) of the WIPP LWA.
Compliance application(s) means the compliance certification application submitted to the Administrator pursuant to section 8(d)(1) of the WIPP LWA or any compliance re-certification applications submitted to the Administrator pursuant to section 8(f) of the WIPP LWA.
Compliance assessment(s) means the analysis conducted to determine compliance with § 191.15, and part 191, subpart C of this chapter.
Delaware Basin means those surface and subsurface features which lie inside the boundary formed to the north, east and west of the disposal system by the innermost edge of the Capitan Reef, and formed, to the south, by a straight line drawn from the southeastern point of the Davis Mountains to the most southwestern point of the Glass Mountains.
Deep drilling means those drilling events in the Delaware Basin that reach or exceed a depth of 2,150 feet below the surface relative to where such drilling occurred.
Department means the United States Department of Energy.
Disposal regulations means part 191, subparts B and C of this chapter.
Management systems review means the qualitative assessment of a data collection operation or organization(s) to establish whether the prevailing quality management structure, policies, practices, and procedures are adequate to ensure that the type and quality of data needed are obtained.
Minor alternative provision means an alternative provision to the Compliance Criteria that only clarifies an existing regulatory provision, or does not substantively alter the existing regulatory requirements.
Modification means action(s) taken by the Administrator that alters the terms or conditions of certification pursuant to section 8(d)(1) of the WIPP LWA. Modification of any certification shall comply with this part and part 191 of this chapter.
Population of CCDFs means all possible complementary, cumulative distribution functions (CCDFs) that can be generated from all disposal system parameter values used in performance assessments.
Population of estimates means all possible estimates of radiation doses and radionuclide concentrations that can be generated from all disposal system parameter values used in compliance assessments.
Quality assurance means those planned and systematic actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that the disposal system will comply with the disposal regulations set forth in part 191 of this chapter. Quality assurance includes quality control, which comprises those actions related to the physical characteristics of a material, structure, component, or system that provide a means to control the quality of the material, structure, component, or system to predetermined requirements.
Re-certification means any action taken by the Administrator pursuant to section 8(f) of the WIPP LWA.
Regulatory time frame means the time period beginning at disposal and ending 10,000 years after disposal.
Revocation means any action taken by the Administrator to terminate the certification pursuant to section 8(d)(1) of the WIPP LWA.
Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.
Shallow drilling means those drilling events in the Delaware Basin that do not reach a depth of 2,150 feet below the surface relative to where such drilling occurred.
Suspension means any action taken by the Administrator to withdraw, for a limited period of time, the certification pursuant to section 8(d)(1) of the WIPP LWA.
Waste means the radioactive waste, radioactive material and coincidental material subject to the requirements of part 191 of this chapter.
Waste characteristic means a property of the waste that has an impact on the containment of waste in the disposal system.
Waste component means an ingredient of the total inventory of the waste that influences a waste characteristic.
WIPP means the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, as authorized pursuant to section 213 of the Department of Energy National Security and Military Applications of Nuclear Energy Authorization Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-164; 93 Stat. 1259, 1265).
WIPP LWA means the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Land Withdrawal Act of 1992 (Pub.L. 102-579, 106 Stat. 4777).
§ 194.3 Communications.
(a) Compliance application(s) shall be:
(1) Addressed to the Administrator; and
(2) Signed by the Secretary.
(b) Communications and reports concerning the criteria in this part shall be:
(1) Addressed to the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative; and
(2) Signed by the Secretary or the Secretary’s authorized representative.
§ 194.4 Conditions of compliance certification.
(a) Any certification of compliance issued pursuant to section 8(d)(1) of the WIPP LWA may include such conditions as the Administrator finds necessary to support such certification.
(b) Whether stated therein or not, the following conditions shall apply in any such certification:
(1) The certification shall be subject to modification, suspension or revocation by the Administrator. Any suspension of the certification shall be done at the discretion of the Administrator. Any modification or revocation of the certification shall be done by rule pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553. If the Administrator revokes the certification, the Department shall retrieve, as soon as practicable and to the extent practicable, any waste emplaced in the disposal system.
(2) Any time after the Administrator issues a certification, the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative may submit a written request to the Department for information to enable the Administrator to determine whether the certification should be modified, suspended or revoked. Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative, the Department shall submit such information to the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative within 30 calendar days of receipt of the request.
(3) Any time after the Administrator issues a certification, the Department shall report any planned or unplanned changes in activities or conditions pertaining to the disposal system that differ significantly from the most recent compliance application.
(i) The Department shall inform the Administrator, in writing, prior to making such a planned change in activity or disposal system condition.
(ii) In the event of an unplanned change in activity or condition, the Department shall immediately cease emplacement of waste in the disposal system if the Department determines that one or more of the following conditions is true:
(A) The containment requirements established pursuant to § 191.13 of this chapter have been or are expected to be exceeded;
(B) Releases from already-emplaced waste lead to committed effective doses that are or are expected to be in excess of those established pursuant to § 191.15 of this chapter. For purposes of this paragraph (b)(3)(ii)(B), emissions from operations covered pursuant to part 191, subpart A of this chapter are not included; or
(C) Releases have caused or are expected to cause concentrations of radionuclides or estimated doses due to radionuclides in underground sources of drinking water in the accessible environment to exceed the limits established pursuant to part 191, subpart C of this chapter.
(iii) If the Department determines that a condition described in paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section has occurred or is expected to occur, the Department shall notify the Administrator, in writing, within 24 hours of the determination. Such notification shall, to the extent practicable, include the following information:
(A) Identification of the location and environmental media of the release or the expected release;
(B) Identification of the type and quantity of waste (in activity in curies of each radionuclide) released or expected to be released;
(C) Time and date of the release or the estimated time of the expected release;
(D) Assessment of the hazard posed by the release or the expected release; and
(E) Additional information requested by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative.
(iv) The Department may resume emplacement of waste in the disposal system upon written notification that the suspension has been lifted by the Administrator.
(v) If the Department discovers a condition or activity that differs significantly from what is indicated in the most recent compliance application, but does not involve conditions or activities listed in paragraph (b)(3)(ii) of this section, then the difference shall be reported, in writing, to the Administrator within 10 calendar days of its discovery.
(vi) Following receipt of notification, the Administrator will notify the Secretary in writing whether any condition or activity reported pursuant to paragraph (b)(3) this section:
(A) Does not comply with the terms of the certification; and, if it does not comply,
(B) Whether the compliance certification must be modified, suspended or revoked. The Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative may request additional information before determining whether modification, suspension or revocation of the compliance certification is required.
(4) Not later than six months after the Administrator issues a certification, and at least annually thereafter, the Department shall report to the Administrator, in writing, any changes in conditions or activities pertaining to the disposal system that were not required to be reported by paragraph (b)(3) of this section and that differ from information contained in the most recent compliance application.
§ 194.5 Publications incorporated by reference.
(a) The following publications are incorporated into this part by reference:
(1) U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NUREG-1297 “Peer Review for High-Level Nuclear Waste Repositories,” published February 1988; incorporation by reference (IBR) approved for §§ 194.22, 194.23 and 194.27.
(2) American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA) Standard, NQA-1-1989 edition, “Quality Assurance Program Requirements for Nuclear Facilities;” IBR approved for § 194.22.
(3) ASME NQA-2a-1990 addenda, part 2.7, to ASME NQA-2-1989 edition “Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications;” IBR approved for § 194.22 and § 194.23.
(4) ASME NQA-3-1989 edition, “Quality Assurance Program Requirements for the Collection of Scientific and Technical Information for Site Characterization of High-Level Nuclear Waste Repositories” (excluding section 2.1 (b) and (c)); IBR approved for § 194.22.
(b) The publications listed in paragraph (a) of this section were approved for incorporation by reference by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be inspected or obtained from the Air Docket, Docket No. A-92-56, room M1500 (LE131), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, or copies may be inspected at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. or copies may be obtained from the following addresses:
(1) For ASME standards, contact American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 22 Law Drive, P.O. Box 2900, Fairfield, NJ 07007-2900, phone 1-800-843-2763.
(2) For Nuclear Regulatory Commission documents, contact Division of Information Support Services, Distribution Service, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555, or contact National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, phone 703-487-4650.
§ 194.6 Alternative provisions.
The Administrator may, by rule pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, substitute for any of the provisions of this part alternative provisions, or minor alternative provisions, in accordance with the following procedures:
(a) Alternative provisions may be substituted after:
(1) Alternative provisions have been proposed for public comment in the
(2) A public comment period of at least 120 days has been completed and public hearings have been held in New Mexico;
(3) The public comments received have been fully considered; and
(4) A notice of final rulemaking is published in the
(b) Minor alternative provisions may be substituted after:
(1) The minor alternative provisions have been proposed for public comment in the
(2) A public comment period of at least 30 days has been completed for the minor alternative provisions and the public comments received have been fully considered;
(3) A notice of final rulemaking is published in the
§ 194.7 Effective date.
The criteria in this part shall be effective on April 9, 1996. The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the criteria is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of April 9, 1996.
§ 194.8 Approval process for waste shipment from waste generator sites for disposal at the WIPP.
(a) Quality Assurance Programs at Waste Generator Sites. The Agency will determine compliance with requirements for site-specific quality assurance programs as set forth below:
(1) Upon submission by the Department of a site-specific quality assurance program plan the Agency will evaluate the plan to determine whether it establishes the applicable Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA) requirements of § 194.22(a)(1) for the items and activities of §§ 194.22(a)(2)(i), 194.24(c)(3) and 194.24(c)(5). The program plan and other documentation submitted by the Department will be placed in the dockets described in § 194.67.
(2) The Agency will conduct a quality assurance audit or an inspection of a Department quality assurance audit at the relevant site for the purpose of verifying proper execution of the site-specific quality assurance program plan. The Agency will publish a notice in the
(3) The Agency’s written decision regarding compliance with the requisite quality assurance requirements at a waste generator site will be conveyed in a letter from the Administrator’s authorized representative to the Department. No such compliance determination shall be granted until after the end of the public comment period described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section. A copy of the Agency’s compliance determination letter will be placed in the public dockets in accordance with § 194.67. The results of any inspections or audits conducted by the Agency to evaluate the quality assurance programs described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section will also be placed in the dockets described in § 194.67.
(4) Subsequent to any positive determination of compliance as described in paragraph (a)(3) of this section, the Agency intends to conduct inspections, in accordance with §§ 194.21 and 194.22(e), to confirm the continued compliance of the programs approved under paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section. The results of such inspections will be made available to the public through the Agency’s public dockets, as described in § 194.67.
(b) Waste characterization programs at transuranic waste sites. The Agency will establish compliance with Condition 3 of the certification using the following process:
(1) DOE will implement waste characterization programs and processes in accordance with § 194.24(c)(4) to confirm that the total amount of each waste component that will be emplaced in the disposal system will not exceed the upper limiting value or fall below the lower limiting value described in the introductory text of § 194.24(c). Waste characterization processes will include the collection and use of acceptable knowledge; destructive and/or nondestructive techniques for identifying and measuring waste components; and the validation, control, and transmittal to the WIPP Waste Information System database of waste characterization data, in accordance with § 194.24(c)(4).
(2) The Agency will verify the compliance of waste characterization programs and processes identified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section at sites without EPA approval prior to October 14, 2004, using the following process:
(i) DOE will notify EPA by letter that a transuranic waste site is prepared to ship waste to the WIPP and has established adequate waste characterization processes and programs. DOE also will provide the relevant waste characterization program plans and documentation. EPA may request additional information from DOE.
(ii) EPA will conduct a baseline compliance inspection at the site to verify that adequate waste characterization program plans and technical procedures have been established, and that those plans and procedures are effectively implemented. The inspection will include a demonstration or test by the site of the waste characterization processes identified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section. If an inspection does not lead to approval, we will send an inspection report to DOE identifying deficiencies and place the report in the public docket described in § 194.67. More than one inspection may be necessary to resolve compliance issues.
(iii) The Agency will announce in the
(iv) Our written decision regarding compliance with the requirements for waste characterization programs and processes described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section will be conveyed in a letter from the Administrator’s authorized representative to DOE. EPA will not issue a compliance decision until after the end of the public comment period described in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section. EPA’s compliance decision will respond to significant and timely-received comments. A copy of our compliance decision will be placed in the public docket described in § 194.67. DOE will comply with any requirements identified in the compliance decision and the accompanying inspection report.
(3) Subsequent to any positive determination of compliance as described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of this section, the Agency intends to conduct inspections, in accordance with § 194.24(h), to confirm the continued compliance of approved waste characterization programs and processes at transuranic waste sites. EPA will make the results of these inspections available to the public in the dockets described in § 194.67.
(4) Subsequent to any positive determination of compliance as described in paragraph (b)(2)(iv) of this section, the Department must report changes or expansions to the approved waste characterization program at a site in accordance with the tier designations established in the Baseline Compliance Decision.
(i) For changes or expansions to the waste characterization program designated as “Tier 1,” the Department shall provide written notification to the Agency. The Department shall not ship for disposal at WIPP any waste that has been characterized using the new or revised processes, equipment, or waste streams until EPA has provided written approval of such new or revised systems.
(ii) For changes or expansions to the waste characterization program designated as “Tier 2,” the Department shall provide written notification to the Agency. Waste characterized using the new or revised processes, equipment, or waste streams may be disposed at WIPP without written EPA approval.
(iii) EPA may conduct inspections in accordance with § 194.24(h) to evaluate the implementation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 changes or expansions to the waste characterization program at a site.
(iv) Waste characterization program changes or expansions that are not identified as either “Tier 1” or “Tier 2” will not require written notification by the Department to the Agency before implementation or before shipping waste for disposal at WIPP.
(5) Subsequent to any positive determination of compliance as described in paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this section, EPA may revise the tier designations for approving changes or expansions to the waste characterization program at a site using the following process:
(i) The Agency shall announce the proposed tier changes in a letter to the Department. The letter will describe the Agency’s reasons for the proposed change in tier designation(s). The letter and any supporting inspection report(s) or other documentation will be placed in the dockets described in § 194.67.
(ii) If the revised designation entails more stringent notification and approval requirements (e.g., from Tier 2 to Tier 1, or from undesignated to Tier 2), the change shall become effective immediately and the site shall operate under the more stringent requirements without delay.
(iii) If the revised designated entails less stringent notification and approval requirements, (e.g., from Tier 1 to Tier 2, or from Tier 2 to undesignated), EPA will solicit comments from the public for a minimum of 30 days. The site will continue to operate under the more stringent approval requirements until the public comment period is closed and EPA notifies DOE in writing of the Agency’s final decision.
(6) A waste generator site that EPA approved for characterizing and disposing transuranic waste at the WIPP under this section prior to October 14, 2004, may continue characterizing and disposing such waste at the WIPP under paragraph (c) of this section until EPA has conducted a baseline compliance inspection and provided a Baseline Compliance Decision under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(i) Until EPA provides a Baseline Compliance Decision for such a site, EPA may approve additional transuranic waste streams for disposal at WIPP under the provisions of paragraph (c) of this section. Prior to the effective date of EPA’s Baseline Compliance Decision for such a site, EPA will continue to conduct inspections of the site in accordance with § 194.24(c).
(ii) EPA shall conduct a baseline compliance inspection and issue a Baseline Compliance Decision for such previously approved sites in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section, except that the site shall not be required to provide written notification of readiness as described in paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this section.
(c) Waste characterization programs at waste generator sites with prior approval. For a waste generator site that EPA approved for characterizing and disposing transuranic waste at the WIPP under this section prior to October 14, 2004, the Agency will determine compliance with the requirements for use of process knowledge and a system of controls at waste generator sites as set in this paragraph (c). Approvals for a site to characterize and dispose of transuranic waste at WIPP will proceed according to this section only until EPA has conducted a baseline compliance inspection and provided a Baseline Compliance Decision for a site under paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(1) For each waste stream or group of waste streams at a site, the Department must:
(i) Provide information on how process knowledge will be used for waste characterization of the waste stream(s) proposed for disposal at the WIPP; and
(ii) Implement a system of controls at the site, in accordance with § 194.24(c)(4), to confirm that the total amount of each waste component that will be emplaced in the disposal system will not exceed the upper limiting value or fall below the lower limiting value described in the introductory text of § 194.24(c). The implementation of such a system of controls shall include a demonstration that the site has procedures in place for adding data to the WIPP Waste Information System (“WWIS”), and that such information can be transmitted from that site to the WWIS database; and a demonstration that measurement techniques and control methods can be implemented in accordance with § 194.24(c)(4) for the waste stream(s) proposed for disposal at the WIPP.
(2) The Agency will conduct an audit or an inspection of a Department audit for the purpose of evaluating the use of process knowledge and the implementation of a system of controls for each waste stream or group of waste streams at a waste generator site. The Agency will announce a scheduled inspection or audit by the Agency with a notice in the
(3) The Agency’s written decision regarding compliance with the requirements for waste characterization programs described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section for one or more waste streams from a waste generator site will be conveyed in a letter from the Administrator’s authorized representative to the Department. No such compliance determination shall be granted until after the end of the public comment period described in paragraph (b)(2) of this section. A copy of the Agency’s compliance determination letter will be placed in the public dockets in accordance with § 194.67. The results of any inspections or audits conducted by the Agency to evaluate the plans described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section will also be placed in the dockets described in § 194.67.
(4) Subsequent to any positive determination of compliance as described in paragraph (b)(3) of this section, the Agency intends to conduct inspections, in accordance with §§ 194.21 and 194.24(h), to confirm the continued compliance of the programs approved under paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) of this section. The results of such inspections will be made available to the public through the Agency’s public dockets, as described in § 194.67.
Subpart B—Compliance Certification and Re-certification Applications
§ 194.11 Completeness and accuracy of compliance applications.
Information provided to the Administrator in support of any compliance application shall be complete and accurate. The Administrator’s evaluation for certification pursuant to section 8(d)(1)(B) of the WIPP LWA and evaluation for recertification pursuant to section 8(f)(2) of the WIPP LWA shall not begin until the Administrator has notified the Secretary, in writing, that a complete application in accordance with this part has been received.
§ 194.12 Submission of compliance applications.
Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative, 5 copies of any compliance application(s), any accompanying materials, and any amendments thereto shall be submitted in a printed form to the Administrator’s authorized representative. These paper copies are intended for the official docket in Washington, DC, as well as the four informational dockets in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. In addition, DOE shall submit 10 copies of the complete application in alternative format (e.g., compact disk) or other approved format, as specified by the Administrator’s authorized representative.
§ 194.13 Submission of reference materials.
Information may be included by reference into compliance applications(s), provided that the references are clear specific and that unless, otherwise specified by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative, 5 copies of reference information are submitted to the Administrator’s authorized representative. These paper copies are intended for the official docket in Washington, DC, as well as the four informational dockets in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Reference materials that are widely available in standard text books or reference books need not to be submitted. Whenever possible, DOE shall submit 10 copies of reference materials in alternative format (e.g., compact disk) or other approved format, as specified by the Administrator’s authorized representative.
§ 194.14 Content of compliance certification application.
Any compliance application shall include:
(a) A current description of the natural and engineered features that may affect the performance of the disposal system. The description of the disposal system shall include, at a minimum, the following information:
(1) The location of the disposal system and the controlled area;
(2) A description of the geology, geophysics, hydrogeology, hydrology, and geochemistry of the disposal system and its vicinity and how these conditions are expected to change and interact over the regulatory time frame. Such description shall include, at a minimum:
(i) Existing fluids and fluid hydraulic potential, including brine pockets, in and near the disposal system; and
(ii) Existing higher permeability anhydrite interbeds located at or near the horizon of the waste.
(3) The presence and characteristics of potential pathways for transport of waste from the disposal system to the accessible environment including, but not limited to: Existing boreholes, solution features, breccia pipes, and other potentially permeable features, such as interbeds.
(4) The projected geophysical, hydrogeologic and geochemical conditions of the disposal system due to the presence of waste including, but not limited to, the effects of production of heat or gases from the waste.
(b) A description of the design of the disposal system including:
(1) Information on materials of construction including, but not limited to: Geologic media, structural materials, engineered barriers, general arrangement, and approximate dimensions; and
(2) Computer codes and standards that have been applied to the design and construction of the disposal system.
(c) Results of assessments conducted pursuant to this part.
(d) A description of input parameters associated with assessments conducted pursuant to this part and the basis for selecting those input parameters.
(e) Documentation of measures taken to meet the assurance requirements of this part.
(f) A description of waste acceptance criteria and actions taken to assure adherence to such criteria.
(g) A description of background radiation in air, soil and water in the vicinity of the disposal system and the procedures employed to determine such radiation.
(h) One or more topographic map(s) of the vicinity of the disposal system. The contour interval shall be sufficient to show clearly the pattern of surface water flow in the vicinity of the disposal system. The map(s) shall include standard map notations and symbols, and, in addition, shall show boundaries of the controlled area and the location of any active, inactive, and abandoned injection and withdrawal wells in the controlled area and in the vicinity of the disposal system.
(i) A description of past and current climatologic and meteorologic conditions in the vicinity of the disposal system and how these conditions are expected to change over the regulatory time frame.
(j) The information required elsewhere in this part or any additional information, analyses, tests, or records determined by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative to be necessary for determining compliance with this part.
§ 194.15 Content of compliance re-certification application(s).
(a) In submitting documentation of continued compliance pursuant to section 8(f) of the WIPP LWA, the previous compliance application shall be updated to provide sufficient information for the Administrator to determine whether or not the WIPP continues to be in compliance with the disposal regulations. Updated documentation shall include:
(1) All additional geologic, geophysical, geochemical, hydrologic, and meteorologic information;
(2) All additional monitoring data, analyses and results;
(3) All additional analyses and results of laboratory experiments conducted by the Department or its contractors as part of the WIPP program;
(4) An identification of any activities or assumptions that deviate from the most recent compliance application;
(5) A description of all waste emplaced in the disposal system since the most recent compliance certification or re-certification application. Such description shall consist of a description of the waste characteristics and waste components identified in §§ 194.24(b)(1) and 194.24(b)(2);
(6) Any significant information not previously included in a compliance certification or re-certification application related to whether the disposal system continues to be in compliance with the disposal regulations; and
(7) Any additional information requested by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative.
(b) To the extent that information required for a re-certification of compliance remains valid and has been submitted in previous certification or re-certification application(s), such information need not be duplicated in subsequent applications; such information may be summarized and referenced.
Subpart C—Compliance Certification and Re-certification
General Requirements
§ 194.21 Inspections.
(a) The Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative(s) shall, at any time:
(1) Be afforded unfettered and unannounced access to inspect any area of the WIPP, and any locations performing activities that provide information relevant to compliance application(s), to which the Department has rights of access. Such access shall be equivalent to access afforded Department employees upon presentation of credentials and other required documents.
(2) Be allowed to obtain samples, including split samples, and to monitor and measure aspects of the disposal system and the waste proposed for disposal in the disposal system.
(b) Records (including data and other information in any form) kept by the Department pertaining to the WIPP shall be made available to the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative upon request. If requested records are not immediately available, they shall be delivered within 30 calendar days of the request.
(c) The Department shall, upon request by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative, provide permanent, private office space that is accessible to the disposal system. The office space shall be for the exclusive use of the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative(s).
(d) The Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative(s) shall comply with applicable access control measures for security, radiological protection, and personal safety when conducting activities pursuant to this section.
§ 194.22 Quality assurance.
(a)(1) As soon as practicable after April 9, 1996, the Department shall adhere to a quality assurance program that implements the requirements of ASME NQA-1-1989 edition, ASME NQA-2a-1990 addenda, part 2.7, to ASME NQA-2-1989 edition, and ASME NQA-3-1989 edition (excluding Section 2.1 (b) and (c), and Section 17.1). (Incorporation by reference as specified in § 194.5.)
(2) Any compliance application shall include information which demonstrates that the quality assurance program required pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section has been established and executed for:
(i) Waste characterization activities and assumptions;
(ii) Environmental monitoring, monitoring of the performance of the disposal system, and sampling and analysis activities;
(iii) Field measurements of geologic factors, ground water, meteorologic, and topographic characteristics;
(iv) Computations, computer codes, models and methods used to demonstrate compliance with the disposal regulations in accordance with the provisions of this part;
(v) Procedures for implementation of expert judgment elicitation used to support applications for certification or re-certification of compliance;
(vi) Design of the disposal system and actions taken to ensure compliance with design specifications;
(vii) The collection of data and information used to support compliance application(s); and
(viii) Other systems, structures, components, and activities important to the containment of waste in the disposal system.
(b) Any compliance application shall include information which demonstrates that data and information collected prior to the implementation of the quality assurance program required pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section have been qualified in accordance with an alternate methodology, approved by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative, that employs one or more of the following methods: Peer review, conducted in a manner that is compatible with NUREG-1297, “Peer Review for High-Level Nuclear Waste Repositories,” published February 1988 (incorporation by reference as specified in § 194.5); corroborating data; confirmatory testing; or a quality assurance program that is equivalent in effect to ASME NQA-1-1989 edition, ASME NQA-2a-1990 addenda, part 2.7, to ASME NQA-2-1989 edition, and ASME NQA-3-1989 edition (excluding Section 2.1 (b) and (c) and Section 17.1). (Incorporation by reference as specified in § 194.5.)
(c) Any compliance application shall provide, to the extent practicable, information which describes how all data used to support the compliance application have been assessed for their quality characteristics, including:
(1) Data accuracy, i.e., the degree to which data agree with an accepted reference or true value;
(2) Data precision, i.e., a measure of the mutual agreement between comparable data gathered or developed under similar conditions expressed in terms of a standard deviation;
(3) Data representativeness, i.e., the degree to which data accurately and precisely represent a characteristic of a population, a parameter, variations at a sampling point, or environmental conditions;
(4) Data completeness, i.e., a measure of the amount of valid data obtained compared to the amount that was expected; and
(5) Data comparability, i.e., a measure of the confidence with which one data set can be compared to another.
(d) Any compliance application shall provide information which demonstrates how all data are qualified for use in the demonstration of compliance.
(e) The Administrator will verify appropriate execution of quality assurance programs through inspections, record reviews and record keeping requirements, which may include, but may not be limited to, surveillance, audits and management systems reviews.
§ 194.23 Models and computer codes.
(a) Any compliance application shall include:
(1) A description of the conceptual models and scenario construction used to support any compliance application.
(2) A description of plausible, alternative conceptual model(s) seriously considered but not used to support such application, and an explanation of the reason(s) why such model(s) was not deemed to accurately portray performance of the disposal system.
(3) Documentation that:
(i) Conceptual models and scenarios reasonably represent possible future states of the disposal system;
(ii) Mathematical models incorporate equations and boundary conditions which reasonably represent the mathematical formulation of the conceptual models;
(iii) Numerical models provide numerical schemes which enable the mathematical models to obtain stable solutions;
(iv) Computer models accurately implement the numerical models; i.e., computer codes are free of coding errors and produce stable solutions;
(v) Conceptual models have undergone peer review according to § 194.27.
(b) Computer codes used to support any compliance application shall be documented in a manner that complies with the requirements of ASME NQA-2a-1990 addenda, part 2.7, to ASME NQA-2-1989 edition. (Incorporation by reference as specified in § 194.5.)
(c) Documentation of all models and computer codes included as part of any compliance application performance assessment calculation shall be provided. Such documentation shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(1) Descriptions of the theoretical backgrounds of each model and the method of analysis or assessment;
(2) General descriptions of the models; discussions of the limits of applicability of each model; detailed instructions for executing the computer codes, including hardware and software requirements, input and output formats with explanations of each input and output variable and parameter (e.g., parameter name and units); listings of input and output files from a sample computer run; and reports on code verification, benchmarking, validation, and quality assurance procedures;
(3) Detailed descriptions of the structure of computer codes and complete listings of the source codes;
(4) Detailed descriptions of data collection procedures, sources of data, data reduction and analysis, and code input parameter development;
(5) Any necessary licenses; and
(6) An explanation of the manner in which models and computer codes incorporate the effects of parameter correlation.
(d) The Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative may verify the results of computer simulations used to support any compliance application by performing independent simulations. Data files, source codes, executable versions of computer software for each model, other material or information needed to permit the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative to perform independent simulations, and access to necessary hardware to perform such simulations, shall be provided within 30 calendar days of a request by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative.
§ 194.24 Waste characterization.
(a) Any compliance application shall describe the chemical, radiological and physical composition of all existing waste proposed for disposal in the disposal system. To the extent practicable, any compliance application shall also describe the chemical, radiological and physical composition of to-be-generated waste proposed for disposal in the disposal system. These descriptions shall include a list of waste components and their approximate quantities in the waste. This list may be derived from process knowledge, current non-destructive examination/assay, or other information and methods.
(b) The Department shall submit in the compliance certification application the results of an analysis which substantiates:
(1) That all waste characteristics influencing containment of waste in the disposal system have been identified and assessed for their impact on disposal system performance. The characteristics to be analyzed shall include, but shall not be limited to: Solubility; formation of colloidal suspensions containing radionuclides; production of gas from the waste; shear strength; compactability; and other waste-related inputs into the computer models that are used in the performance assessment.
(2) That all waste components influencing the waste characteristics identified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section have been identified and assessed for their impact on disposal system performance. The components to be analyzed shall include, but shall not be limited to: metals; cellulosics; chelating agents; water and other liquids; and activity in curies of each isotope of the radionuclides present.
(3) Any decision to exclude consideration of any waste characteristic or waste component because such characteristic or component is not expected to significantly influence the containment of the waste in the disposal system.
(c) For each waste component identified and assessed pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, the Department shall specify the limiting value (expressed as an upper or lower limit of mass, volume, curies, concentration, etc.), and the associated uncertainty (i.e., margin of error) for each limiting value, of the total inventory of such waste proposed for disposal in the disposal system. Any compliance application shall:
(1) Demonstrate that, for the total inventory of waste proposed for disposal in the disposal system, WIPP complies with the numeric requirements of § 194.34 and § 194.55 for the upper or lower limits (including the associated uncertainties), as appropriate, for each waste component identified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, and for the plausible combinations of upper and lower limits of such waste components that would result in the greatest estimated release.
(2) Identify and describe the method(s) used to quantify the limits of waste components identified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(3) Provide information that demonstrates that the use of acceptable knowledge to quantify components in waste for disposal conforms with the quality assurance requirements of § 194.22.
(4) Provide information which demonstrates that a system of controls has been and will continue to be implemented to confirm that the total amount of each waste component that will be emplaced in the disposal system will not exceed the upper limiting value or fall below the lower limiting value described in the introductory text of paragraph (c) of this section. The system of controls shall include, but shall not be limited to: Measurement; sampling; chain of custody records; record keeping systems; waste loading schemes used; and other documentation.
(5) Identify and describe such controls delineated in paragraph (c)(4) of this section and confirm that they are applied in accordance with the quality assurance requirements found in § 194.22.
(d) The Department shall include a waste loading scheme in any compliance application, or else performance assessments conducted pursuant to § 194.32 and compliance assessments conducted pursuant to § 194.54 shall assume random placement of waste in the disposal system.
(e) Waste may be emplaced in the disposal system only if the emplaced components of such waste will not cause:
(1) The total quantity of waste in the disposal system to exceed the upper limiting value, including the associated uncertainty, described in the introductory text to paragraph (c) of this section; or
(2) The total quantity of waste that will have been emplaced in the disposal system, prior to closure, to fall below the lower limiting value, including the associated uncertainty, described in the introductory text to paragraph (c) of this section.
(f) Waste emplacement shall conform to the assumed waste loading conditions, if any, used in performance assessments conducted pursuant to § 194.32 and compliance assessments conducted pursuant to § 194.54.
(g) The Department shall demonstrate in any compliance application that the total inventory of waste emplaced in the disposal system complies with the limitations on transuranic waste disposal described in the WIPP LWA.
(h) The Administrator will use inspections and records reviews, such as audits, to verify compliance with this section.
§ 194.25 Future state assumptions.
(a) Unless otherwise specified in this part or in the disposal regulations, performance assessments and compliance assessments conducted pursuant the provisions of this part to demonstrate compliance with § 191.13, § 191.15 and part 191, subpart C shall assume that characteristics of the future remain what they are at the time the compliance application is prepared, provided that such characteristics are not related to hydrogeologic, geologic or climatic conditions.
(b) In considering future states pursuant to this section, the Department shall document in any compliance application, to the extent practicable, effects of potential future hydrogeologic, geologic and climatic conditions on the disposal system over the regulatory time frame. Such documentation shall be part of the activities undertaken pursuant to § 194.14, Content of compliance certification application; § 194.32, Scope of performance assessments; and § 194.54, Scope of compliance assessments.
(1) In considering the effects of hydrogeologic conditions on the disposal system, the Department shall document in any compliance application, to the extent practicable, the effects of potential changes to hydrogeologic conditions.
(2) In considering the effects of geologic conditions on the disposal system, the Department shall document in any compliance application, to the extent practicable, the effects of potential changes to geologic conditions, including, but not limited to: Dissolution; near surface geomorphic features and processes; and related subsidence in the geologic units of the disposal system.
(3) In considering the effects of climatic conditions on the disposal system, the Department shall document in any compliance application, to the extent practicable, the effects of potential changes to future climate cycles of increased precipitation (as compared to present conditions).
§ 194.26 Expert judgment.
(a) Expert judgment, by an individual expert or panel of experts, may be used to support any compliance application, provided that expert judgment does not substitute for information that could reasonably be obtained through data collection or experimentation.
(b) Any compliance application shall:
(1) Identify any expert judgments used to support the application and shall identify experts (by name and employer) involved in any expert judgment elicitation processes used to support the application.
(2) Describe the process of eliciting expert judgment, and document the results of expert judgment elicitation processes and the reasoning behind those results. Documentation of interviews used to elicit judgments from experts, the questions or issues presented for elicitation of expert judgment, background information provided to experts, and deliberations and formal interactions among experts shall be provided. The opinions of all experts involved in each elicitation process shall be provided whether the opinions are used to support compliance applications or not.
(3) Provide documentation that the following restrictions and guidelines have been applied to any selection of individuals used to elicit expert judgments:
(i) Individuals who are members of the team of investigators requesting the judgment or the team of investigators who will use the judgment were not selected; and
(ii) Individuals who maintain, at any organizational level, a supervisory role or who are supervised by those who will utilize the judgment were not selected.
(4) Provide information which demonstrates that:
(i) The expertise of any individual involved in expert judgment elicitation comports with the level of knowledge required by the questions or issues presented to that individual; and
(ii) The expertise of any expert panel, as a whole, involved in expert judgment elicitation comports with the level and variety of knowledge required by the questions or issues presented to that panel.
(5) Explain the relationship among the information and issues presented to experts prior to the elicitation process, the elicited judgment of any expert panel or individual, and the purpose for which the expert judgment is being used in compliance applications(s).
(6) Provide documentation that the initial purpose for which expert judgment was intended, as presented to the expert panel, is consistent with the purpose for which this judgment was used in compliance application(s).
(7) Provide documentation that the following restrictions and guidelines have been applied in eliciting expert judgment:
(i) At least five individuals shall be used in any expert elicitation process, unless there is a lack or unavailability of experts and a documented rationale is provided that explains why fewer than five individuals were selected.
(ii) At least two-thirds of the experts involved in an elicitation shall consist of individuals who are not employed directly by the Department or by the Department’s contractors, unless the Department can demonstrate and document that there is a lack or unavailability of qualified independent experts. If so demonstrated, at least one-third of the experts involved in an elicitation shall consist of individuals who are not employed directly by the Department or by the Department’s contractors.
(c) The public shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to present its scientific and technical views to expert panels as input to any expert elicitation process.
§ 194.27 Peer review.
(a) Any compliance application shall include documentation of peer review that has been conducted, in a manner required by this section, for:
(1) Conceptual models selected and developed by the Department;
(2) Waste characterization analyses as required in § 194.24(b); and
(3) Engineered barrier evaluation as required in § 194.44.
(b) Peer review processes required in paragraph (a) of this section, and conducted subsequent to the promulgation of this part, shall be conducted in a manner that is compatible with NUREG-1297, “Peer Review for High-Level Nuclear Waste Repositories,” published February 1988. (Incorporation by reference as specified in § 194.5.)
(c) Any compliance application shall:
(1) Include information that demonstrates that peer review processes required in paragraph (a) of this section, and conducted prior to the implementation of the promulgation of this part, were conducted in accordance with an alternate process substantially equivalent in effect to NUREG-1297 and approved by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative; and
(2) Document any peer review processes conducted in addition to those required pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section. Such documentation shall include formal requests, from the Department to outside review groups or individuals, to review or comment on any information used to support compliance applications, and the responses from such groups or individuals.
Containment Requirements
§ 194.31 Application of release limits.
The release limits shall be calculated according to part 191, appendix A of this chapter, using the total activity, in curies, that will exist in the disposal system at the time of disposal.
§ 194.32 Scope of performance assessments.
(a) Performance assessments shall consider natural processes and events, mining, deep drilling, and shallow drilling that may affect the disposal system during the regulatory time frame.
(b) Assessments of mining effects may be limited to changes in the hydraulic conductivity of the hydrogeologic units of the disposal system from excavation mining for natural resources. Mining shall be assumed to occur with a one in 100 probability in each century of the regulatory time frame. Performance assessments shall assume that mineral deposits of those resources, similar in quality and type to those resources currently extracted from the Delaware Basin, will be completely removed from the controlled area during the century in which such mining is randomly calculated to occur. Complete removal of such mineral resources shall be assumed to occur only once during the regulatory time frame.
(c) Performance assessments shall include an analysis of the effects on the disposal system of any activities that occur in the vicinity of the disposal system prior to disposal and are expected to occur in the vicinity of the disposal system soon after disposal. Such activities shall include, but shall not be limited to, existing boreholes and the development of any existing leases that can be reasonably expected to be developed in the near future, including boreholes and leases that may be used for fluid injection activities.
(d) Performance assessments need not consider processes and events that have less than one chance in 10,000 of occurring over 10,000 years.
(e) Any compliance application(s) shall include information which:
(1) Identifies all potential processes, events or sequences and combinations of processes and events that may occur during the regulatory time frame and may affect the disposal system;
(2) Identifies the processes, events or sequences and combinations of processes and events included in performance assessments; and
(3) Documents why any processes, events or sequences and combinations of processes and events identified pursuant to paragraph (e)(1) of this section were not included in performance assessment results provided in any compliance application.
§ 194.33 Consideration of drilling events in performance assessments.
(a) Performance assessments shall examine deep drilling and shallow drilling that may potentially affect the disposal system during the regulatory time frame.
(b) The following assumptions and process shall be used in assessing the likelihood and consequences of drilling events, and the results of such process shall be documented in any compliance application:
(1) Inadvertent and intermittent intrusion by drilling for resources (other than those resources provided by the waste in the disposal system or engineered barriers designed to isolate such waste) is the most severe human intrusion scenario.
(2) In performance assessments, drilling events shall be assumed to occur in the Delaware Basin at random intervals in time and space during the regulatory time frame.
(3) The frequency of deep drilling shall be calculated in the following manner:
(i) Identify deep drilling that has occurred for each resource in the Delaware Basin over the past 100 years prior to the time at which a compliance application is prepared.
(ii) The total rate of deep drilling shall be the sum of the rates of deep drilling for each resource.
(4) The frequency of shallow drilling shall be calculated in the following manner:
(i) Identify shallow drilling that has occurred for each resource in the Delaware Basin over the past 100 years prior to the time at which a compliance application is prepared.
(ii) The total rate of shallow drilling shall be the sum of the rates of shallow drilling for each resource.
(iii) In considering the historical rate of all shallow drilling, the Department may, if justified, consider only the historical rate of shallow drilling for resources of similar type and quality to those in the controlled area.
(c) Performance assessments shall document that in analyzing the consequences of drilling events, the Department assumed that:
(1) Future drilling practices and technology will remain consistent with practices in the Delaware Basin at the time a compliance application is prepared. Such future drilling practices shall include, but shall not be limited to: The types and amounts of drilling fluids; borehole depths, diameters, and seals; and the fraction of such boreholes that are sealed by humans; and
(2) Natural processes will degrade or otherwise affect the capability of boreholes to transmit fluids over the regulatory time frame.
(d) With respect to future drilling events, performance assessments need not analyze the effects of techniques used for resource recovery subsequent to the drilling of the borehole.
§ 194.34 Results of performance assessments.
(a) The results of performance assessments shall be assembled into “complementary, cumulative distribution functions” (CCDFs) that represent the probability of exceeding various levels of cumulative release caused by all significant processes and events.
(b) Probability distributions for uncertain disposal system parameter values used in performance assessments shall be developed and documented in any compliance application.
(c) Computational techniques, which draw random samples from across the entire range of the probability distributions developed pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section, shall be used in generating CCDFs and shall be documented in any compliance application.
(d) The number of CCDFs generated shall be large enough such that, at cumulative releases of 1 and 10, the maximum CCDF generated exceeds the 99th percentile of the population of CCDFs with at least a 0.95 probability. Values of cumulative release shall be calculated according to Note 6 of Table 1, appendix A of part 191 of this chapter.
(e) Any compliance application shall display the full range of CCDFs generated.
(f) Any compliance application shall provide information which demonstrates that there is at least a 95 percent level of statistical confidence that the mean of the population of CCDFs meets the containment requirements of § 191.13 of this chapter.
Assurance Requirements
§ 194.41 Active institutional controls.
(a) Any compliance application shall include detailed descriptions of proposed active institutional controls, the controls’ location, and the period of time the controls are proposed to remain active. Assumptions pertaining to active institutional controls and their effectiveness in terms of preventing or reducing radionuclide releases shall be supported by such descriptions.
(b) Performance assessments shall not consider any contributions from active institutional controls for more than 100 years after disposal.
§ 194.42 Monitoring.
(a) The Department shall conduct an analysis of the effects of disposal system parameters on the containment of waste in the disposal system and shall include the results of such analysis in any compliance application. The results of the analysis shall be used in developing plans for pre-closure and post-closure monitoring required pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section. The disposal system parameters analyzed shall include, at a minimum:
(1) Properties of backfilled material, including porosity, permeability, and degree of compaction and reconsolidation;
(2) Stresses and extent of deformation of the surrounding roof, walls, and floor of the waste disposal room;
(3) Initiation or displacement of major brittle deformation features in the roof or surrounding rock;
(4) Ground water flow and other effects of human intrusion in the vicinity of the disposal system;
(5) Brine quantity, flux, composition, and spatial distribution;
(6) Gas quantity and composition; and
(7) Temperature distribution.
(b) For all disposal system parameters analyzed pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, any compliance application shall document and substantiate the decision not to monitor a particular disposal system parameter because that parameter is considered to be insignificant to the containment of waste in the disposal system or to the verification of predictions about the future performance of the disposal system.
(c) Pre-closure monitoring. To the extent practicable, pre-closure monitoring shall be conducted of significant disposal system parameter(s) as identified by the analysis conducted pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section. A disposal system parameter shall be considered significant if it affects the system’s ability to contain waste or the ability to verify predictions about the future performance of the disposal system. Such monitoring shall begin as soon as practicable; however, in no case shall waste be emplaced in the disposal system prior to the implementation of pre-closure monitoring. Pre-closure monitoring shall end at the time at which the shafts of the disposal system are backfilled and sealed.
(d) Post-closure monitoring. The disposal system shall, to the extent practicable, be monitored as soon as practicable after the shafts of the disposal system are backfilled and sealed to detect substantial and detrimental deviations from expected performance and shall end when the Department can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Administrator that there are no significant concerns to be addressed by further monitoring. Post-closure monitoring shall be complementary to monitoring required pursuant to applicable federal hazardous waste regulations at parts 264, 265, 268, and 270 of this chapter and shall be conducted with techniques that do not jeopardize the containment of waste in the disposal system.
(e) Any compliance application shall include detailed pre-closure and post-closure monitoring plans for monitoring the performance of the disposal system. At a minimum, such plans shall:
(1) Identify the parameters that will be monitored and how baseline values will be determined;
(2) Indicate how each parameter will be used to evaluate any deviations from the expected performance of the disposal system; and
(3) Discuss the length of time over which each parameter will be monitored to detect deviations from expected performance.
§ 194.43 Passive institutional controls.
(a) Any compliance application shall include detailed descriptions of the measures that will be employed to preserve knowledge about the location, design, and contents of the disposal system. Such measures shall include:
(1) Identification of the controlled area by markers that have been designed and will be fabricated and emplaced to be as permanent as practicable;
(2) Placement of records in the archives and land record systems of local, State, and Federal governments, and international archives, that would likely be consulted by individuals in search of unexploited resources. Such records shall identify:
(i) The location of the controlled area and the disposal system;
(ii) The design of the disposal system;
(iii) The nature and hazard of the waste;
(iv) Geologic, geochemical, hydrologic, and other site data pertinent to the containment of waste in the disposal system, or the location of such information; and
(v) The results of tests, experiments, and other analyses relating to backfill of excavated areas, shaft sealing, waste interaction with the disposal system, and other tests, experiments, or analyses pertinent to the containment of waste in the disposal system, or the location of such information.
(3) Other passive institutional controls practicable to indicate the dangers of the waste and its location.
(b) Any compliance application shall include the period of time passive institutional controls are expected to endure and be understood.
(c) The Administrator may allow the Department to assume passive institutional control credit, in the form of reduced likelihood of human intrusion, if the Department demonstrates in the compliance application that such credit is justified because the passive institutional controls are expected to endure and be understood by potential intruders for the time period approved by the Administrator. Such credit, or a smaller credit as determined by the Administrator, cannot be used for more than several hundred years and may decrease over time. In no case, however, shall passive institutional controls be assumed to eliminate the likelihood of human intrusion entirely.
§ 194.44 Engineered barriers.
(a) Disposal systems shall incorporate engineered barrier(s) designed to prevent or substantially delay the movement of water or radionuclides toward the accessible environment.
(b) In selecting any engineered barrier(s) for the disposal system, the Department shall evaluate the benefit and detriment of engineered barrier alternatives, including but not limited to: Cementation, shredding, supercompaction, incineration, vitrification, improved waste canisters, grout and bentonite backfill, melting of metals, alternative configurations of waste placements in the disposal system, and alternative disposal system dimensions. The results of this evaluation shall be included in any compliance application and shall be used to justify the selection and rejection of each engineered barrier evaluated.
(c)(1) In conducting the evaluation of engineered barrier alternatives, the following shall be considered, to the extent practicable:
(i) The ability of the engineered barrier to prevent or substantially delay the movement of water or waste toward the accessible environment;
(ii) The impact on worker exposure to radiation both during and after incorporation of engineered barriers;
(iii) The increased ease or difficulty of removing the waste from the disposal system;
(iv) The increased or reduced risk of transporting the waste to the disposal system;
(v) The increased or reduced uncertainty in compliance assessment;
(vi) Public comments requesting specific engineered barriers;
(vii) The increased or reduced total system costs;
(viii) The impact, if any, on other waste disposal programs from the incorporation of engineered barriers (e.g., the extent to which the incorporation of engineered barriers affects the volume of waste);
(ix) The effects on mitigating the consequences of human intrusion.
(2) If, after consideration of one or more of the factors in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the Department concludes that an engineered barrier considered within the scope of the evaluation should be rejected without evaluating the remaining factors in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, then any compliance application shall provide a justification for this rejection explaining why the evaluation of the remaining factors would not alter the conclusion.
(d) In considering the ability of engineered barriers to prevent or substantially delay the movement of water or radionuclides toward the accessible environment, the benefit and detriment of engineered barriers for existing waste already packaged, existing waste not yet packaged, existing waste in need of re-packaging, and to-be-generated waste shall be considered separately and described.
(e) The evaluation described in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section shall consider engineered barriers alone and in combination.
§ 194.45 Consideration of the presence of resources.
Any compliance application shall include information that demonstrates that the favorable characteristics of the disposal system compensate for the presence of resources in the vicinity of the disposal system and the likelihood of the disposal system being disturbed as a result of the presence of those resources. If performance assessments predict that the disposal system meets the containment requirements of § 191.13 of this chapter, then the Agency will assume that the requirements of this section and § 191.14(e) of this chapter have been fulfilled.
§ 194.46 Removal of waste.
Any compliance application shall include documentation which demonstrates that removal of waste from the disposal system is feasible for a reasonable period of time after disposal. Such documentation shall include an analysis of the technological feasibility of mining the sealed disposal system, given technology levels at the time a compliance application is prepared.
Individual and Ground-water Protection Requirements
§ 194.51 Consideration of protected individual.
Compliance assessments that analyze compliance with § 191.15 of this chapter shall assume that an individual resides at the single geographic point on the surface of the accessible environment where that individual would be expected to receive the highest dose from radionuclide releases from the disposal system.
§ 194.52 Consideration of exposure pathways.
In compliance assessments that analyze compliance with § 191.15 of this chapter, all potential exposure pathways from the disposal system to individuals shall be considered. Compliance assessments with part 191, subpart C and § 191.15 of this chapter shall assume that individuals consume 2 liters per day of drinking water from any underground source of drinking water in the accessible environment.
§ 194.53 Consideration of underground sources of drinking water.
In compliance assessments that analyze compliance with part 191, subpart C of this chapter, all underground sources of drinking water in the accessible environment that are expected to be affected by the disposal system over the regulatory time frame shall be considered. In determining whether underground sources of drinking water are expected to be affected by the disposal system, underground interconnections among bodies of surface water, ground water, and underground sources of drinking water shall be considered.
§ 194.54 Scope of compliance assessments.
(a) Any compliance application shall contain compliance assessments required pursuant to this part. Compliance assessments shall include information which:
(1) Identifies potential processes, events, or sequences of processes and events that may occur over the regulatory time frame;
(2) Identifies the processes, events, or sequences of processes and events included in compliance assessment results provided in any compliance application; and
(3) Documents why any processes, events, or sequences of processes and events identified pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section were not included in compliance assessment results provided in any compliance application.
(b) Compliance assessments of undisturbed performance shall include the effects on the disposal system of:
(1) Existing boreholes in the vicinity of the disposal system, with attention to the pathways they provide for migration of radionuclides from the site; and
(2) Any activities that occur in the vicinity of the disposal system prior to or soon after disposal. Such activities shall include, but shall not be limited to: Existing boreholes and the development of any existing leases that can be reasonably expected to be developed in the near future, including boreholes and leases that may be used for fluid injection activities.
§ 194.55 Results of compliance assessments.
(a) Compliance assessments shall consider and document uncertainty in the performance of the disposal system.
(b) Probability distributions for uncertain disposal system parameter values used in compliance assessments shall be developed and documented in any compliance application.
(c) Computational techniques which draw random samples from across the entire range of values of each probability distribution developed pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section shall be used to generate a range of:
(1) Estimated committed effective doses received from all pathways pursuant to § 194.51 and § 194.52;
(2) Estimated radionuclide concentrations in USDWs pursuant to § 194.53; and
(3) Estimated dose equivalent received from USDWs pursuant to § 194.52 and § 194.53.
(d) The number of estimates generated pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section shall be large enough such that the maximum estimates of doses and concentrations generated exceed the 99th percentile of the population of estimates with at least a 0.95 probability.
(e) Any compliance application shall display:
(1) The full range of estimated radiation doses; and
(2) The full range of estimated radionuclide concentrations.
(f) Any compliance application shall document that there is at least a 95 percent level of statistical confidence that the mean and the median of the range of estimated radiation doses and the range of estimated radionuclide concentrations meet the requirements of § 191.15 and part 191, subpart C of this chapter, respectively.
Subpart D—Public Participation
§ 194.61 Advance notice of proposed rulemaking for certification.
(a) Upon receipt of a compliance application submitted pursuant to section 8(d)(1) of the WIPP LWA and § 194.11, the Agency will publish in the
(b) A copy of the compliance application will be made available for inspection in Agency dockets established pursuant to § 194.67.
(c) The notice will provide a public comment period of 120 days.
(d) A public hearing concerning the notice will be held if a written request is received by the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative within 30 calendar days of the date of publication pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
(e) Any comments received on the notice will be made available for inspection in the dockets established pursuant to § 194.67.
(f) Any comments received on the notice will be provided to the Department and the Department may submit to the Agency written responses to the comments.
§ 194.62 Notice of proposed rulemaking for certification.
(a) The Administrator will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the
(b) The notice will provide a public comment period of at least 120 days.
(c) The notice will announce public hearings in New Mexico.
(d) Any comments received on the notice will be made available for inspection in the dockets established pursuant to § 194.67.
§ 194.63 Final rule for certification.
(a) The Administrator will publish a Final Rule in the
(b) A document summarizing significant comments and issues arising from comments received on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, as well as the Administrator’s response to such significant comments and issues, will be prepared and will be made available for inspection in the dockets established pursuant to § 194.67.
§ 194.64 Documentation of continued compliance.
(a) Upon receipt of documentation of continued compliance with the disposal regulations pursuant to section 8(f) of the WIPP LWA and § 194.11, the Administrator will publish a notice in the
(b) Copies of documentation of continued compliance received by the Administrator will be made available for inspection in the dockets established pursuant to § 194.67.
(c) The notice will provide a public comment period of at least 30 days after publication pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
(d) Any comments received on such notice will be made available for public inspection in the dockets established pursuant to § 194.67.
(e) Upon completion of review of the documentation of continued compliance with the disposal regulations, the Administrator will publish a notice in the
§ 194.65 Notice of proposed rulemaking for modification or revocation.
(a) If the Administrator determines that any changes in activities or conditions pertaining to the disposal system depart significantly from the most recent compliance application, the Agency will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the
(b) Any comments received on the notice will be made available for inspection in the dockets established pursuant to § 194.67.
§ 194.66 Final rule for modification or revocation.
(a) The Administrator will publish a Final Rule in the
(b) A document summarizing significant comments and issues arising from comments received on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking as well as the Administrator’s response to such significant comments and issues will be prepared and will be made available for inspection in the dockets established pursuant to § 194.67.
§ 194.67 Dockets.
The Agency will establish and maintain dockets in the State of New Mexico and Washington, DC. The dockets will consist of all relevant, significant information received from outside parties and all significant information considered by the Administrator in certifying whether the WIPP facility will comply with the disposal regulations, in certifying whether or not the WIPP facility continues to be in compliance with the disposal regulations, and in determining whether compliance certification should be modified, suspended or revoked.
Appendix A to Part 194—Certification of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant’s Compliance With the 40 CFR Part 191 Disposal Regulations and the 40 CFR Part 194 Compliance Criteria
In accordance with the provisions of the WIPP Compliance Criteria of this part, the Agency finds that the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (“WIPP”) will comply with the radioactive waste disposal regulations at part 191, subparts B and C, of this chapter. Therefore, pursuant to Section 8(d)(2) of the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act (“WIPP LWA”), as amended, the Administrator certifies that the WIPP facility will comply with the disposal regulations. In accordance with the Agency’s authority under § 194.4(a), the certification of compliance is subject to the following conditions:
Condition 1: § 194.14(b), Disposal system design, panel closure system. The Department shall close filled waste panels in a manner that has been specifically approved by the Agency. DOE must inform EPA of any modification to the approved panel closure design pursuant to § 194.4(b)(3)(i), and provide any supporting information required by § 194.14, Content of compliance certification application. The Administrator or Administrator’s authorized representative will determine whether the change differs significantly from the design included in the most recent compliance certification, and whether the planned change would require modification of the compliance criteria. The EPA’s approval of a panel closure change request requires that performance assessment calculations adequately represent the waste panel closure design, and that those calculations demonstrate the WIPP’s compliance with the release standards set by 40 CFR part 191, Subpart B in accordance with § 194.34, Results of performance assessments.
Condition 2: § 194.22: Quality Assurance. The Secretary shall not allow any waste generator site other than the Los Alamos National Laboratory to ship waste for disposal at the WIPP until the Agency determines that the site has established and executed a quality assurance program, in accordance with §§ 194.22(a)(2)(i), 194.24(c)(3) and 194.24(c)(5) for waste characterization activities and assumptions. The Agency will determine compliance of site-specific quality assurance programs at waste generator sites using the process set forth in § 194.8.
Condition 3: § 194.24: Waste Characterization. The Secretary may allow shipment for disposal at the WIPP of legacy debris waste at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (“LANL”) that can be characterized using the systems and processes inspected by the Agency and documented in Docket A-93-02, Item II-I-70. The Secretary shall not allow shipment of any waste from any additional LANL waste stream(s) or from any waste generator site other than LANL for disposal at the WIPP until the Agency has approved the processes for characterizing those waste streams for shipment using the process set forth in § 194.8.
Condition 4: § 194.43, Passive institutional controls.
(a) Not later than the final recertification application submitted prior to closure of the disposal system, the Department shall provide, to the Administrator or the Administrator’s authorized representative:
(1) a schedule for implementing passive institutional controls that has been revised to show that markers will be fabricated and emplaced, and other measures will be implemented, as soon as possible following closure of the WIPP. Such schedule should describe how testing of any aspect of the conceptual design will be completed prior to or soon after closure, and what changes to the design of passive institutional controls may be expected to result from such testing.
(2) documentation showing that the granite pieces for the proposed monuments and information rooms described in Docket A-93-02, Item II-G-1, and supplementary information may be: quarried (cut and removed from the ground) without cracking due to tensile stresses from handling or isostatic rebound; engraved on the scale required by the design; transported to the site, given the weight and dimensions of the granite pieces and the capacity of existing rail cars and rail lines; loaded, unloaded, and erected without cracking based on the capacity of available equipment; and successfully joined.
(3) documentation showing that archives and record centers will accept the documents identified and will maintain them in the manner identified in Docket A-93-02, Item II-G-1.
(4) documentation showing that proposed recipients of WIPP information other than archives and record centers will accept the information and make use of it in the manner indicated by the Department in Docket A-93-02, Item II-G-1 and supplementary information.
(b) Upon receipt of the information required under paragraph (a) of this condition, the Agency will place such documentation in the public dockets identified in § 194.67. The Agency will determine if a modification to the compliance certification in effect is necessary. Any such modification will be conducted in accordance with the requirements at §§ 194.65 and 194.66.
PART 195—RADON PROFICIENCY PROGRAMS
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 195.1 Purpose and applicability.
(a) Purpose. The purpose of this part is to establish and collect the fees from applicants and participants required by section 305 of the Toxic Substances Control Act, U.S.C. 2665 to defray the cost to EPA for operating the following programs: The National Radon Measurement Proficiency (RMP) Program, the individual proficiency component of the RMP Program, and the National Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) Program.
(b) Applicability. This part applies to all applicants and participants in the following EPA programs: The National Radon Measurement Proficiency Program, the individual proficiency component of the RMP Program, and the National Radon Contractor Proficiency Program.
§ 195.2 Definitions.
Definitions in 15 U.S.C. 2602 and 2662 apply to this part unless otherwise specified in this section. In addition, the following definitions apply:
Acceptance date means the date on which EPA enters the application into the data system.
Accepted application refers to an application that has been entered into the data system.
Applicant means an individual or organization that submits an application to the RMP program, including the individual proficiency component of the RMP program, or the RCP program. An applicant to the RMP program must submit a separate application for each location from which it provides radon measurement services. After the application is accepted by EPA, the applicant becomes a “participant” in the proficiency programs.
Application means the documents submitted to EPA by applicants to the RMP and RCP programs which request participation in a program.
Device/measurement device means a unit, component, or system designed to measure radon gas or radon decay products.
EPA means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Individual proficiency/RMP exam means the exam which evaluates individuals who provide radon measurement services in a residential environment.
Listed participant in an individual or organization who has met all the requirements for listing in the RMP and RCP programs.
Measurement method is a means of measuring radon gas or radon decay products encompassing similar measurement devices, sampling techniques, or analysis procedures.
Organization is any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, business, company, corporation, college or university, government agency (includes Federal, State and local government entities), laboratory, or institution.
Participant is an individual or organization engaged in radon measurement and/or mitigation activities or in offering radon measurement and/or mitigation services to consumers and others, whose proficiency program application EPA has accepted.
Primary measurement services (primary) refers to radon measurement services using a specific device which services include the capability to read and/or analyze the results generated from the device.
Radon Contractor Proficiency (RCP) program refers to EPA’s program to evaluate radon mitigation contractors and the contractor’s ability to communicate information to the public.
Radon Measurement Proficiency (RMP) program refers to EPA’s program to evaluate organizations and individuals offering measurement services to consumers. It provides a means for organizations to demonstrate their proficiency in measuring radon and its decay products in indoor air.
Radon mitigation contractor means a contractor who provides radon mitigation services to the public.
Secondary radon measurement services (secondary) refers to radon measurement services that do not include the reading or the ability to analyze the results of the measurement devices used. These services may include placement and retrieval of devices, reporting results, and/or consultation with consumers.
Subpart B—Fees
§ 195.20 Fee payments.
(a) Fee Amounts. Applicants to and participants in the RMP and RCP programs shall pay fees according to the following fee schedule:
(1) Organizations Listed for or Seeking Listing for Primary Measurement Services in the RMP Program. (i) In order to remain a listed participant, each organization that is listed for primary measurement services in the RMP program on the effective date of this section shall pay an annual fee of $390 for each device.
(ii) Each organization seeking listing for primary measurement services that submits an initial application after the effective date of this section shall pay an annual fee of $390 per device. This fee will be prorated quarterly, based on the acceptance date of an organization’s application.
(iii) Organizations that have or are seeking a listing for secondary measurement services for their primary devices will not be required to pay the additional $50 fee applicable to secondary organizations.
(2) Organizations Listed for or Seeking Listing for Secondary Measurement Services in the RMP Program. (i) In order to remain a listed participant, each organization that is listed for secondary measurement services in the RMP program on the effective date of this section shall pay an annual fee of $50 for each business location listed.
(ii) Each organization seeking listing for secondary measurement services that submits an initial application after the effective date of this section shall pay an annual fee of $50 for each business location listed. This fee will be prorated quarterly, based on the acceptance date of an organization’s application.
(iii) Primary organizations that have or are seeking secondary listings for methods other than those for which they are listed as a primary, are subject to the fees.
(3) Individual Proficiency Component of the RMP Program. (i) In order to remain a listed participant, each individual listed in the RMP individual proficiency program on the effective date of this section shall pay an annual fee of $105.
(ii) Each individual who submits an initial application after the effective date of this section shall pay an annual fee of $105. This fee will be prorated quarterly, based on the acceptance date of an individual’s application.
(iii) Individuals who have or are seeking listing status as an RMP primary or secondary organization are subject to the applicable fees under paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section.
(4) RCP Program. (i)(A) In order to remain a listed participant, each individual listed in the RCP program on the effective date of this section shall pay an annual fee of $210.
(B) Each individual who is not a listed participant in the RCP program on the effective date of this section and submits an initial application after the effective date of this section shall pay an annual fee of $210. This fee will be prorated quarterly, based on the acceptance date of an individual’s application.
(ii) An organization or individual who is not a listed participant in EPA’s radon proficiency programs on the effective date of this section and/or whose proficiency program application has not yet been accepted by EPA becomes subject to the fees described above once its application has been accepted by EPA. Fees for such organizations or individuals will be prorated quarterly, based on the acceptance date of the application. To remain listed, each participant in the RMP or RCP programs, whether individual or organization, shall submit the appropriate annual fee to EPA each year.
(b) Exemptions. State and local governments are exempted from these fees under section 305(e)(2) of TSCA, 15 U.S.C. 2665.
(c) Determination of Fees. (1) Participants listed in the RMP and RCP programs on the effective date of this section will be sent, by EPA, a payment invoice with its fee calculation at least 30 days before the payment is due. Fees will be assessed based on the current information in EPA’s proficiency data bases. Participants who intend to pay the invoiced fee amount must send their payment to EPA following the procedures in the invoice. Organizations or individuals who wish to notify EPA of any errors or corrections they wish to make to their listing status must do so by following the instructions on the payment invoice. Corrected payment invoices for both the RMP Program and the RCP Program shall be sent to: Radon Proficiency Programs User Fees, c/o Sanford Cohen and Associates, Inc. (SC&A), 1418 I-85 Parkway, Montgomery, Alabama, 36106. EPA will review the corrections noted on the payment invoice, adjust the payment invoice amount (as appropriate) and issue a new invoice. Participants must pay the amount in the corrected payment invoice within 30 days of the date listed on the corrected invoice.
(2) If the appropriate fee or a revised payment invoice for an individual or organization participating in the RMP or RCP program has not been received by EPA on or before the payment due date, EPA will send, by certified mail, notice that the individual or organization will be delisted from the proficiency program unless he/she pays the fee within 30 days of this second certified notification. If payment still has not been received by EPA after 30 days of the second certified notification, the organization’s or individual’s listing shall be removed from the proficiency program.
(3) New or initial applicants to the RMP or RCP programs will be assessed a fee at the time of their initial application. EPA will send a payment invoice to the new applicant upon acceptance of the initial application. The applicant will be given at least 30 days from the date on the payment invoice to remit payment. The fee assessed will be prorated quarterly, based on the acceptance date of the application. If the appropriate fee has not been received by EPA by the payment due date, the application will be placed in an inactive file with no further action taken by EPA.
(d) Payment Procedures. Each remittance to EPA under this section shall be in United States currency and shall be paid by certified check, personal or business check, or money order made payable to the order of the “U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY” and sent to: U.S. EPA, Washington Financial Management Center, Radon Proficiency Program User Fees (IRAA), P.O. Box 952491, St. Louis, Missouri, 63195-2491. The fee payment shall include the original copy of the EPA payment invoice. Collection of fees will begin in the calendar year beginning January 1, 1995. Specific guidance on how and when fees must be paid can be found in How to Pay Your Radon Proficiency Programs User Fees, U.S. EPA/Office of Radiation and Indoor Air. Copies of this document can be obtained by contacting the RIS at (334) 272-2797 or by FAX at (334) 260-9051.
(e) Adjustment of Fees. (1) EPA shall collect 100 percent of its operating costs associated with its radon proficiency programs by calendar year 1998. As necessary, EPA shall adjust the fees established by this subpart each year over the next four years to collect the following percentages of program costs:
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 47.5% | 65% | 82.5% | 100% |
(2) EPA will use a three-step process to adjust the fees annually. First, EPA will estimate the costs of providing each of the proficiency programs for the upcoming year. EPA will account for future additional fixed costs (e.g., updating examinations) and increases/decreases in variable costs due to inflation and other factors. In order to calculate increases/decreases in costs due to inflation, EPA may use one of the three following indices: the Federal General Schedule (GS) pay scale, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and/or a component of the CPI, such as services. Second, EPA will estimate the number of participants for each program. At a minimum, these participation rates will be based on past and current program participation rates. Third, EPA shall calculate the per capita costs that individuals and organizations should pay to enable it to recover its fixed and variable costs each year for each program. EPA shall also consider potential industry impacts as it adjusts to levels to ultimately achieve full cost recovery over the period of five years.
§ 195.30 Failure to remit fee.
EPA will not process an application or continue a participant’s listing in the National Radon Measurement Proficiency program, individual proficiency component of the RMP program, or the National Radon Contractor Proficiency program until the appropriate remittance provided in § 195.20(a) has been received by EPA. Failure by a currently EPA-listed organization or individual to remit the required fees in a timely manner will result in the loss of that organization’s or individual’s listing status as specified in § 195.20(c).
PART 197—PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RADIATION PROTECTION STANDARDS FOR YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NEVADA
Subpart A—Public Health and Environmental Standards for Storage
§ 197.1 What does subpart A cover?
This subpart covers the storage of radioactive material by DOE in the Yucca Mountain repository and on the Yucca Mountain site.
§ 197.2 What definitions apply in subpart A?
Annual committed effective dose equivalent means the effective dose equivalent received by an individual in one year from radiation sources external to the individual plus the committed effective dose equivalent.
Committed effective dose equivalent means the effective dose equivalent received over a period of time (e.g., 30 years,), as determined by NRC, by an individual from radionuclides internal to the individual following a one-year intake of those radionuclides.
DOE means the Department of Energy.
Effective dose equivalent means the sum of the products of the dose equivalent received by specified tissues following an exposure of, or an intake of radionuclides into, specified tissues of the body, multiplied by appropriate weighting factors. Annual committed effective dose equivalents shall be calculated using weighting factors in appendix A of this part, unless otherwise directed by NRC in accordance with the introduction to appendix A of this part.
EPA means the Environmental Protection Agency.
General environment means everywhere outside the Yucca Mountain site, the Nellis Air Force Range, and the Nevada Test Site.
High-level radioactive waste means:
(1) The highly radioactive material resulting from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel, including liquid waste produced directly in reprocessing and any solid material derived from such liquid waste that contains fission products in sufficient concentrations; and
(2) Other highly radioactive material that the Commission, consistent with existing law, determines by rule requires permanent isolation.
Member of the public means anyone who is not a radiation worker for purposes of worker protection.
NRC means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Radioactive material means matter composed of or containing radionuclides subject to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2014 et seq.). Radioactive material includes, but is not limited to, high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.
Spent nuclear fuel means fuel that has been withdrawn from a nuclear reactor following irradiation, the constituent elements of which have not been separated by reprocessing.
Storage means retention (and any associated activity, operation, or process necessary to carry out successful retention) of radioactive material with the intent or capability to readily access or retrieve such material.
Yucca Mountain repository means the excavated portion of the facility constructed underground within the Yucca Mountain site.
Yucca Mountain site means:
(1) The site recommended by the Secretary of DOE to the President under section 112(b)(1)(B) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10132(b)(1)(B)) on May 27, 1986; or
(2) The area under the control of DOE for the use of Yucca Mountain activities at the time of licensing, if the site designated under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act is amended by Congress prior to the time of licensing.
§ 197.3 How is subpart A implemented?
The NRC implements this subpart A. The DOE must demonstrate to NRC that normal operations at the Yucca Mountain site will and do occur in compliance with this subpart before NRC may grant or continue a license for DOE to receive and possess radioactive material within the Yucca Mountain site.
§ 197.4 What standard must DOE meet?
The DOE must ensure that no member of the public in the general environment receives more than an annual committed effective dose equivalent of 150 microsieverts (15 millirems) from the combination of:
(a) Management and storage (as defined in 40 CFR 191.2) of radioactive material that:
(1) Is subject to 40 CFR 191.3(a); and
(2) Occurs outside of the Yucca Mountain repository but within the Yucca Mountain site; and
(b) Storage (as defined in § 197.2) of radioactive material inside the Yucca Mountain repository.
§ 197.5 When will this part take effect?
The standards in this part take effect on July 13, 2001.
Subpart B—Public Health and Environmental Standards for Disposal
§ 197.11 What does subpart B cover?
This subpart covers the disposal of radioactive material in the Yucca Mountain repository by DOE.
§ 197.12 What definitions apply in subpart B?
All definitions in subpart A of this part and the following:
Accessible environment means any point outside of the controlled area, including:
(1) The atmosphere (including the atmosphere above the surface area of the controlled area);
(2) Land surfaces;
(3) Surface waters;
(4) Oceans; and
(5) The lithosphere.
Aquifer means a water-bearing underground geological formation, group of formations, or part of a formation (excluding perched water bodies) that can yield a significant amount of ground water to a well or spring.
Barrier means any material, structure, or feature that, for a period to be determined by NRC, prevents or substantially reduces the rate of movement of water or radionuclides from the Yucca Mountain repository to the accessible environment, or prevents the release or substantially reduces the release rate of radionuclides from the waste. For example, a barrier may be a geologic feature, an engineered structure, a canister, a waste form with physical and chemical characteristics that significantly decrease the mobility of radionuclides, or a material placed over and around the waste, provided that the material substantially delays movement of water or radionuclides.
Controlled area means:
(1) The surface area, identified by passive institutional controls, that encompasses no more than 300 square kilometers. It must not extend farther:
(a) South than 36°40′13.6661″ north latitude, in the predominant direction of ground water flow; and
(b) Than five kilometers from the repository footprint in any other direction; and
(2) The subsurface underlying the surface area.
Disposal means the emplacement of radioactive material into the Yucca Mountain disposal system with the intent of isolating it for as long as reasonably possible and with no intent of recovery, whether or not the design of the disposal system permits the ready recovery of the material. Disposal of radioactive material in the Yucca Mountain disposal system begins when all of the ramps and other openings into the Yucca Mountain repository are sealed.
Ground water means water that is below the land surface and in a saturated zone.
Human intrusion means breaching of any portion of the Yucca Mountain disposal system, within the repository footprint, by any human activity.
Passive institutional controls means:
(1) Markers, as permanent as practicable, placed on the Earth’s surface;
(2) Public records and archives;
(3) Government ownership and regulations regarding land or resource use; and
(4) Other reasonable methods of preserving knowledge about the location, design, and contents of the Yucca Mountain disposal system.
Peak dose means the highest annual committed effective dose equivalent projected to be received by the reasonably maximally exposed individual.
Performance assessment means an analysis that:
(1) Identifies the features, events, processes, (except human intrusion), and sequences of events and processes (except human intrusion) that might affect the Yucca Mountain disposal system and their probabilities of occurring;
(2) Examines the effects of those features, events, processes, and sequences of events and processes upon the performance of the Yucca Mountain disposal system; and
(3) Estimates the annual committed effective dose equivalent incurred by the reasonably maximally exposed individual, including the associated uncertainties, as a result of releases caused by all significant features, events, processes, and sequences of events and processes, weighted by their probability of occurrence.
Period of geologic stability means the time during which the variability of geologic characteristics and their future behavior in and around the Yucca Mountain site can be bounded, that is, they can be projected within a reasonable range of possibilities. This period is defined to end at 1 million years after disposal.
Plume of contamination means that volume of ground water in the predominant direction of ground water flow that contains radioactive contamination from releases from the Yucca Mountain repository. It does not include releases from any other potential sources on or near the Nevada Test Site.
Repository footprint means the outline of the outermost locations of where the waste is emplaced in the Yucca Mountain repository.
Slice of the plume means a cross-section of the plume of contamination with sufficient thickness parallel to the prevalent direction of flow of the plume that it contains the representative volume.
Total dissolved solids means the total dissolved (filterable) solids in water as determined by use of the method specified in 40 CFR part 136.
Undisturbed performance means that human intrusion or the occurrence of unlikely natural features, events, and processes do not disturb the disposal system.
Undisturbed Yucca Mountain disposal system means that the Yucca Mountain disposal system is not affected by human intrusion.
Waste means any radioactive material emplaced for disposal into the Yucca Mountain repository.
Well-capture zone means the volume from which a well pumping at a defined rate is withdrawing water from an aquifer. The dimensions of the well-capture zone are determined by the pumping rate in combination with aquifer characteristics assumed for calculations, such as hydraulic conductivity, gradient, and the screened interval.
Yucca Mountain disposal system means the combination of underground engineered and natural barriers within the controlled area that prevents or substantially reduces releases from the waste.
§ 197.13 How is Subpart B implemented?
The NRC implements this subpart B. The DOE must demonstrate to NRC that there is a reasonable expectation of compliance with this subpart before NRC may issue a license.
(a) The NRC will determine compliance, based upon the arithmetic mean of the projected doses from DOE’s performance assessments for the period within 1 million years after disposal, with:
(1) Sections 197.20(a)(1) and 197.20(a)(2) of this subpart; and
(2) Sections 197.25(b)(1), 197.25(b)(2), and 197.30 of this subpart, if performance assessment is used to demonstrate compliance with either or both of these sections.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 197.14 What is a reasonable expectation?
Reasonable expectation means that NRC is satisfied that compliance will be achieved based upon the full record before it. Characteristics of reasonable expectation include that it:
(a) Requires less than absolute proof because absolute proof is impossible to attain for disposal due to the uncertainty of projecting long-term performance;
(b) Accounts for the inherently greater uncertainties in making long-term projections of the performance of the Yucca Mountain disposal system;
(c) Does not exclude important parameters from assessments and analyses simply because they are difficult to precisely quantify to a high degree of confidence; and
(d) Focuses performance assessments and analyses upon the full range of defensible and reasonable parameter distributions rather than only upon extreme physical situations and parameter values.
§ 197.15 How must DOE take into account the changes that will occur during the period of geologic stability?
The DOE should not project changes in society, the biosphere (other than climate), human biology, or increases or decreases of human knowledge or technology. In all analyses done to demonstrate compliance with this part, DOE must assume that all of those factors remain constant as they are at the time of license application submission to NRC. However, DOE must vary factors related to the geology, hydrology, and climate based upon cautious, but reasonable assumptions of the changes in these factors that could affect the Yucca Mountain disposal system during the period of geologic stability, consistent with the requirements for performance assessments specified at § 197.36.
Individual-Protection Standard
§ 197.20 What standard must DOE meet?
(a) The DOE must demonstrate, using performance assessment, that there is a reasonable expectation that the reasonably maximally exposed individual receives no more than the following annual committed effective dose equivalent from releases from the undisturbed Yucca Mountain disposal system:
(1) 150 microsieverts (15 millirems) for 10,000 years following disposal; and
(2) 1 millisievert (100 millirems) after 10,000 years, but within the period of geologic stability.
(b) The DOE’s performance assessment must include all potential pathways of radionuclide transport and exposure.
§ 197.21 Who is the reasonably maximally exposed individual?
The reasonably maximally exposed individual is a hypothetical person who meets the following criteria:
(a) Lives in the accessible environment above the highest concentration of radionuclides in the plume of contamination;
(b) Has a diet and living style representative of the people who now reside in the Town of Amargosa Valley, Nevada. The DOE must use projections based upon surveys of the people residing in the Town of Amargosa Valley, Nevada, to determine their current diets and living styles and use the mean values of these factors in the assessments conducted for §§ 197.20 and 197.25; and
(c) Drinks 2 liters of water per day from wells drilled into the ground water at the location specified in paragraph (a) of this section.
Human-Intrusion Standard
§ 197.25 What standard must DOE meet?
(a) The DOE must determine the earliest time after disposal that the waste package would degrade sufficiently that a human intrusion (see § 197.26) could occur without recognition by the drillers.
(b) The DOE must demonstrate that there is a reasonable expectation that the reasonably maximally exposed individual will receive an annual committed effective dose equivalent, as a result of the human intrusion, of no more than:
(1) 150 microsieverts (15 millirems) for 10,000 years following disposal; and
(2) 1 millisievert (100 millirems) after 10,000 years, but within the period of geologic stability.
(c) The analysis must include all potential environmental pathways of radionuclide transport and exposure.
§ 197.26 What are the circumstances of the human intrusion?
For the purposes of the analysis of human intrusion, DOE must make the following assumptions:
(a) There is a single human intrusion as a result of exploratory drilling for ground water;
(b) The intruders drill a borehole directly through a degraded waste package into the uppermost aquifer underlying the Yucca Mountain repository;
(c) The drillers use the common techniques and practices that are currently employed in exploratory drilling for ground water in the region surrounding Yucca Mountain;
(d) Careful sealing of the borehole does not occur, instead natural degradation processes gradually modify the borehole;
(e) Only releases of radionuclides that occur as a result of the intrusion and that are transported through the resulting borehole to the saturated zone are projected; and
(f) No releases are included which are caused by unlikely natural processes and events.
Ground Water Protection Standards
§ 197.30 What standards must DOE meet?
The DOE must demonstrate that there is a reasonable expectation that, for 10,000 years of undisturbed performance after disposal, releases of radionuclides from waste in the Yucca Mountain disposal system into the accessible environment will not cause the level of radioactivity in the representative volume of ground water to exceed the limits in the following Table 1:
Table 1—Limits on Radionuclides in the Representative Volume
| Radionuclide or type of radiation emitted | Limit | Is natural background included? |
|---|---|---|
| Combined radium-226 and radium-228 | 5 picocuries per liter | Yes. |
| Gross alpha activity (including radium-226 but excluding radon and uranium) | 15 picocuries per liter | Yes. |
| Combined beta and photon emitting radionuclides | 40 microsieverts (4 millirem) per year to the whole body or any organ, based on drinking 2 liters of water per day from the representative volume | No. |
§ 197.31 What is a representative volume?
(a) It is the volume of ground water that would be withdrawn annually from an aquifer containing less than 10,000 milligrams of total dissolved solids per liter of water to supply a given water demand. The DOE must project the concentration of radionuclides released from the Yucca Mountain disposal system that will be in the representative volume. The DOE must then use the projected concentrations to demonstrate a reasonable expectation to NRC that the Yucca Mountain disposal system complies with § 197.30. The DOE must make the following assumptions concerning the representative volume:
(1) It includes the highest concentration level in the plume of contamination in the accessible environment;
(2) Its position and dimensions in the aquifer are determined using average hydrologic characteristics which have cautious, but reasonable, values representative of the aquifers along the radionuclide migration path from the Yucca Mountain repository to the accessible environment as determined by site characterization; and
(3) It contains 3,000 acre-feet of water (about 3,714,450,000 liters or 977,486,000 gallons).
(b) The DOE must use one of two alternative methods for determining the dimensions of the representative volume. The DOE must propose its chosen method, and any underlying assumptions, to NRC for approval.
(1) The DOE may calculate the dimensions as a well-capture zone. If DOE uses this approach, it must assume that the:
(i) Water supply well(s) has (have) characteristics consistent with public water supply wells in the Town of Amargosa Valley, Nevada, for example, well-bore size and length of the screened intervals;
(ii) Screened interval(s) include(s) the highest concentration in the plume of contamination in the accessible environment; and
(iii) Pumping rates and the placement of the well(s) must be set to produce an annual withdrawal equal to the representative volume and to tap the highest concentration within the plume of contamination.
(2) The DOE may calculate the dimensions as a slice of the plume. If DOE uses this approach, it must:
(i) Propose to NRC, for its approval, where the location of the edge of the plume of contamination occurs. For example, the place where the concentration of radionuclides reaches 0.1% of the level of the highest concentration in the accessible environment;
(ii) Assume that the slice of the plume is perpendicular to the prevalent direction of flow of the aquifer; and
(iii) Assume that the volume of ground water contained within the slice of the plume equals the representative volume.
Additional Provisions
§ 197.35 [Reserved]
§ 197.36 Are there limits on what DOE must consider in the performance assessments?
(a) Yes, there are limits on what DOE must consider in the performance assessments.
(1) The DOE’s performance assessments conducted to show compliance with §§ 197.20(a)(1), 197.25(b)(1), and 197.30 shall not include consideration of very unlikely features, events, or processes, i.e., those that are estimated to have less than one chance in 100,000,000 per year of occurring. Features, events, and processes with a higher chance of occurring shall be considered for use in performance assessments conducted to show compliance with §§ 197.20(a)(1), 197.25(b)(1), and 197.30, except as stipulated in paragraph (b) of this section. In addition, unless otherwise specified in these standards or NRC regulations, DOE’s performance assessments need not evaluate the impacts resulting from features, events, and processes or sequences of events and processes with a higher chance of occurring if the results of the performance assessments would not be changed significantly in the initial 10,000-year period after disposal.
(2) The same features, events, and processes identified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be used in performance assessments conducted to show compliance with §§ 197.20(a)(2) and 197.25(b)(2), with additional considerations as stipulated in paragraph (c) of this section.
(b) For performance assessments conducted to show compliance with §§ 197.25(b) and 197.30, DOE’s performance assessments shall exclude unlikely features, events, or processes, or sequences of events and processes. The DOE should use the specific probability of the unlikely features, events, and processes as specified by NRC.
(c) For performance assessments conducted to show compliance with §§ 197.20(a)(2) and 197.25(b)(2), DOE’s performance assessments shall project the continued effects of the features, events, and processes included in paragraph (a) of this section beyond the 10,000-year post-disposal period through the period of geologic stability. The DOE must evaluate all of the features, events, or processes included in paragraph (a) of this section, and also:
(1) The DOE must assess the effects of seismic and igneous scenarios, subject to the probability limits in paragraph (a) of this section for very unlikely features, events, and processes. Performance assessments conducted to show compliance with § 197.25(b)(2) are also subject to the probability limits for unlikely features, events, and processes as specified by NRC.
(i) The seismic analysis may be limited to the effects caused by damage to the drifts in the repository, failure of the waste packages, and changes in the elevation of the water table under Yucca Mountain. NRC may determine the magnitude of the water table rise and its significance on the results of the performance assessment, or NRC may require DOE to demonstrate the magnitude of the water table rise and its significance in the license application. If NRC determines that the increased elevation of the water table does not significantly affect the results of the performance assessment, NRC may choose to not require its consideration in the performance assessment.
(ii) The igneous analysis may be limited to the effects of a volcanic event directly intersecting the repository. The igneous event may be limited to that causing damage to the waste packages directly, causing releases of radionuclides to the biosphere, atmosphere, or ground water.
(2) The DOE must assess the effects of climate change. The climate change analysis may be limited to the effects of increased water flow through the repository as a result of climate change, and the resulting transport and release of radionuclides to the accessible environment. The nature and degree of climate change may be represented by constant climate conditions. The analysis may commence at 10,000 years after disposal and shall extend through the period of geologic stability. The NRC shall specify in regulation the values to be used to represent climate change, such as temperature, precipitation, or infiltration rate of water.
(3) The DOE must assess the effects of general corrosion on engineered barriers. The DOE may use a constant representative corrosion rate throughout the period of geologic stability or a distribution of corrosion rates correlated to other repository parameters.
§ 197.37 Can EPA amend this rule?
Yes. We can amend this rule by conducting another notice-and-comment rulemaking. Such a rulemaking must include a public comment period. Also, we may hold one or more public hearings, if we receive a written request to do so.
§ 197.38 Are the Individual Protection and Ground Water Protection Standards Severable?
Yes. The individual protection and ground water protection standards are severable.
Appendix A to Part 197—Calculation of Annual Committed Effective Dose Equivalent
Unless otherwise directed by NRC, DOE shall use the radiation weighting factors and tissue weighting factors in this Appendix to calculate the internal component of the annual committed effective dose equivalent for compliance with §§ 197.20 and 197.25 of this part. NRC may allow DOE to use updated factors issued after the effective date of this regulation. Any such factors shall have been issued by consensus scientific organizations and incorporated by EPA into Federal radiation guidance in order to be considered generally accepted and eligible for this use. Further, they must be compatible with the effective dose equivalent dose calculation methodology established in ICRP 26 and 30, and continued in ICRP 60 and 72, and incorporated in this appendix.
The calculation of the committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE) begins with the determination of the equivalent dose, H
Table A.1—Radiation weighting factors, w
1
| Radiation type and energy range 2 | w |
|---|---|
| Photons, all energies | 1 |
| Electrons and muons, all energies | 1 |
| Neutrons, energy | |
| 5 | |
| 10 keV to 100 keV | 10 |
| >100 keV to 2 MeV | 20 |
| >2 MeV to 20 MeV | 10 |
| >20 MeV | 5 |
| Protons, other than recoil protons, >2 MeV | 5 |
| Alpha particles, fission fragments, heavy nuclei | 20 |
1 All values relate to the radiation incident on the body or, for internal sources, emitted from the source.
2 See paragraph A14 in ICRP Publication 60 for the choice of values for other radiation types and energies not in the table.
The next step is the calculation of the effective dose equivalent, E. The probability of occurrence of a stochastic effect in a tissue or organ is assumed to be proportional to the equivalent dose in the tissue or organ. The constant of proportionality differs for the various tissues of the body, but in assessing health detriment the total risk is required. This is taken into account using the tissue weighting factors, w
Table A.2—Tissue weighting factors, w
| Tissue or organ | w |
|---|---|
| Gonads | 0.20 |
| Bone marrow (red) | 0.12 |
| Colon | 0.12 |
| Lung | 0.12 |
| Stomach | 0.12 |
| Bladder | 0.05 |
| Breast | 0.05 |
| Liver | 0.05 |
| Esophagus | 0.05 |
| Thyroid | 0.05 |
| Skin | 0.01 |
| Bone surface | 0.01 |
| Remainder | a b 0.05 |
a Remainder is composed of the following tissues: adrenals, brain, extrathoracic airways, small intestine, kidneys, muscle, pancreas, spleen, thymus, and uterus.
b The value 0.05 is applied to the mass-weighted average dose to the Remainder tissues group, except when the following “splitting rule” applies: If a tissue of Remainder receives a dose in excess of that received by any of the 12 tissues for which weighting factors are specified, a weighting factor of 0.025 (half of Remainder) is applied to that tissue or organ and 0.025 to the mass-averaged committed equivalent dose equivalent in the rest of the Remainder tissues.
For internal irradiation from incorporated radionuclides, the total absorbed dose will be spread out in time, being gradually delivered as the radionuclide decays. The time distribution of the absorbed dose rate will vary with the radionuclide, its form, the mode of intake and the tissue within which it is incorporated. To take account of this distribution the quantity committed equivalent dose, H
If the annual committed equivalent doses to the individual tissues or organs resulting from an annual intake are multiplied by the appropriate weighting factors, w
SUBCHAPTER G—NOISE ABATEMENT PROGRAMS
PART 201—NOISE EMISSION STANDARDS FOR TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT; INTERSTATE RAIL CARRIERS
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 201.1 Definitions.
As used in this part, all terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Act:
(a) Act means the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-574, 86 Stat. 1234).
(b) Car Coupling Sound means a sound which is heard and identified by the observer as that of car coupling impact, and that causes a sound level meter indicator (FAST) to register an increase of at least ten decibels above the level observed immediately before hearing the sound.
(c) Carrier means a common carrier by railroad, or partly by railroad and partly by water, within the continental United States, subject to the Interstate Commerce Act, as amended, excluding street, suburban, and interurban electric railways unless operated as a part of a general railroad system of transportation.
(d) Classification of Railroads means the division of railroad industry operating companies by the Interstate Commerce Commission into three categories. As of 1978, Class I railroads must have annual revenues of $50 million or greater, Class II railroads must have annual revenues of between $10 and $50 million, and Class III railroads must have less than $10 million in annual revenues.
(e) Commercial Property means any property that is normally accessible to the public and that is used for any of the purposes described in the following standard land use codes (reference Standard Land Use Coding Manual. U.S. DOT/FHWA, reprinted March 1977): 53-59, Retail Trade; 61-64, Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, Personal, Business and Repair Services; 652-659, Legal and other professional services; 671, 672, and 673 Governmental Services; 692 and 699, Welfare, Charitable and Other Miscellaneous Services; 712 and 719, Nature exhibitions and other Cultural Activities; 721, 723, and 729, Entertainment, Public and other Public Assembly; and 74-79, Recreational, Resort, Park and other Cultural Activities.
(f) dB(A) is an abbreviation meaning A-weighted sound level in decibels, reference: 20 micropascals.
(g) Day-night Sound Level means the 24-hour time of day weighted equivalent sound level, in decibels, for any continuous 24-hour period, obtained after addition of ten decibels to sound levels produced in the hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. (2200-0700). It is abbreviated as L
(h) Decibel means the unit measure of sound level, abbreviated as dB.
(i) Energy Average Level means a quantity calculated by taking ten times the common logarithm of the arithmetic average of the antilogs of one-tenth of each of the levels being averaged. The levels may be of any consistent type, e.g. maximum sound levels, sound exposure levels, and day-night sound levels.
(j) Energy Summation of Levels means a quantity calculated by taking ten times the common logarithm of the sum of the antilogs of one-tenth of each of the levels being summed. The levels may be of any consistent type, e.g., day-night sound level or equivalent sound level.
(k) Equivalent Sound Level means the level, in decibels, of the mean-square A-weighted sound pressure during a stated time period, with reference to the square of the standard reference sound pressure of 20 micropascals. It is the level of the sound exposure divided by the time period and is abbreviated as L
(l) Fast Meter Response means that the “fast” response of the sound level meter shall be used. The fast dynamic response shall comply with the meter dynamic characteristics in paragraph 5.3 of the American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters. ANSI S1.4-1971. This publication is available from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018.
(m) Idle means that condition where all engines capable of providing motive power to the locomotive are set at the lowest operating throttle position; and where all auxiliary non-motive power engines are not operating.
(n) Interstate Commerce means the commerce between any place in a State and any place in another State, or between places in the same State through another State, whether such commerce moves wholly by rail or partly by rail and partly by motor vehicle, express, or water. This definition of “interstate commerce” for purposes of this regulation is similar to the definition of “interstate commerce” in section 203(a) of the Interstate Commerce Act (49 U.S.C. 303(a)).
(o) Load Cell means a device external to the locomotive, of high electrical resistance, used in locomotive testing to simulate engine loading while the locomotive is stationary. (Electrical energy produced by the diesel generator is dissipated in the load cell resistors instead of the traction motors).
(p) Locomotive means for the purpose of this regulation, a self-propelled vehicle designed for and used on railroad tracks in the transport or rail cars, including self-propelled rail passenger vehicles.
(q) Locomotive Load Cell Test Stand means the load cell § 201.1(o) and associated structure, equipment, trackage and locomotive being tested.
(r) Maximum Sound Level means the greatest A-weighted sound level in decibels measured during the designated time interval or during the event, with either fast meter response § 201.1(l) or slow meter response § 201.1(ii) as specified. It is abbreviated as L
(s) Measurement Period means a continuous period of time during which noise of railroad yard operations is assessed, the beginning and finishing times of which may be selected after completion of the measurements.
(t) Rail Car means a non-self-propelled vehicle designed for and used on railroad tracks.
(u) Railroad means all the roads in use by any common carrier operating a railroad, whether owned or operated under a contract, agreement, or lease.
(v) Receiving Property Measurement Location means a location on receiving property that is on or beyond the railroad facility boundary and that meets the receiving property measurement location criteria of subpart C.
(w) Receiving Property means any residential or commercial property that receives the sound from railroad facility operations, but that is not owned or operated by a railroad; except that occupied residences located on property owned or controlled by the railroad are included in the definition of “receiving property.” For purposes of this definition railroad crew sleeping quarters located on property owned or controlled by the railroad are not considered as residences. If, subsequent to the publication date of these regulations, the use of any property that is currently not applicable to this regulation changes, and it is newly classified as either residential or commercial, it is not receiving property until four years have elapsed from the date of the actual change in use.
(x) Residential Property means any property that is used for any of the purposes described in the following standard land use codes (ref. Standard Land Use Coding Manual. U.S. DOT/FHWA Washington, DC, reprinted March 1977): 1, Residential: 651, Medical and other Health Services; 68, Educational Services; 691, Religious Activities; and 711, Cultural Activities.
(y) Retarder (Active) means a device or system for decelerating rolling rail cars and controlling the degree of deceleration on a car by car basis.
(z) Retarder Sound means a sound which is heard and identified by the observer as that of a retarder, and that causes a sound level meter indicator at fast meter response § 201.1(l) to register an increase of at least ten decibels above the level observed immediately before hearing the sound.
(aa) Sound Level means the level, in decibels, measured by instrumentation which satisfies the requirements of American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters S1.4-1971 Type 1 (or S1A) or Type 2 if adjusted as shown in Table 1. This publication is available from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018. For the purpose of these procedures the sound level is to be measured using the Aweighting of spectrum and either the FAST or SLOW dynamic averaging characteristics, as designated. It is abbreviated as L
(bb) Sound Exposure Level means the level in decibels calculated as ten times the common logarithm of time integral of squared A-weighted sound pressure over a given time period or event divided by the square of the standard reference sound pressure of 20 micropascals and a reference duration of one second.
(cc) Sound Pressure Level (in stated frequency band) means the level, in decibels, calculated as 20 times the common logarithm of the ratio of a sound pressure to the reference sound pressure of 20 micropascals.
(dd) Special Purpose Equipment means maintenance-of-way equipment which may be located on or operated from rail cars including: Ballast cribbing machines, ballast regulators, conditioners and scarifiers, bolt machines, brush cutters, compactors, concrete mixers, cranes and derricks, earth boring machines, electric welding machines, grinders, grouters, pile drivers, rail heaters, rail layers, sandblasters, snow plows, spike drivers, sprayers and other types of such maintenance-of-way equipment.
(ee) Special Track Work means track other than normal tie and ballast bolted or welded rail or containing devices such as retarders or switching mechanisms.
(ff) Statistical Sound Level means the level in decibels that is exceeded in a stated percentage (x) of the duration of the measurement period. It is abbreviated as L
(gg) Switcher Locomotive means any locomotive designated as a switcher by the builder or reported to the ICC as a switcher by the operator-owning-railroad and including, but not limited to, all locomotives of the builder/model designations listed in Appendix A to this subpart.
(hh) Warning Device means a sound emitting device used to alert and warn people of the presence of railroad equipment.
(ii) Slow Meter Response means that the slow response of the sound level meter shall be used. The slow dynamic response shall comply with the meter dynamic characteristics in paragraph 5.4 of the American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters. ANSI S1.4-1971. This publication is available from the American National Standards Institute Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018.
Appendix A to Subpart A of Part 201—Switcher Locomotives
[The following locomotives are considered to be “switcher locomotives” under the general definition of this regulation]
| Type | Engine |
|---|---|
| General Electric Co. | |
| 44 ton | 8-D17000(2). |
| 70 ton | 6-CBFWL-6T. |
| 95 ton | 6-CBFWL-6T. |
| Electromotive Division (GMC) | |
| SC | 8-201A. |
| NC | 12-201A. |
| NC1 | 12-201A. |
| NC2 | 12-201A. |
| NW | 12-201A. |
| NW1 | 12-201A. |
| NW1A | 12-201A. |
| NW2 | 12-567. |
| NW2 | 12-567A. |
| NW3 | 12-567. |
| NW4 | 12-201A. |
| NW5 | 12-567B. |
| SW | 8-201A/6-567. |
| SW1 | 6-567A/AC. |
| SW2 | 6-567. |
| SW3 | 6-567. |
| SW600 | 6-567C. |
| SW7 | 12-567A. |
| SW8 | 8-567B/BC. |
| SW900 | 8-567B. |
| SW9 | 12-567B/BC/C. |
| SW1200 | 12-567C. |
| SW1000 | 8-645E. |
| SW1001 | 8-645E. |
| SW1500 | 12-645E. |
| MP15 | 12-645E. |
| MP15AC | 12-645E. |
| GMD1 | 12-567C. |
| RS1325 | 12-567C. |
| Transfer Switcher including “Cow and Calf” | |
| T | 12-201A(2) |
| TR | 12-567(2) |
| TR1 | 16-567(2) |
| TR2 | 12-567A(2) |
| TR3 | 12-567(3) |
| TR4 | 12-567A(2) |
| TR5 | 12-567B(2) |
| TR6 | 8-567B(2) |
| Baldwin | |
| VO-660 | 6-VO. |
| DS-446 | 6-606NA. |
| DS4475 | 6-750. |
| S-8 | 6-606. |
| VO-1000 | 8-VO. |
| DS-4410 | 8-608NA. |
| DS-4410 | 6-606SC. |
| S-12 | 6-606A. |
| DRS-4410 1 | 6-606SC. |
| DRS-12 1 | 6-606A. |
| Fairbanks Morse | |
| H-10-44 | 6-OP. |
| H-12-44 | 6-OP. |
| H-12-44TS | 6-OP. |
| H-12-46 1 | 6-OP. |
| Lima | |
| 750 hp. | 6-Hamilton. |
| 800 hp. | 6-Hamilton. |
| 1000 hp. | 8-Hamilton. |
| 1200 hp. | 8-Hamilton. |
| LRS 1 | 8-Hamilton. |
| TL 1 | 8-Hamilton (2). |
| ALCO and MLW | |
| S1 | 6-539NA. |
| S2 | 6-539T. |
| S3 | 6-539NA. |
| S4 | 6-539T. |
| S5 | 6-251. |
| S6 | 6-251A,B. |
| S7 | 6-539. |
| S10 | 6-539. |
| S11 | 6-539. |
| S12 | 6-539T. |
| S13 | 6-251C. |
| RSD-1 | 6-539. |
| RSC-13 | 6-539. |
| RSC-24 | 12-244 |
| RS1 | 6-539T. |
| RS2 1 | 12-244. |
| RS3 1 | 12-244. |
| RS10 1 | 12-244. |
| RSC-2 1 | 12-244. |
| RS3 1 | 12-244. |
| RSD-4 1 | 12-244. |
| RSD-5 1 | 12-244. |
| T6 | 6-251B. |
| C-415 1 | 8-251F. |
| M-420TR | 12-251. |
1 These models may be found assigned to road service as well as switcher service, but are considered switcher locomotives for the purpose of this regulation.
Subpart B—Interstate Rail Carrier Operations Standards
§ 201.10 Applicability.
The provisions of this subpart apply to all rail cars and all locomotives, except steam locomotives, operated or controlled by carriers as defined in subpart A of this part, except that § 201.11 (a), (b), and (c) do not apply to gas turbine-powered locomotives and to any locomotive type which cannot be connected by any standard method to a load cell. They apply to the total sound level emitted by rail cars and locomotives operated under the conditions specified, including the sound produced by refrigeration and air conditioning units which are an integral element of such equipment. The provisions of this subpart apply to all active retarders, all car coupling operations, all switcher locomotives, and all load cell test stands. These provisions do not apply to the sound emitted by a warning device, such as a horn, whistle or bell when operated for the purpose of safety. They do not apply to special purpose equipment which may be located on or operated from railcars; they do not apply to street, suburban or interurban electric railways unless operated as a part of a general railroad system of transportation. When land use changes after the publication date of this regulation from some other use to residential or commercial land use around a specific railyard facility, this regulation will become effective four (4) years from the date of that land use change.
§ 201.11 Standard for locomotive operation under stationary conditions.
(a) Commencing December 31, 1976, no carrier subject to this regulation shall operate any locomotive to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed on or before December 31, 1979, which produces A-weighted sound levels in excess of 93 dB at any throttle setting except idle, when operated singly and when connected to a load cell, or in excess of 73 dB at idle when operated singly, and when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this part with slow meter response at a point 30 meters (100 feet) from the geometric center of the locomotive along a line that is both perpendicular to the centerline of the track and originates at the locomotive geometric center.
(b) No carrier subject to this regulation shall operate any locomotive to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed after December 31, 1979, which produces A-weighted sound levels in excess of 87 dB at any throttle setting except idle, when operated singly and when connected to a load cell, or in excess of 70 dB at idle when operated singly, and when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this part with slow meter response at a point 30 meters (100 feet) from the geometric center of the locomotive along a line that is both perpendicular to the centerline of the track and originates at the locomotive geometric center.
(c) Commencing January 15, 1984, no carrier subject to this regulation may operate any switcher locomotive to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed on or before December 31, 1979, which produces A-weighted sound levels in excess of 87 dB at any throttle setting except idle, when operated singly and when connected to a load cell, or in excess of 70 dB at idle, and when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this part with slow meter response at a point 30 meters (100 feet) from the geometric center of the locomotive along a line that is both perpendicular to the centerline of the track and originates at the locomotive geometric center. All switcher locomotives that operate in a particular railroad facility are deemed to be in compliance with this standard if the A-weighted sound level from stationary switcher locomotives, singly or in combination with other stationary locomotives, does not exceed 65 dB when measured with fast meter response at any receiving property measurement location near that particular railyard facility and when measured in accordance wtih Subpart C of this regulation.
§ 201.12 Standard for locomotive operation under moving conditions.
(a) Commencing December 31, 1976, no carrier subject to this regulation may operate any locomotive or combination of locomotives to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed on or before December 31, 1979, which produces A-weighted sound levels in excess of 96 dB when moving at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration, or deceleration, when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this regulation with fast meter response at 30 meters (100 feet) from the centerline of any section of track having less than a two (2) degree curve (or a radius of curvature greater than 873 meters (2865 feet)).
(b) No carrier subject to this regulation may operate any locomotive or combination of locomotives to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed after December 31, 1979, which produce A-weighted sound levels in excess of 90 dB when moving at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration, or deceleration, when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this part with fast meter response at 30 meters (100 feet) from the centerline of any section of track having less than a two (2) degree curve (or a radius of curvature greater than 873 meters (2,865 feet)).
(c) Commencing January 15, 1984, no carrier subject to this regulation may operate any switcher locomotive or a combination of switcher locomotives to which this regulation is applicable, and of which manufacture is completed on or before December 31, 1979 which produce A-weighted sound levels in excess of 90 dB when moving at any time or under any condition of grade, load, acceleration or deceleration, and when measured in accordance with the criteria in Subpart C of this part with fast meter response at 30 meters (100 feet) from the centerline of any section of track having less than a two (2) degree curve (or a radius of curvature greater than 873 meters (2,865 feet)). All switcher locomotives that operate in a particular railroad facility are deemed to be in compliance with this standard if the A-weighted sound level from stationary switcher locomotives, singly or in combination with other stationary locomotives, does not exceed 65 dB when measured with fast meter response at any receiving property measurement location near that particular railyard facility and when measured in accordance with Subpart C of this regulation.
§ 201.13 Standard for rail car operations.
Effective December 31, 1976, no carrier subject to this regulation shall operate any rail car or combination of rail cars which while in motion produce sound levels in excess of (1) 88 dB(A) at rail car speeds up to and including 75 km/hr (45 mph); or (2) 93 dB(A) at rail car speeds greater than 72 km/hr (45 mph); when measured in accordance with the criteria specified in Subpart C of this part with fast meter response at 30 meters (100) feet from the centerline of any section of track which is free of special track work or bridges or trestles and which exhibits less than a two (2) degree curve (or a radius of curvature greater than 873 meters (2,865 feet)).
§ 201.14 Standard for retarders.
Effective January 15, 1984, no carrier subject to this regulation shall operate retarders that exceed an adjusted average maximum A-weighted sound level of 83 dB at any receiving property measurement location, when measured with fast meter response in accordance with Subpart C of this part.
§ 201.15 Standard for car coupling operations.
Effective January 15, 1984, no carrier subject to this regulation shall conduct car coupling operations that exceed an adjusted average maximum A-weighted sound level of 92 dB at any receiving property measurement location, when measured with fast meter response in accordance with Subpart C of this part, except, such coupling will be found in compliance with this standard and the carrier will be considered in compliance, if the railroad demonstrates that the standard is exceeded at the receiving property measurement locations (where the standard was previously exceeded) when cars representative of those found to exceed the standard are coupled at similar locations at coupling speeds of eight miles per hour or less.
§ 201.16 Standard for locomotive load cell test stands.
(a) Effective January 15, 1984, no carrier subject to this reguation shall operate locomotive load cell test stands that exceed an A-weighted sound level of 78 dB when measured with slow meter response in accordance with Subpart C of this part excluding § 201.23 (b) and (c), at a point 30 meters (100 feet) from the geometric center of the locomotive undergoing test, along a line that is both perpendicular to the centerline of the track and originates at the locomotive geometric center, and in the direction most nearly towards the closest receiving property measurement location. All locomotive load cell test stands in a particular railroad facility are in compliance with this standard if the A-weighted sound level from the load cell does not exceed 65 dB at any receiving property measurement location near that particular railyard facility and when measured with fast meter response in accordance with Subpart C of this regulation.
(b) If the conditions of any part of § 201.23(a) cannot be met at a specific load cell test stand site, then the A-weighted sound level from that specific load cell test stand must not exceed 65 dB when measured with fast meter response at a receiving property measurement location more than 120 meters (400 feet) from the geometric center of the locomotive being tested and in accordance with Subpart C of this regulation.
Subpart C—Measurement Criteria
§ 201.20 Applicability and purpose.
The following criteria are applicable to and contain the necessary parameters and procedures for the measurement of the noise emission levels prescribed in the standards of Subpart B of this part. These criteria are specified in order to further clarify and define such standards. Equivalent measurement procedures may be used for establishing compliance with these regulations. Any equivalent measurement procedure, under any circumstance, shall not result in a more stringent noise control requirement than those specified in this regulation using the measurement procedures in Subpart C.
§ 201.21 Quantities measured.
The quantities to be measured under the test conditions described below, are the A-weighted sound levels for “fast” or “slow” meter response as defined in the American National Standard S1.4-1971.
§ 201.22 Measurement instrumentation.
(a) A sound level meter or alternate sound level measurement system that meets, as a minimum, all the requirements of American National Standard S1.4-1971
Table 1—Sound Level Corrections When Using a Type 2 (or S2A) Instrument
| Measurement section | Source | Decibels 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 201.24 | Locomotives | 0 |
| Rail cars | 0 | |
| Locomotive load cell test stand | 0 | |
| 201.26 | Retarder | 4 |
| Car coupling | 2 | |
| 201.27 | Locomotive load cell test stand | 0 |
| Stationary locomotive | 0 |
1 Amount of correction to be subtracted from measured level (dB).
(b) A microphone windscreen and an acoustic calibrator of the coupler type must be used as recommended by: (1) the manufacturer of the sound level meter or (2) the manufacturer of the microphone. The choice of both devices must be based on ensuring that Type 1 or 2 performance, as appropriate, is maintained for frequencies below 10,000 Hz.
§ 201.23 Test site, weather conditions and background noise criteria for measurement at a 30 meter (100 feet) distance of the noise from locomotive and rail car operations and locomotive load cell test stands.
(a) The standard test site shall be such that the locomotive or train radiates sound into a free field over the ground plane. This condition may be considered fulfilled if the test site consists of an open space free of large, sound reflecting objects, such as barriers, hills, signboards, parked vehicles, locomotives or rail cars on adjacent tracks, bridges or buildings within the boundaries described by Figure 1, as well as conforms to the other requirements of this § 201.23.
(b) Within the complete test site, the top of at least one rail upon which the locomotive or train is located shall be visible (line of sight) from a position 1.2 meters (4 feet) above the ground at the microphone location, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section.
(c) Ground cover such as vegetation, fenceposts, small trees, telephone poles, etc., shall be limited within the area in the test site between the vehicle under test and the measuring microphone such that 80 percent of the top of at least one rail along the entire test section of track be visible from a position 1.2 meters (4 feet) above the ground at the microphone location; except that no single obstruction shall account for more than 5 percent of the total allowable obstruction.
(d) The ground elevation at the microphone location shall be within plus 1.5 meters (5 feet) or minus 3.0 meters (10 feet) of the elevation of the top of the rail at the location in-line with the microphone.
(e) Within the test site, the track shall exhibit less than a 2 degree curve or a radius of curvature greater than 873 meters (2,865 feet). This paragraph shall not apply during a stationary test. The track shall be tie and ballast, free of special track work and bridges or trestles.
(f) Measurements shall not be made during precipitation.
(g) The maximum A-weighted fast response sound level observed at the test site immediately before and after the test shall be at least 10 dB(A) below the level measured during the test. For the locomotive and rail car pass-by tests this requirement applies before and after the train containing the rolling stock to be tested has passed. This background sound level measurement shall include the contribution from the operation of the load cell, if any, including load cell contribution during test.
(h) Noise measurements may only be made if the measured wind velocity is 19.3 km/hr (12 mph) or less. Gust wind measurements of up to 33.2 km/hr (20 mph) are allowed.
§ 201.24 Procedures for measurement at a 30 meter (100 feet) distance of the noise from locomotive and rail car operations and locomotive load cell test stands.
(a) Microphone positions. (1) The microphone shall be located within the test site according to the specifications given in the test procedures of paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) of this section, and shall be positioned 1.2 meters (4 feet) above the ground. It shall be oriented with respect to the source in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
(2) The observer shall not stand between the microphone and the source whose sound level is being measured.
(b) Stationary locomotive and locomotive load cell test stand tests. (1) For stationary locomotive and locomotive load cell test stand tests, the microphone shall be positioned on a line perpendicular to the track at a point 30 meters (100 feet) from the track centerline at the longitudinal midpoint of the locomotive.
(2) The sound level meter shall be observed for thirty seconds after the test throttle setting is established to assure operating stability. The maximum sound level observed during that time shall be utilized for compliance purposes.
(3) Measurement of stationary locomotive and locomotive load cell test stand noise shall be made with all cooling fans operating.
(c) Rail car pass-by test. (1) For rail car pass-by tests, the microphone shall be positioned on a line perpendicular to the track 30 meters (100 feet) from the track centerline.
(2) Rail car noise measurements shall be made when the locomotives have passed a distance 152.4 meters (500 feet) or 10 rail cars beyond the point at the intersection of the track and the line which extends perpendicularly from the track to the microphone location, providing any other locomotives are also at least 152.4 meters (500 feet) or 10 rail car lengths away from the measuring point. The maximum sound level observed in this manner which exceeds the noise levels specified in § 201.13 shall be utilized for compliance purposes.
(3) Measurements shall be taken on reasonably well maintained tracks.
(4) Noise levels shall not be recorded if brake squeal is present during the test measurement.
(d) Locomotive pass-by test. (1) For locomotive pass-by tests, the microphone shall be positioned on a line perpendicular to the track at a point 30 meters (100 feet) from the track centerline.
(2) The noise level shall be measured as the locomotive approaches and passes by the microphone location. The maximum noise level observed during this period shall be utilized for compliance purposes.
(3) Measurements shall be taken on reasonably well maintained tracks.
§ 201.25 Measurement location and weather conditions for measurement on receiving property of the noise of retarders, car coupling, locomotive load cell test stands, and stationary locomotives.
(a) Measurements must be conducted only at receiving property measurement locations.
(b) Measurement locations on receiving property must be selected such that no substantially vertical plane surface, other than a residential or commercial unit wall or facility boundary noise barrier, that exceeds 1.2 meters (4 feet) in height is located within 10 meters (33.3 feet) of the microphone and that no exterior wall of a residential or commercial structure is located within 2.0 meters (6.6 feet) of the microphone. If the residential structure is a farm home, measurements must be made 2.0 to 10.0 meters (6.6 to 33.3 feet) from any exterior wall.
(c) No measurement may be made when the average wind velocity during the period of measurement exceeds 19.3 km/hr (12 mph) or when the maximum wind gust velocity exceeds 32.2 km/hr (20 mph).
(d) No measurement may be taken when precipitation, e.g., rain, snow, sleet, or hail, is occurring.
§ 201.26 Procedures for the measurement on receiving property of retarder and car coupling noise.
(a) Retarders—(1) Microphone. The microphone must be located on the receiving property and positioned at a height between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (4 to 5 feet) above the ground. The microphone must be positioned with respect to the equipment in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations for Type 1 or 2 performance as appropriate. No person may stand between the microphone and the equipment being measured or be otherwise positioned relative to the microphone at variance with the manufacturers’ recommendations for Type 1 or 2 performance as appropriate.
(2) Data. The maximum A-weighted sound levels (FAST) for every retarder sound observed during the measurement period must be read from the indicator and recorded. At least 30 consecutive retarder sounds must be measured. The measurement period must be at least 60 minutes and not more than 240 minutes.
(3) Adjusted average maximum A-weighted sound level. The energy average level for the measured retarder sounds must be calculated to determine the value of the average maximum A-weighted sound level (L
(b) Car coupling impact—(1) Microphone. The microphone must be located on the receiving property and at a distance of at least 30 meters (100 feet) from the centerline of the nearest track on which car coupling occurs and its sound is measured (that is, either the microphone is located 30 meters (100 feet) from the nearest track on which couplings occur, or all sounds resulting from car coupling impacts that occur on tracks with centerlines located less than 30 meters (100 feet) from the microphone are disregarded). The microphone shall be positioned at a height between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (4 and 5 feet) above the ground, and it must be positioned with respect to the equipment in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations for Type 1 or 2 performance as appropriate. No person may stand between the microphone and the equipment being measured or be otherwise positioned relative to the microphone at variance with the manufacturers’ recommendations for Type 1 or 2 performance as appropriate.
(2) Data. The maximum A-weighted sound levels (FAST) for every car coupling impact sound observed during the measurement period must be read from the indicator and recorded. At least 30 consecutive car coupling impact sounds must be measured. The measurement period must be at least 60 minutes and not more than 240 minutes, and must be reported.
Table 2—Adjustment to L
1
[n/T = number of measurements/measurement duration (min) C = Adjustment in dB]
| 0.111 to 0.141 | −9 |
| 0.142 to 0.178 | −8 |
| 0.179 to 0.224 | −7 |
| 0.225 to 0.282 | −6 |
| 0.283 to 0.355 | −5 |
| 0.356 to 0.447 | −4 |
| 0.448 to 0.562 | −3 |
| 0.563 to 0.708 | −2 |
| 0.709 to 0.891 | −1 |
| 0.892 to 1.122 | 0 |
| 1.123 to 1.413 | + 1 |
| 1.414 to 1.778 | + 2 |
| 1.779 to 2.239 | + 3 |
| 2.240 to 2.818 | + 4 |
| 2.819 to 3.548 | + 5 |
| 3.549 to 4.467 | + 6 |
1 L
Values in Table 2 were calculated from [C = 10 log n/T] with intervals selected to round off values to the nearest whole decibel. The table may be extended or interpolated to finer interval gradations by using this defining equation.
(3) Adjusted average maximum A-weighted sound level. The energy average level for the measured car coupling sounds is calculated to determine the average maximum sound level (L
§ 201.27 Procedures for: (1) Determining applicability of the locomotive load cell test stand standard and switcher locomotive standard by noise measurement on a receiving property; (2) measurement of locomotive load cell test stands more than 120 meters (400 feet) on a receiving property.
(a) Microphone. The microphone must be located at a receiving property measurement location and must be positioned at a height between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (4 and 5 feet) above the ground. Its position with respect to the equipment must be in accordance with the manufacturers’ recommendations for Type 1 or 2 performance as appropriate. No person may stand between the microphone and the equipment being measured or be otherwise positioned relative to the microphone at variance to the manufacturers’ recommendations for Type 1 or Type 2 performance as appropriate.
(b) Data. (1) When there is evidence that at least one of these two types of nearly steady state sound sources is affecting the noise environment, the following measurements must be made. The purpose of these measurements is to determine the A-weighted L
(2) Data shall be collected by measuring the instantaneous A-weighted sound level (FAST) at a rate of at least once each 10 seconds for a measurement period of at least 15 minutes and until 100 measurements are obtained. The data may be taken manually by direct reading of the indicator at 10 second intervals (±1 second), or by attaching a statistical analyzer, graphic level recorder, or other equivalent device to the sound level meter for a more continuous recording of the instantaneous sound level.
(3) The data shall be analyzed to determine the levels exceeded 99%, 90%, and 10% of the time, i.e., L
(c) Determination of applicability of the standard when L
(1) The principal direction of the nearly steady-state sound at the measurement location must be determined, if possible, by listening to the sound and localizing its apparent source(s). If the observer is clearly convinced by this localization process that the sound emanates only from one or both of these two sources, then:
(i) If only stationary locomotive(s), including at least one switcher locomotive, are present, the value of L
(ii) If only a locomotive load cell test stand and the locomotive being tested are present and operating, the value of L
(iii) If a locomotive load cell test stand(s) and the locomotive being tested are present and operating with stationary locomotive(s), including at least one switcher locomotive, the value L
(iv) If a locomotive load cell test stand(s) and the locomotive being tested are present and operating, and a stationary locomotive(s) is present, and if the nearly steady-state sound level is observed to change by 10 dB, coincident with evidence of a change in operation of the locomotive load cell test stand but without apparent change in the location of stationary locomotives, another measurement of L
(2) In order to accomplish the comparison demonstration of paragraph (c)(3) of this section, when one or more source types is found not to be in compliance with the applicable standard(s), documentation of noise source information shall be necessary. This will include, but not be limited to, the approximate location of all sources of each source type present and the microphone position on a diagram of the particular railroad facility, and the distances between the microphone location and each of the sources must be estimated and reported. Additionally, if other rail or non-rail noise sources are detected, they must be identified and similarly reported.
(3) If it can be demonstrated that the validated L
§ 201.28 Testing by railroad to determine probable compliance with the standard.
(a) To determine whether it is probably complying with the regulation, and therefore whether it should institute noise abatement, a railroad may take measurements on its own property at locations that:
(1) Are between the source and receiving property
(2) Derive no greater benefit from shielding and other noise reduction features that does the receiving property; and
(3) Otherwise meet the requirements of § 201.25.
(b) Measurements made for this purpose should be in accordance with the appropriate procedures in § 201.26 or § 201.27. If the resulting level is less than the level stated in the standard, then there is probably compliance with the standard.
(c) This procedure is set forth to assist the railroad in devising its compliance plan, not as a substantive requirement of the regulation.
PART 202—MOTOR CARRIERS ENGAGED IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 202.10 Definitions.
As used in this part, all terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Act:
(a) Act means the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-574, 86 Stat. 1234).
(b) Common carrier by motor vehicle means any person who holds himself out to the general public to engage in the transportation by motor vehicle in interstate or foreign commerce of passengers or property or any class or classes thereof for compensation, whether over regular or irregular routes.
(c) Contract carrier by motor vehicle means any person who engages in transportation by motor vehicle of passengers or property in interstate or foreign commerce for compensation (other than transportation referred to in paragraph (b) of this section) under continuing contracts with one person or a limited number of persons either (1) for the furnishing of transportation services through the assignment of motor vehicles for a continuing period of time to the exclusive use of each person served or (2) for the furnishing of transportation services designed to meet the distinct need of each individual customer.
(d) Cutout or by-pass or similar devices means devices which vary the exhaust system gas flow so as to discharge the exhaust gas and acoustic energy to the atmosphere without passing through the entire length of the exhaust system, including all exhaust system sound attenuation components.
(e) dB(A) means the standard abbreviation for A-weighted sound level in decibels.
(f) Exhaust system means the system comprised of a combination of components which provides for enclosed flow of exhaust gas from engine parts to the atmosphere.
(g) Fast meter response means that the fast dynamic response of the sound level meter shall be used. The fast dynamic response shall comply with the meter dynamic characteristics in paragraph 5.3 of the American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters, ANSI S1. 4-1971. This publication is available from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1420 Broadway, New York, New York 10018.
(h) Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.
(i) Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination vehicle.
(j) Highway means the streets, roads, and public ways in any State.
(k) Interstate commerce means the commerce between any place in a State and any place in another State or between places in the same State through another State, whether such commerce moves wholly by motor vehicle or partly by motor vehicle and partly by rail, express, water or air. This definition of “interstate commerce” for purposes of these regulations is the same as the definition of “interstate commerce” in section 203(a) of the Interstate Commerce Act. [49 U.S.C. 303(a)]
(l) Motor carrier means a common carrier by motor vehicle, a contract carrier by motor vehicle, or a private carrier of property by motor vehicle as those terms are defined by paragraphs (14), (15), and (17) of section 203(a) of the Interstate Commerce Act [49 U.S.C. 303(a)].
(m) Motor vehicle means any vehicle, machine, tractor, trailer, or semitrailer propelled or drawn by mechanical power and used upon the highways in the transportation of passengers or property, or any combination thereof, but does not include any vehicle, locomotive, or car operated exclusively on a rail or rails.
(n) Muffler means a device for abating the sound of escaping gases of an internal combustion engine.
(o) Open site means an area that is essentially free of large sound-reflecting objects, such as barriers, walls, board fences, signboards, parked vehicles, bridges, or buildings.
(p) Private carrier of property by motor vehicle means any person not included in terms “common carrier by motor vehicle” or “contract carrier by motor vehicle”, who or which transports in interstate or foreign commerce by motor vehicle property of which such person is the owner, lessee, or bailee, when such transportation is for sale, lease, rent or bailment, or in furtherance of any commercial enterprise.
(q) Sound level means the quantity in decibles measured by a sound level meter satisfying the requirements of American National Standards Specification for Sound Level Meters S1.4-1971. This publication is available from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018. Sound level is the frequency-weighted sound pressure level obtained with the standardized dynamic characteristic “fast” or “slow” and weighting A, B, or C; unless indicated otherwise, the A-weighting is understood.
§ 202.11 Effective date.
The provisions of Subpart B shall become effective October 15, 1975, except that the provisions of § 202.20(b) and § 202.21(b) of Subpart B shall apply to motor vehicles manufactured during or after the 1986 model year.
§ 202.12 Applicability.
(a) The provisions of Subpart B apply to all motor carriers engaged in interstate commerce.
(b) The provisions of Subpart B apply only to those motor vehicles of such motor carriers which have a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating in excess of 10,000 pounds, and only when such motor vehicles are operating under the conditions specified in Subpart B.
(c) Except as provided in paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section, the provisions of Subpart B apply to the total sound produced by such motor vehicles when operating under such conditions, including the sound produced by auxiliary equipment mounted on such motor vehicles.
(d) The provisions of Subpart B do not apply to auxiliary equipment which is normally operated only when the transporting vehicle is stationary or is moving at a speed of 5 miles per hour or less. Examples of such equipment include, but are not limited to, cranes, asphalt spreaders, ditch diggers, liquid or slurry pumps, air compressors, welders, and trash compactors.
(e) The provisions of Subpart B do not apply to warning devices, such as horns and sirens; or to emergency equipment and vehicles such as fire engines, ambulances, police vans, and rescue vans, when responding to emergency calls; or to snow plows when in operation.
(f) The provisions of § 202.20(a) and § 202.21(a) of Subpart B apply only to applicable motor vehicles manufactured prior to the 1986 model year.
(g) The provisions of § 202.20(b) and § 202.21(b) apply to all applicable motor vehicles manufactured during or after the 1986 model year.
Subpart B—Interstate Motor Carrier Operations Standards
§ 202.20 Standards for highway operations.
(a) No motor carrier subject to these regulations shall operate any motor vehicle of a type to which this regulation is applicable which at any time or under any condition of highway grade, load, acceleration or deceleration generates a sound level in excess of 86dB(A) measured on an open site with fast meter response at 50 feet from the centerline of lane of travel on highways with speed limits of 35 MPH or less; or 90 dB(A) measured on an open site with fast meter response at 50 feet from the centerline of lane of travel on highways with speed limits of more than 35 MPH.
(b) No motor carrier subject to these regulations shall operate any motor vehicle of a type to which this regulation is applicable which at any time or under any condition of highway grade, load, acceleration or deceleration generates a sound level in excess of 83 dB(A) measured on an open site with fast meter response at 50 feet from the centerline of lane of travel on highways with speed limits of 35 MPH or less; or 87 dB(A) measured on an open site with fast meter response at 50 feet from the centerline of lane of travel on highways with speed limits of more than 35 MPH.
§ 202.21 Standard for operation under stationary test.
(a) No motor carrier subject to these regulations shall operate any motor vehicle of a type to which this regulation is applicable which generates a sound level in excess of 88 dB(A) measured on an open site with fast meter response at 50 feet from the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, when its engine is accelerated from idle with wide open throttle to governed speed with the vehicle stationary, transmission in neutral, and clutch engaged. This section shall not apply to any vehicle which is not equipped with an engine speed governor.
(b) No motor carrier subject to these regulations shall operate any motor vehicle of a type to which this regulation is applicable which generates a sound level in excess of 85 dB(A) measured on an open site with fast meter response at 50 feet from the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle when its engine is accelerated from idle with wide open throttle to governed speed with the vehicle stationary, transmission in neutral, and clutch engaged. This paragraph shall not apply to any vehicle which is not equipped with an engine speed governor.
§ 202.22 Visual exhaust system inspection.
No motor carrier subject to these regulations shall operate any motor vehicle of a type to which this regulation is applicable unless the exhaust system of such vehicle is (a) free from defects which affect sound reduction; (b) equipped with a muffler or other noise dissipative device; and (c) not equipped with any cut-out, bypass, or similar device.
§ 202.23 Visual tire inspection.
No motor carrier subject to these regulations shall at any time operate any motor vehicle of a type to which this regulation is applicable on a tire or tires having a tread pattern which as originally manufactured, or as newly retreaded, is composed primarily or cavities in the tread (excluding sipes and local chunking) which are not vented by grooves to the tire shoulder or circumferentially to each other around the tire. This § 202.23 shall not apply to any motor vehicle which is demonstrated by the motor carrier which operates it to be in compliance with the noise emission standard specified for operations on highways with speed limits of more than 35 MPH in § 202.20 of this Subpart B, if the demonstration is conducted at the highway speed limit in effect at the inspection location, or, if speed is unlimited, the demonstration is conducted at a speed of 65 MPH.
PART 203—LOW-NOISE-EMISSION PRODUCTS
§ 203.1 Definitions.
(a) As used in this part, any term not defined herein shall have the meaning given it in the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-574).
(1) Act means the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-574).
(2) Federal Government includes the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the Government of the United States, and the government of the District of Columbia.
(3) Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(4) Product means any manufactured article or goods or component thereof; except that such term does not include—
(i) Any aircraft, aircraft engine, propellor or appliance, as such terms are defined in section 101 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958; or
(ii)(a) Any military weapons or equipment which are designed for combat use; (b) any rockets or equipment which are designed for research, experimental or developmental work to be performed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; or (c) to the extent provided by regulations of the Administrator, any other machinery or equipment designed for use in experimental work done by or for the Federal Government.
(5) Low-Noise-Emission Product Determination means the Administrator’s determination whether or not a product, for which a properly filed application has been received, meets the low-noise-emission product criterion.
(6) Suitable Substitute Decision means the Administrator’s decision whether a product which the Administrator has determined to be a low-noise-emission product is a suitable substitute for a product or products presently being purchased by the Federal Government.
§ 203.2 Application for certification.
(a) Any person desiring certification of a class or model of product under section 15 of the act shall submit to the Administrator an application for certification. The application shall be completed upon such forms as the Administrator may deem appropriate and shall contain:
(1) A description of the product, including its power source, if any;
(2) Information pertaining to the test facility for the product establishing that the test facility meets all requirements which EPA may prescribe;
(3) All noise emission data from the test of the product;
(4) Data required by the Administrator relative, but not limited to, the following characteristics;
(i) Safety;
(ii) Performance Characteristics;
(iii) Reliability of product and reliability of low-noise-emission features;
(iv) Maintenance;
(v) Operating Costs;
(vi) Conformance with Federal Agency Purchase Specifications; and
(5) Such other information as the Administrator may request.
(b) Specific data requirements relative to paragraph (a)(4) of this section will be published separately from the low-noise-emission criterion for that product or class of products.
(c) The Administrator will, immediately upon receipt of the application for certification, publish in the
§ 203.3 Test procedures.
(a) The applicant shall test or cause his product to be tested in accordance with procedures contained in the regulations issued pursuant to section 6 of the act unless otherwise specified.
(b) The Administrator may conduct whatever investigation is necessary, including actual inspection of the product at a place designated by him.
§ 203.4 Low-noise-emission product determination.
(a) The Administrator will, within ninety (90) days after receipt of a properly filed application for certification, determine whether such product is a low-noise-emission product. In doing so, he will determine if the product:
(1) Is one for which a noise source emission standard has been promulgated under section 6 of the act;
(2) Emits levels of noise in amounts significantly below the levels specified in noise emission standard under regulations under section 6 of the act applicable to that product or class of products; and
(3) Is labeled in accordance with regulations issued pursuant to section 8 of the act.
(b) The Administrator will, upon making the determination whether a product is a low-noise-emission product, publish in the
(c) The notice of determination that a product is a low-noise-emission product shall be revocable whenever a change in the low-noise-emission product criterion for what product occurs between determination and decision. Notice of any revocation will be published in the
(d) The notice of determination that a product is a low-noise-emission product shall expire upon publication in the
§ 203.5 Suitable substitute decision.
(a) If the Administrator determines that a product is a low-noise-emission product, then within one hundred and eighty (180) days of such determination, in consultation with the appropriate Federal agencies, the Administrator will decide whether such product is a suitable substitute for any class or model or product being purchased by the Federal Government for use by its agencies. Such decision will be based upon the data obtained under § 203.2, the Administrator’s evaluation of the data, comments of interested parties, and, as the Administrator deems appropriate, an actual inspection or test of the product at such places and times as the Administrator may designate.
(b) In order to compare the data for any class or model of product with any class or model of product presently being purchased by the Federal Government for which the applicant seeks to have its product substituted, the Administrator will enter into appropriate agreements with other Government agencies to gather the necessary data regarding such class or model.
(c) Immediately upon making the decision as to whether a product determined to be a low-noise-emission product is a suitable substitute for any product or class of products being purchased by the Federal Government for its use, the Administrator shall publish in the
(d) If the Administrator decides that the product is a suitable substitute for products being purchased by the Federal Government, he will issue a certificate that the product is a suitable substitute for a product or class of products presently being purchased by the Federal Government and will specify with particularity the product or class of products for which the certified product is a suitable substitute.
(e) Any certification made under this section shall be effective for a period of one year from date of issuance.
§ 203.6 Contracts for low-noise-emission products.
(a) Data relied upon by the Administrator in determining that a product is a certified low-noise-emission product will be incorporated by reference in any contract for the procurement of such product.
(b) A determination of price to the Government of any certified low-noise-emission product will be made by the Administrator of General Services in coordination with the appropriate Federal agencies in accordance with such procedures as he may prescribe and with subsection c(1) of section 15 of the Act.
§ 203.7 Post-certification testing.
The Administrator will, from time to time, as he deems appropriate, test the emissions of noise from certified low-noise-emission products purchased by the Federal Government. If at any time he finds that the noise emission levels exceed the levels on which certification was based, the Administrator shall give the suppliers of such product written notice of this finding, publish such findings in the
§ 203.8 Recertification.
(a) A product for which a certificate has been issued may be recertified for the following year upon reapplication to the Administrator for this purpose upon such forms as the Administrator may deem appropriate.
(b) If the applicant supplies information establishing that:
(1) The data previously submitted continues to describe his product for purpose of certification;
(2) The low-noise-emission product criterion and “suitable substitute” criteria are to be the same during the period recertification is desired; and
(3) No notice has been issued under § 203.7, then recertification will be made within 30 days after receipt of an appropriate recertification application by the Administrator.
PART 204—NOISE EMISSION STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 204.1 General applicability.
The provisions of this subpart are applicable to all products for which regulations have been published under this part and which are manufactured after the effective date of such regulations.
§ 204.2 Definitions.
(a) As used in this subpart, all terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Act.
(1) Act means the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-574, 86 Stat. 1234).
(2) Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency or his authorized representative.
(3) Agency means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(4) Export exemption means an exemption from the prohibitions of section 10 (a) (1), (2), (3), and (4) of the Act, granted by statute under section 10(b)(2) of the Act for the purpose of exporting regulated products.
(5) National security exemption means an exemption from the prohibitions of section 10(a) (1), (2), (3), and (5) of the Act, which may be granted under section 10(b)(1) of the Act for the purpose of national security.
(6) [Reserved]
(7) Testing exemption means an exemption from the prohibitions of section 10(a) (1), (2), (3), and (5) of the Act, which may be granted under section 10(b)(1) of the Act for the purpose of research, investigations, studies, demonstrations, or training, but not including national security where lease or sale of the exempted product is involved.
(8) Warranty means the warranty required by section 6(c)(1) of the Act.
(9) Tampering means those acts prohibited by section 10(a)(2) of the Act.
(10) Maintenance instructions means those instructions for maintenance, use, and repair, which the Administrator is authorized to require pursuant to section 6(c)(1) of the Act.
(11) Type I Sound Level Meter means a sound level meter which meets the Type I requirements of American National Standard Specification S1.4-1971 for sound level meters. This publication is available from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018.
(12) dBA is the standard abbreviation for A-weighted sound level in decibels.
(13) Reasonable assistance means providing timely and unobstructed access to test products or products and records required by this part and opportunity for copying such records or testing such test products.
(14) Slow meter response means the meter ballistics of meter dynamic characteristics as specified by American National Standard S1.4-1971 or subsequent approved revisions.
(15) Sound level means the weighted sound pressure level measured by the use of a metering characteristic and weighing A, B, or C as specified in American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters S1.4-1971 or subsequent approved revision. The weighting employed must be specified, otherwise A-weighting is understood.
(16) Sound pressure level means, in decibels, 20 times the logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of a sound pressure to the reference sound pressure of 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter). In the absence of any modifier, the level is understood to be that of a root-mean-square pressure.
(17) Product means any construction equipment for which regulations have been promulgated under this part and includes “test product.”
(18) Test product means any product that is required to be tested pursuant to this part.
§ 204.3 Number and gender.
As used in this part, words in the singular shall be deemed to import the plural, and words in the masculine gender shall be deemed to import the feminine and vice versa, as the case may require.
§ 204.4 Inspection and monitoring.
(a) Any inspection or monitoring activities conducted under this section shall be for the purpose of determining (1) whether test products are being selected and prepared for testing in accordance with the provisions of these regulations, (2) whether test product testing is being conducted in accordance with these regulations, and (3) whether products being produced for distribution into commerce comply with these regulations.
(b) The Director, Noise Enforcement Division, may request that a manufacturer subject to this part admit an EPA Enforcement Officer during operating hours to any of the following:
(1) Any facility or site where any product to be distributed into commerce is manufactured, assembled, or stored;
(2) Any facility or site where any tests conducted pursuant to this part or any procedures or activities connected with such tests are or were performed; and
(3) Any facility or site where any test product is present.
(c)(1) An EPA Enforcement Officer, once admitted to a facility or site, will not be authorized to do more than:
(i) To inspect and monitor test product manufacture and assembly, selection, storage, preconditioning, noise emission testing, and maintenance, and to verify correlation or calibration of test equipment;
(ii) To inspect products prior to their distribution in commerce;
(iii) [Reserved]
(iv) To inspect and photograph any part or aspect of any such product and any component used in the assembly thereof that are reasonably related to the purpose of his entry;
(v) To obtain from those in charge of the facility or site such reasonable assistance as he may request to enable him to carry out any proper function listed in this section.
(2) [Reserved]
(3) The provisions of this section apply whether the facility or site is owned or controlled by the manufacturer or by one who acts for the manufacturer.
(d) For purposes of this section:
(1) An “EPA Enforcement Officer” is an employee of the EPA Office of Enforcement who displays upon arrival at a facility or site the credentials identifying him as such an employee and a letter signed by the Director, Noise Enforcement Division designating him to make the inspection.
(2) Where test product storage areas or facilities are concerned, “operating hours” shall mean all times during which personnel other than custodial personnel are at work in the vicinity of the area or facility and have access to it.
(3) Where facilities or areas other than those covered by paragraph (d)(2) of this section are concerned, “operating hours” shall mean all times during which product manufacture or assembly is in operation or all times during which product testing or maintenance, production, or compilation of records is taking place, or any other procedure or activity related to selective enforcement audit testing or to product manufacture or assembly is being carried out.
(e) The manufacturer shall admit to a facility or site an EPA Enforcement Officer who presents a warrant authorizing entry. In the absence of such warrant, entry to any facility or site under this section will be only upon the consent of the manufacturer.
(1) It is not a violation of this regulation or the Act for any person to refuse entry without a warrant.
(2) The Administrator or his designee may proceed ex parte to obtain a warrant whether or not the manufacturer has refused entry.
§ 204.5 Exemptions.
§ 204.5-1 Testing exemption.
(a) A new product intended to be used solely for research, investigations, studies, demonstrations or training, and so labeled or marked on the outside of the container and on the product itself, shall be exempt from the prohibitions of sections 10(a) (1), (2), (3), and (5) of the Act.
(b) No request for a testing exemption is required.
(c) For purposes of section 11(d) of the Act any testing exemption shall be void ab initio with respect to each new product, originally intended for research, investigations, studies, demonstrations, or training, but distributed in commerce for other uses.
§ 204.5-2 National security exemptions.
(a) A new product which is produced to conform with specifications developed by a national security agency, and so labeled or marked on the outside of the container and on the product itself, shall be exempt from the prohibitions of sections 10(a) (1), (2), (3), and (4) of the Act.
(b) No request for a national security exemption is required.
(c) For purposes of section 11(d) of the Act, any national security exemption shall be void ab initio with respect to each new product, originally intended to be produced to conform with specifications developed by a national security agency but distributed in commerce for other uses.
(d) Any manufacturer or person subject to the liabilities of section 11(a) with respect to any product originally intended for a national security agency, but distributed in commerce for use in any State, may be excluded from the application of section 11(a) with respect to such product based upon a showing that such manufacturer:
(1) Had no knowledge of such product being distributed in commerce for use in any state; and
(2) Made reasonable efforts to ensure that such products would not be distributed in commerce for use in any State. Such reasonable efforts would include investigation, prior dealings, contract provisions, etc.
§ 204.5-3 Export exemptions.
(a) A new product intended solely for export, and so labeled or marked on the outside of the container and on the product itself, shall be exempt from the prohibitions of section 10(a), (1), (2), (3), and (4) of the Act.
(b) No request for an export exemption is required.
(c) For purposes of section 11(d) of the Noise Control Act, any export exemption under section 10(b)(2) shall be void ab initio with respect to each new product intended solely for export which is distributed in commerce for use in any state.
(d) The Administrator will not institute proceedings against any manufacturer pursuant to section 11(d)(1) of the Noise Control Act with respect to any product, originally intended for export, but distributed in commerce for use in any state, if it is demonstrated to the Administrator’s satisfaction that:
(1) The manufacturer had no knowledge that such product would be distributed in commerce for use in any state; and
(2) The manufacturer made reasonable efforts to ensure that such product would not be distributed in commerce for use in any state. Such reasonable efforts would include consideration of prior dealings with any person which resulted in introduction into commerce of a product manufactured for export only, investigation of prior instances known to the manufacturer of introduction into commerce of a product manufactured for export only, and contract provisions which minimize the probability of introduction into commerce of a product manufactured for export only.
Subpart B—Portable Air Compressors
§ 204.50 Applicability.
The provisions of this subpart shall apply to portable air compressors which are manufactured after the effective dates specified in § 204.52, and which are “New Products” as defined in the Act. These provisions apply only to portable air compressors with a rated capacity equal to or above 75 cubic feet per minute which deliver air at pressures greater than 50 psig. The provisions do not apply to the pneumatic tools or equipment that the portable air compressor is designed to power.
§ 204.51 Definitions.
(a) Portable air compressor or compressor means any wheel, skid, truck, or railroad car mounted, but not self-propelled, equipment designed to activate pneumatic tools. This consists of an air compressor (air end), and a reciprocating rotary or turbine engine rigidly connected in permanent alignment and mounted on a common frame. Also included are all cooling, lubricating, regulating, starting, and fuel systems, and all equipment necessary to constitute a complete, self-contained unit with a rated capacity of 75 cfm or greater which delivers air at pressures greater than 50 psig, but does not include any pneumatic tools themselves.
(b) Maximum Rated Capacity means that the portable air compressor, operating at the design full speed with the compressor on load, delivers its rated cfm output and pressure, as defined by the manufacturer.
(c) Model year means the manufacturer’s annual production period which includes January 1 of such calendar year; Provided, that if the manufacturer has no annual production period, the term “model year” shall mean the calendar year.
(d) Compressor configuration means the basic classification unit of a manufacturer’s product line and is comprised of compressor lines, models or series which are identical in all material respects with regard to the parameters listed in § 204.55-3.
(e) Category means a group of compressor configurations which are identical in all aspects with respect to the parameters listed in paragraph (c)(1)(i) of § 204.55-2.
(f) [Reserved]
(g) Noise emission test means a test conducted pursuant to the measurement methodology specified in § 204.54.
(h) Inspection Criteria means the rejection and acceptance numbers associated with a particular sampling plan.
(i) Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) means the maximum percentage of failing compressors that, for purposes of sampling inspection can be considered satisfactory as a process average.
(j) Batch means the collection of compressors of the same category or configuration, as designated by the Administrator in a test request, from which a batch sample is to be randomly drawn and inspected to determine conformance with the acceptability criteria.
(k) Batch sample means the collection of compressors that are drawn from a batch.
(l) Batch sample size means the number of compressors of the same category or configuration which is randomly drawn from the batch sample and which will receive emissions tests.
(m) Test sample means the collection of compressors from the same category or configuration which is randomly drawn from the batch sample and which will receive emissions tests.
(n) Batch size means the number, as designated by the Administrator in the test request, of compressors of the same category or configuration in a batch.
(o) Test sample size means the number of compressors of the same configuration in a test sample.
(p) Acceptable of a batch means that the number of non-complying compressors in the batch sample is less than or equal to the acceptance number as determined by the appropriate sampling plan.
(q) Rejection of a batch means that the number of non-complying compressors in the batch sample is greater than or equal to the rejection number as determined by the appropriate sampling plan.
(r) Acceptance of a batch sequence means that the number of rejected batches in the sequence is less than or equal to the sequence acceptable number as determined by the appropriate sampling plan.
(s) Rejection of a batch sequence means that the number of rejected batches in a sequence is greater than or equal to the sequence rejection number as determined by the appropriate sampling plan.
(t) Shift means the regular production work period for one group of workers.
(u) Failing compressor means that the measured noise emissions of the compressor, when measured in accordance with the applicable procedure, exceeds the applicable standard.
(v) Acceptance of a compressor means that the measured noise emissions of the compressor, when measured in accordance with the applicable procedure, conforms to the applicable standard.
(w) Test Compressor means a compressor used to demonstrate compliance with the applicable noise emissions standard.
(x) Tampering means those acts prohibited by section 10(a)(2) of the Act.
§ 204.52 Portable air compressor noise emission standard.
(a) Effective January 1, 1978, portable air compressors with maximum rated capacity of less than or equal to 250 cubic feet per minute (cfm) shall not produce an average sound level in excess of 76 dBA when measured and evaluated according to the methodology provided by this regulation. Effective July 1, 1978, portable air compressors with maximum rated capacity greater than 250 cfm shall not produce an average sound level in excess of 76 dBA when measured and evaluated according to the methodology provided by this regulation.
(b) In-Use Standard. [Reserved]
(c) Low Noise Emission Product. [Reserved]
§ 204.54 Test procedures.
(a) General. This section prescribes the conditions under which noise emission standard compliance Selective Enforcement Auditing or Testing by the Administrator must be conducted and the measurement procedures that must be used to measure the sound level and to calculate the average sound level of portable air compressors on which the test is conducted.
(b) Test site description. The location for measuring noise employed during noise compliance testing must consist of an open site above a hard reflecting plane. The reflecting plane must consist of a surface of sealed concrete or sealed asphalt and must extend one (1) meter beyond each microphone location. No reflecting surface, such as a building, signboard, hillside, etc., shall be located within 10 meters of a microphone location.
(c) Measurement equipment. The measurement equipment must be used during noise standard compliance testing and must consist of the following or its equivalent:
(1) A sound level meter and microphone system that conform to the Type I requirements of American National Standard (ANS) S1.4-1971, “Specification for Sound Level Meters,” and to the requirements of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Publication No. 179, “Precision Sound Level Meters.”
(2) A windscreen must be employed with the microphone during all measurements of portable air compressor noise when the wind speed exceeds 11 km/hr. The windscreen shall not affect the A-weighted sound levels from the portable air compressor in excess of ±0.5 dB.
(3) The entire acoustical instrumentation system including the microphone and cable shall be calibrated before each test series and confirmed afterward. A sound level calibrator accurate to within ±0.5 dB shall be used. A calibration of the instrumentation shall be performed at least annually using the methodology of sufficient precision and accuracy to determine compliance with ANS S1.4-1971 and IEC 179. This calibration shall consist, at a minimum, of an overall frequency response calibration and an attenuator (gain control) calibration plus a measurement of dynamic range and instrument noise floor.
(4) An anemometer or other device accurate to within ±10 percent shall be used to measure wind velocity.
(5) An indicator accurate to within ±2 percent shall be used to measure portable air compressor engine speed.
(6) A gauge accurate to within ±5 percent shall be used to measure portable compressor air pressure.
(7) A metering device accurate to within ±10 percent shall be used to measure the portable air compressor compressed air volumetric flow rate.
(8) A barometer for measuring atmospheric pressure accurate to within ±5 percent.
(9) A thermometer for measuring temperature accurate to within ±1 degree.
(d) Portable air compressor operation. The portable air compressor must be operated at the design full speed with the compressor on load, delivering its rated flow and output pressure, during noise emission standard compliance testing. The air discharge shall be provided with a resistive loading such that no significant pressure drop or throttling occurs across the compressor discharge valve. The air discharge shall be piped clear of the test area or fed into an effective silencer. The sound pressure level due to the air discharge shall be at least 10 dB below the sound pressure level generated by the portable air compressor.
(e) Test conditions. Noise standard compliance testing must be carried out under the following conditions:
(1) No rain or other precipitation,
(2) No wind above 19 km/hr,
(3) No observer located within 1 meter, in any direction, of any microphone location, nor between the test unit and any microphone,
(4) Portable air compressor sound levels, at each microphone location, 10 dB or greater than the background sound level,
(5) The machine shall have been warmed up and shall be operating in a stable condition as for continuous service and at its maximum rated capacity. All cooling air vents in the engine/compressor enclosure, normally open during operation, shall be fully open during all sound level measurements. Service doors that should be closed during normal operation (at any and all ambient temperatures) shall be closed during all sound level measurements.
(f) Microphone locations. Five microphone locations must be employed to acquire portable air compressor sound levels to test for noise standard compliance. A microphone must be located 7 ±.1 meters from the right, left, front, and back sides and top of the test unit. The microphone position to the right, left, front, and back sides of the test unit must be located 1.5 ±.1 meters above the reflecting plane.
(g) Data required. The following data must be acquired during noise emission standard compliance testing:
(1) A-weighted sound level at one microphone location prior to operation of the test unit and at all microphone locations during test unit operations, as defined in paragraph (d) of this section.
(2) Portable air compressor engine speed.
(3) Portable air compressor compressed gas pressure.
(4) Portable air compressor flow rate.
(5) All other data contained in Appendix I, Table IV.
(h) Calculation of average sound level. The average A-weighted sound level from measurements at the specified microphone locations must be calculated by the following method:
(i) The Administrator may approve applications from manufacturers of portable air compressors for the approval of test procedures which differ from those contained in this part so long as the alternate procedures have been demonstrated to correlate with the prescribed procedure. To be acceptable, alternate testing procedures shall be such that the test results obtained will identify all those test units which would not comply with the noise emission limit prescribed in § 204.52 when tested in accordance with the procedures contained in § 204.54 (a) through (h). Tests conducted by manufacturers under approved alternate procedures may be accepted by the Administrator for all purposes.
(j) Presentation of information. All information required by this section may be recorded using the format recommended on the Noise Data Sheet shown in Appendix I, Table IV.
§ 204.55 Requirements.
§ 204.55-1 General standards.
(a) Every new compressor manufactured for distribution in commerce in the United States which is subject to the standards prescribed in this subpart and not exempted in accordance with § 204.5:
(1) Shall be labeled in accordance with the requirements of § 204.55-4.
(2) Shall conform to the applicable noise emission standard established in § 204.52
(b) [Reserved]
§ 204.55-2 Requirements.
(a)(1) Prior to distribution in commerce, compressors of a specific configuration must verify such configurations in accordance with this subpart.
(2) [Reserved]
(3) At any time with respect to a configuration under this subpart, the Administrator may require that the manufacturer ship test compressors to an EPA test facility in order for the Administrator to perform the tests required for production verification.
(b) The requirements for purposes of testing by the Administrator and Selective Enforcement Auditing consist of:
(1) Testing in accordance with § 204.54 of a compressor selected in accordance with § 204.57-2; and
(2) Compliance of the test compressor with the applicable standards when tested in accordance with § 204.54.
(c)(1) In lieu of testing compressors of every configuration, as described in paragraph (b) of this section, the manufacturer may elect to verify the configuration based on representative testing, the requirements of which consist of:
(i) Grouping configurations into a category where each category will be determined by a separate combination of at least the following parameters (a manufacturer may use more parameters):
(A) Engine type.
(1) Gasoline—two stroke cycle
(2) Gasoline—four stroke cycle
(3) Diesel—two stroke cycle
(4) Diesel—four stroke cycle
(5) Rotary—Wankel
(6) Turbine
(7) Other
(B) Engine manufacturer
(C) Compressor delivery rate (at rated pressure)
(ii) Identifying the configuration within each category which emits the highest sound level in dBA based on best technical judgment, emission test data, or both.
(iii) Testing in accordance with § 204.54 selected in accordance with § 204.57-2 which must be a compressor of the configuration which is identified pursuant to paragraph (c)(1)(iii) of this section as having the highest sound level (estimated or actual) within the category.
(iv) Compliance of the test compressor with applicable standards when tested in accordance with § 204.54.
(2) Where the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section are complied with, all those configurations contained within a category are considered represented by the tested compressor.
(3) Where the manufacturer tests a compressor configuration which has not been determined as having the highest sound level of a category, but all other requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section are complied with, all those configurations contained within that category which are determined to have sound levels no greater than the tested compressor are considered to be represented by the tested compressor: However, a manufacturer must for purposes of Testing by the Administrator and Selective Enforcement Auditing verify according to the requirements of paragraph (b)(1) and/or (c)(1) of this section any configurations in the subject category which have a higher sound level than the compressor configuration tested.
(d) A manufacturer may elect for purposes of Testing by the Administrator and Selective Enforcement Auditing to use representative testing, pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section, all or part of his product line.
(e) The manufacturer may, at his option, proceed with any of the following alternatives with respect to any compressor determined not in compliance with applicable standards:
(1) In the case of representative testing, a new test compressor from another configuration must be selected according to the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section in order to verify the configurations represented by the non-compliant compressor.
(2) Modify the test compressor and demonstrate by testing that it meets applicable standards. The manufacturer must modify all production compressors of the same configuration in the same manner as the test compressor before distribution into commerce.
§ 204.55-3 Configuration identification.
(a) A separate compressor configuration shall be determined by each combination of the following parameters:
(1) The compressor type (screw, sliding vane, etc.).
(2) Number of compressor stages.
(3) Maximum pressure (psi).
(4) Air intake system of compressor:
(i) Number of filters;
(ii) Type of filters.
(5) The engine system:
(i) Number of cylinders and configuration (L-6, V-8, V-12);
(ii) Displacement;
(iii) Horsepower;
(iv) Full load rpm.
(6) Type cooling system, e.g., air cooled, water cooled.
(7) Fan:
(i) Diameter;
(ii) Maximum fan rpm.
(8) The compressor enclosure:
(i) Height, length, and width;
(ii) Acoustic material manufacturer, type, part number.
(9) The induction system (engine):
(i) Natural;
(ii) Turbocharged.
(10) The muffler:
(i) Manufacturer;
(ii) Manufacturer part number;
(iii) Quantity of mufflers used;
(11) Category parameters listed at § 204.55-2.
§ 204.55-4 Labeling.
(a)(1) The manufacturer of any compressor subject to the standards prescribed in § 204.52 shall, at the time of manufacture, affix a permanent, legible label, of the type and in the manner described below, containing the information hereinafter provided, to all such compressors to be distributed in commerce.
(2) The label shall be permanently attached, in a readily visible position, on the compressor enclosure.
(3) The label shall be affixed by the compressor manufacturer, who has verified such compressor, in such a manner that it cannot be removed without destroying or defacing the label, and shall not be affixed to any equipment that is easily detached from such compressor.
(4) Labels for compressors not manufactured solely for use outside the United States shall contain the following information lettered in the English language in block letters and numerals, which shall be of a color that contrasts with the background of the label:
(i) The label heading: Compressor Noise Emission Control Information;
(ii) Full corporate name and trademark of manufacturer;
(iii) Date of manufacture, which may consist of a serial number or code in those instances where records are specified and maintained.
(iv) The statement:
This Compressor Conforms to U.S. E.P.A. Regulations for Noise Emissions Applicable to Portable Air Compressors. The following acts or the causing thereof by any person are prohibited by the Noise Control Act of 1972:
(A) The removal or rendering inoperative, other than for the purpose of maintenance, repair, or replacement, of any noise control device or element of design (listed in the owner’s manual) incorporated into this compressor in compliance with the Noise Control Act;
(B) The use of this compressor after such device or element of design has been removed or rendered inoperative.
(b) Compressors manufactured solely for use outside the United States shall be clearly labeled “For Export Only.”
§ 204.56 Testing by the Administrator.
(a)(1) The Administrator may require that any compressor tested or scheduled to be tested pursuant to these regulations or any other untested compressors be submitted to him, at such place and time as he may designate, for the purpose of conducting tests in accordance with the test procedures described in § 204.54 to determine whether such compressors conform to applicable regulations.
(2) The Administrator may specify that he will conduct such testing at the manufacturer’s facility, in which case instrumentation and equipment of the type required by these regulations shall be made available by the manufacturer for test operations. The Administrator may conduct such tests with his own equipment, which shall be equal to or exceed the performance specifications of the instrumentation or equipment specified by the Administrator in these regulations.
(b)(1) If, based on tests conducted by the Administrator or other relevant information, the Administrator determines that the test facility does not meet the requirements of § 204.54-1 (a) and (b) he will notify the manufacturer in writing of his determination and the reasons therefor.
(2) The manufacturer may at any time within 15 days after receipt of a notice issued under paragraph (b)(1) of this section request a hearing conducted in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 554 on the issue of whether his test facility was in conformance. Such notice will not take effect until 15 days after receipt by the manufacturer, or if a hearing is requested under this paragraph, until adjudication by the hearing examiner.
(3) After any notification issued under paragraph (b)(1) of this section has taken effect, no data thereafter derived from such test facility will be acceptable for purposes of this part.
(4) The manufacturer may request in writing that the Administrator reconsider this determination under paragraph (b)(1) of this section based on data or information which indicates that changes have been made to the test facility and such changes have resolved the reasons for disqualification.
(5) The Administrator will notify the manufacturer of his determination and an explanation of the reasons underlying it with regard to the requalification of the test facility within 10 working days after receipt of the manufacturer’s request for reconsideration pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
§ 204.57 Selective enforcement auditing.
§ 204.57-1 Test request.
(a) The Administrator will request all testing under this subpart by means of a test request addressed to the manufacturer.
(b) [Reserved]
(c) The test request will specify the compressor category or configuration selected for testing, the batch from which sampling is to begin, for testing and the batch size, the manufacturer’s plant or storage facility from which the compressors must be selected, and the time at which compressors must be selected. The test request will also provide for situations in which the selected configuration or category is unavailable for testing. The test request may include an alternative category or configuration selected for testing in the event that compressors of the first specified category or configuration are not available for testing because the compressors are not being manufactured at the specified plant and/or are not being manufactured during the specified time or not being stored at the specified plant or storage facility.
(d) Any manufacturer shall, upon receipt of the test request, select and test a batch sample of compressors from two consecutively produced batches of the compressor category or configurations specified in the test request in accordance with these regulations and the conditions specified in the test request.
(e)(1) Any testing conducted by the manufacturer pursuant to a test request shall be initiated within such period as is specified in the test request; Except, that such initiation may be delayed for increments of 24 hours or one business day where ambient test site weather conditions in any 24-hour period do not permit testing: Provided, That ambient test site weather conditions for that period are recorded.
(2) The manufacturer shall complete noise emission testing on a minimum of five compressors per day, unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator or unless ambient test site conditions only permit the testing of a lesser number: Provided, That ambient test site weather conditions for that period are recorded.
(3) The manufacturer will be allowed 24 hours to ship compressors from a batch sample from the assembly plant to the testing facility if the facility is not located at the plant or in close proximity to the plant; Except, that the Administrator may approve more time based upon a request by the manufacturer accompanied by a satisfactory justification.
(f) The Administrator may issue an order to the manufacturer to cease to distribute into commerce compressors of a specified category or configuration being manufactured at a particular facility if:
(1) The manufacturer refuses to comply with the provisions of a test request issued by the Administrator pursuant to this section; or
(2) The manufacturer refuses to comply with any of the requirements of this section.
(g) A cease-to-distribute order shall not be issued under paragraph (f) of this section if such refusal is caused by conditions and circumstances outside the control of the manufacturer which render it impossible to comply with the provisions of a test request or any other requirements of this section. Such conditions and circumstances shall include, but are not limited to, any uncontrollable factors which result in the temporary unavailability of equipment and personnel needed to conduct the required tests, such as equipment breakdown or failure or illness of personnel, but shall not include failure of the manufacturer to adequately plan for and provide the equipment and personnel needed to conduct the tests. The manufacturer will bear the burden of establishing the presence of the conditions and circumstances required by this paragraph.
(h) Any such order shall be issued only after a notice and opportunity for a hearing in accordance with section 554 of Title 5 of the United States Code.
§ 204.57-2 Test compressor sample selection.
(a) Compressors comprising the batch sample which are required to be tested pursuant to a test request in accordance with this subpart will be randomly selected from a batch of compressors of the category or configuration specified in the test request. The random selection will be achieved by sequentially numbering all of the compressors in the batch and then using a table of random numbers to select the number of compressors, as specified in paragraph (c) of this section, based on the batch size designated by the Administrator in the test request. An alternative selection plan may be used by a manufacturer: Provided, That such a plan is approved by the Administrator.
(b) The Acceptable Quality Level is 10 percent. The appropriate sampling plans associated with the designated AQL are contained in Appendix I, Table II.
(c) The appropriate batch sample size will be determined by reference to Appendix I, Tables I and II. A code letter is obtained from Table I based on the batch size designated by the Administrator in a test request. The batch sample size will be equal to the maximum cumulative sample size as listed in Table II for the appropriate code letter obtained from Table I plus an additional ten percent rounded off to the next highest number.
(d) Individual compressors comprising the test sample will be randomly selected from the batch sample using the same random selection plan as in paragraph (a) of this section. Test sample size will be determined by entering Table II.
(e) The test compressor of the category or configuration selected for testing shall have been assembled by the manufacturer for distribution in commerce using the manufacturers normal production process.
(f) Unless otherwise indicated in the test request, the manufacturer will select the batch sample from the production batch next scheduled after receipt of the test request of the category or configuration specified in the test request.
(g) Unless otherwise indicated in the test request, the manufacturer shall select the compressors designated in the test request for testing.
(h) At their discretion, EPA Enforcement Officers, rather than the manufacturer, may select the compressors designated in the test request.
(i) The manufacturer will keep on hand all compressors in the batch sample until such time as the batch is accepted or rejected in accordance with § 204.57-6; Except, that compressors actually tested and found to be in conformance with these regulations need not be kept.
§ 204.57-3 Test compressor preparation.
(a) Prior to the official test, the test compressor selected in accordance with § 204.57-2 shall not be prepared, tested, modified, adjusted, or maintained in any manner unless such adjustments, preparations, modifications and/or tests are part of the manufacturer’s prescribed manufacturing and inspection procedures and are documented in the manufacturer’s internal compressor assembly and inspection procedures or unless such adjustments and/or tests are required or permitted under this subpart or are approved in advance by the Administrator. The manufacturer may perform adjustments, preparations, modifications and/or tests normally performed by a dealer to prepare the compressor for delivery to a customer or the adjustments, preparations, modifications and/or tests normally performed at the port-of-entry by the manufacturer to prepare the compressor for delivery to a dealer or customer.
(b) Equipment of fixtures necessary to conduct the test may be installed on the compressor: Provided, That such equipment of fixtures shall have no effect on the noise emissions of the compressor, as determined by the appropriate measurement methodology.
(c) In the event of compressor manfunction (i.e., failure to start, misfiring cylinder, etc.), the manufacturer may perform the maintenance necessary to enable the compressor to operate in a normal manner.
(d) No quality control, testing, assembly, or selection procedures shall be used on the completed test compressor or any portion thereof, including parts and subassemblies, that will not normally be used during the production and assembly of all other compressors of that category which will be distributed in commerce, unless such procedures are required or permitted under this subpart or are approved in advance by the Administrator.
§ 204.57-4 Testing.
(a) The manufacturer shall conduct one valid test in accordance with the test procedures specified in § 204.54 for each compressor selected for testing pursuant to this subpart.
(b) No maintenance will be performed on test compressors, except as provided for by § 204.57-3. In the event a compressor is unable to complete the emission test, the manufacturer may replace the compressor. Any replacement compressor will be a production compressor of the same configuration, and the replacement compressor will be randomly selected from the batch sample and will be subject to all the provisions of these regulations.
§ 204.57-5 Reporting of test results.
(a)(1) The manufacturer shall submit a copy of the test report for all testing conducted pursuant to § 204.57 at the conclusion of each twenty-four hour period during which testing is done.
(2) For each test conducted the manufacturer will provide the following information:
(i) Configuration and category identification, where applicable.
(ii) Year, make, assembly date, and model of compressor.
(iii) Compressor serial number.
(iv) Test results by serial numbers
(3) The first test report for each batch sample will contain a listing of all serial numbers in that batch.
(b) In the case where an EPA Enforcement Officer is present during testing required by this subpart, the written reports requested in paragraph (a) of this section may be given directly to the Enforcement Officer.
(c) Within five days after completion of testing of all compressors in a batch sample, the manufacturer shall submit to the Administrator a final report which will include the information required by the test request in the format as stipulated, in addition to the following:
(1) The name, location, and description of the manufacturer’s noise test facilities which meet the specifications of § 204.54 and were utilized to conduct testing reported pursuant to this section; except, that a test facility that has been described in a previous submission under this subpart need not be described again but must be identified as such.
(2) A description of the random compressor selection method used, referencing any tables of random numbers that were used, and the name of the person in charge of the random number selection.
(3) The following information for each test conducted:
(i) The completed data sheet required by § 204.54 for all noise emission tests including, for each invalid test, the reason for invalidation.
(ii) A complete description of any modification, repair, preparation, maintenance, and/or testing which was performed on the test compressor and will not be performed on all other production compressors.
(iii) The reason for the replacement, where a replacement compressor was authorized by the Administrator, and, if any, the test results for replaced compressors.
(4) The following statement and endorsement:
This report is submitted pursuant to section 6 and section 13 of the Noise Control Act of 1972. All testing for which data is reported herein was conducted in strict conformance with applicable regulations under 40 CFR Part 204 et seq. All the data reported herein are a true and accurate representation of such testing. All other information reported herein is, to the best of (company) knowledge true and accurate. I am aware of the penalties associated with violations of the Noise Control Act of 1972 and the regulations thereunder.
(d) All information required to be forwarded to the Administrator pursuant to this section shall be addressed to Director, Noise Enforcement Division (EN-387), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460.
§ 204.57-6 Acceptance and rejection of batches.
(a) A failing compressor is one whose measured sound level is in excess of the applicable noise emission standard.
(b) The batch from which a batch sample is selected will be accepted or rejected based upon the number of failing compressors in the batch sample. A sufficient number of test samples will be drawn from the batch sample until the cumulative number of failing compressors is less than or equal to the acceptance number or greater than or equal to the rejection number appropriate for the cumulative number of compressors tested. The acceptance and rejection numbers listed in Appendix I, Table II at the appropriate code letter obtained according to § 204.57-2 will be used in determining whether the acceptance or rejection of a batch has occurred.
(c) Acceptance or rejection of a batch takes place when a decision is made on the last compressor required to make a decision under paragraph (b) of this section.
§ 204.57-7 Acceptance and rejection of batch sequence.
(a) The manufacturer will continue to inspect consecutive batches until the batch sequence is accepted or rejected. The batch sequence will be accepted or rejected based upon the number of rejected batches. A sufficient number of consecutive batches will be inspected until the cumulative number of rejected batches is less than or equal to the sequence acceptance number or greater than or equal to the sequence rejection number appropriate for the cumulative number of batches inspected. The acceptance and rejection numbers listed in Appendix I, Table III at the appropriate code letter obtained according to § 204.57-2 will be used in determining whether the acceptance or rejection of a batch sequence has occurred.
(b) Acceptance or rejection of a batch sequence takes places when the decision is made on the last compressor required to make a decision under paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) If the batch sequence is accepted, the manufacturer will not be required to perform any additional testing on compressors from subsequent batches pursuant to the initiating test request.
(d) The Administrator may terminate testing earlier than required in paragraph (b) of this section based on a request by the manufacturer accompanied by voluntary cessation of distribution in commerce, from all plants, of compressors from the configuration in question: Provided, That once production is reinitiated, the manufacturer must take the action described in § 204.57-9 (a)(1) and (a)(2) prior to distribution in commerce of any compressors from any plant of the compressor category or configuration in question.
§ 204.57-8 Continued testing.
(a) If a batch sequence is rejected in accordance with paragraph (b) of § 204.57-7, the Administrator may require that any or all compressors of that category, configuration or subgroup thereof produced at that plant be tested before distribution in commerce.
(b) The Administrator will notify the manufacturer in writing of his intent to require such continued testing of compressors pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) The manufacturer may request a hearing on the issues of whether the selective enforcement audit was conducted properly; whether the criteria for batch sequence rejection in § 204.57-7 have been met; and, the appropriateness or scope of a continued testing order. In the event that a hearing is requested, the hearing shall begin no later than 15 days after the date on which the Administrator received the hearing request. Neither the request for a hearing nor the fact that a hearing is in progress shall affect the responsibility of the manufacturer to commence and continue testing required by the Administrator pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
(d) Any tested compressor which demonstrates conformance with the applicable standards may be distributed into commerce.
(e) Any knowing distribution into commerce of a compressor which does not comply with the applicable standards is a prohibited act.
§ 204.57-9 Prohibition of distribution in commerce; manufacturer’s remedy.
(a) The Administrator will permit the cessation of continued testing under § 204.57-8 once the manufacturer has taken the following actions:
(1) Submit a written report to the Administrator which identifies the reason for the noncompliance of the compressors, describes the problem, and describes the proposed quality control and/or quality assurance remedies to be taken by the manufacturer to correct the problem or follows the requirements for an engineering change. Such requirements include the following:
(i) Any change to a configuration with respect to any of the parameters stated in § 204.55-3 shall constitute the addition of a new and separate configuration or category to the manufacturer’s product line.
(ii) When a manufacturer introduces a new category or configuration to his product line, he shall proceed in accordance with § 204.55-2.
(iii) If the configuration to be added can be grouped within a verified category and the new configuration is estimated to have a lower sound level than a previously verified configuration with the same category, the configuration shall be considered verified.
(2) Demonstrates that the specified compressor category, configuration or subgroup thereof has passed a retest conducted in accordance with § 204.57 and the conditions specified in the initial test request.
(3) The manufacturer may begin testing under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, upon submitting such report, and may cease continued testing upon making the demonstration required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section: Provided, That the Administrator may require resumption of contined testing if he determines that the manufacturer has not satisfied the requirements of paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section.
(4) In lieu of paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section, the Administrator will permit the cessation of continued testing under § 204.57-8 with respect to any subgroup of a nonconforming category or configuration if the manufacturer demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Administrator that such subgroup does not exhibit the cause of the nonconformity of such category or configuration.
(b) Any compressor failing the prescribed noise emission tests conducted pursuant to this Subpart B may not be distributed in commerce until necessary adjustments or repairs have been made and the compressor passes a retest.
(c) No compressors of a rejected batch which are still in the hands of the manufacturer may be distributed in commerce unless the manufacturer has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Administrator that such compressors do, in fact, conform to the regulations; except, that any compressor that has been tested and does, in fact, conform with these regulations may be distributed in commerce.
§ 204.58 In-use requirements.
§ 204.58-1 Warranty.
(a) The portable air compressor manufacturer shall include in the owner’s manual or in other information supplied to the ultimate purchaser, the following statement:
The manufacturer warrants to the ultimate purchaser and each subsequent purchaser that this air compressor was designed, built, and equipped to conform at the time of sale to the first retail purchaser, with all applicable U.S. E.P.A. noise control regulations.
This warranty is not limited to any particular part, component, or system of the air compressor. Defects in the design, assembly, or in any part, component, or system of the compressor which, at the time of sale to the first retail purchaser, caused noise emissions to exceed Federal standards are covered by this warranty for the life of the air compressor.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 204.58-2 Tampering.
(a) For each configuration of air compressors covered by this part, the manufacturer shall develop a list of those acts which, in his judgment, might be done to the air compressor in use and which would constitute the removal or rendering inoperative of noise control devices or elements of design of the compressor.
(b) The manufacturer shall include in the owner’s manual the following information:
(1) The statement:
Federal law prohibits the following acts or the causing thereof:
(1) The removal or rendering inoperative by any persons, other than for purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement, of any devices or element of design incorporated into any new compressor for the purpose of noise control prior to its sale or delivery to the ultimate purchaser or while it is in use; or (2) the use of the compressor after such device or element of design has been removed or rendered inoperative by any person.
(2) The statement:
Among those acts included in the prohibition against tampering are the acts listed below.
(c) Any act included in the list prepared pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section is presumed to constitute tampering; however, in any case in which a proscribed act has been committed and it can be shown that such act resulted in no increase in the sound level of the compressor or that the compressor still meets the noise emission standard of § 204.52, such set will not constitute tampering.
(d) The provisions of this section are not intended to preclude any State or local jurisdiction from adopting and enforcing its own prohibitions against the removal or rendering inoperative of noise control systems on compressors subject to this part.
§ 204.58-3 Instructions for maintenance, use, and repair.
(a)(1) The manufacturer shall provide to the ultimate purchaser of each portable air compressor covered by this part written instructions for the proper maintenance, use, and repair of the compressor in order to provide reasonable assurance of the elimination or minimization of noise emission degradation throughout the life of the compressor.
(2) The purpose of the instructions is to inform purchasers and mechanics of those acts necessary to reasonably assure that degradation of noise emission levels is eliminated or minimized during the life of the compressor. Manufacturers should prepare the instructions with this purpose in mind. The instructions should be clear and, to the extent practicable, written in non-technical language.
(3) The instructions must not be used to secure an unfair competitive advantage. They should not restrict replacement equipment to original equipment or service to dealer service. Manufacturers who so restrict replacement equipment must make public any performance specifications on such equipment.
(b) For the purpose of encouraging proper maintenance, the manufacturer shall provide a record or log book which shall contain a performance schedule for all required noise emission control maintenance. Space shall be provided in this record book so that the purchaser can note what maintenance was done, by whom, where and when.
§ 204.59 Recall of non-complying compressors.
(a) Pursuant to section 11(d)(1) of the Act, the Administrator may issue an order to the manufacturer to recall and repair or modify any compressor distributed in commerce not in compliance with this subpart.
(b) A recall order issued pursuant to this section shall be based upon a determination by the Administrator that compressors of a specified category or configuration have been distributed in commerce which do not conform to the regulations. Such determination may be based on:
(1) A technical analysis of the noise emission characteristics of the category or configuration in question; or
(2) Any other relevant information, including test data.
(c) For the purposes of this section, noise emissions may be measured by any test prescribed in § 204.54 for testing prior to sale or any other test which has been demonstrated to correlate with the prescribed test procedure.
(d) Any such order shall be issued only after notice and an opportunity for a hearing in accordance with section 554 of Title 5 of the United States Code.
(e) All costs, including labor and parts, associated with the recall and repair or modification of non-complying compressors under this section shall be borne by the manufacturer.
(f) This section shall not limit the discretion of the Administrator to take any other actions which are authorized by the Act.
Appendix I to Part 204
Table I—Sample Size Code Letters
| Batch size | Code letter |
|---|---|
| 4 to 8 | A. |
| 9 to 15 | B. |
| 16 to 25 | C. |
| 26 and larger | D. |
Table II—Sampling Plans for Inspecting Batches
| Sample size code letter | Test sample | Test sample size | Cumulative test sample size | Batch inspection criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance number | Rejection number | ||||
| A | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| B | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| C | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2d | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | |
| D | 1st | 2 | 2 | ( 1) | 2 |
| 2d | 2 | 4 | ( 1) | 2 | |
| 3d | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | |
| 4th | 2 | 8 | 0 | 3 | |
| 5th | 2 | 10 | 1 | 3 | |
| 6th | 2 | 12 | 1 | 3 | |
| 7th | 2 | 14 | 2 | 3 | |
1 Batch acceptance not permitted at this sample size.
Table III—Batch Sequence Plans
| Sample size code letter | Number batches | Cumulative number batches | Sequence inspection criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance number | Rejection number | |||
| A | 2 | 2 | 1 | ( 1) |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2 | 8 | 4 | 5 | |
| B | 2 | 2 | 0 | ( 1) |
| 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 5 | |
| 2 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2 | 10 | 4 | 6 | |
| 2 | 12 | 5 | 6 | |
| C | 2 | 2 | ( 2) | 2 |
| 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2 | 8 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2 | 10 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2 | 12 | 3 | 4 | |
| D | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2 | 8 | 3 | 4 | |
1 Batch sequence rejection not permitted for this number of batches.
2 Batch sequence acceptance not permitted for this number of batches.
Table IV—Recommended Format for Portable Air Compressor Noise Data Sheet
| Test report number: | ||||
| Subject: | ||||
| Manufacturer: | Model: | Serial No.: | ||
| Rated speed: | Rpm: | Rated capacity: | cfm (m 3/in). | |
| Configuration identification: | Category identification: | |||
| Portable air compressor identification No.: | Build date: | |||
| Test conditions: | ||||
| Manufacturer’s test site identification and location: | ||||
| Reflecting plane composition: | ||||
| Operating speed as tested: | ||||
| Beginning of test | rpm | |||
| End of test | rpm | |||
| Air pressure supplied: | psi (kg/cm 2) | Ambient wind speed______mph (km/hr) | ||
| Actual flow rate: | cfm (m 3/min.) | Atmospheric pressure______psi (kg/cm 2) | ||
| Temperature: | °F (°C) | |||
| Instrumentation: | ||||
| Microphone Manufacturer: | Model No.: | Serial No.: | ||
| Sound Level Meter Manufacturer: | Model No.: | Serial No.: | ||
| Calibrator Manufacturer: | Model No.: | Serial No.: | ||
| Other and Manufacturer: | Model No.: | Serial No.: | ||
| Data: | ||||
| Sound levels (decibels) | Background sound level at location 1 (decibels) | Location | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Average sound level (decibels) | ||
| A-Weighted | |||||||
| Tested by: | Date: | ||||||
| Reported by: | Date: | ||||||
| Supervisory personnel: | Title: | ||||||
| Title: | |||||||
PART 205—TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT NOISE EMISSION CONTROLS
Subpart A—General Provisions
§ 205.1 General applicability.
The provisions of this subpart are applicable to all products for which regulations have been published under this part and which are manufactured after the effective date of such regulations.
§ 205.2 Definitions.
(a) As used in this subpart, all terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Act.
(1) Act means the Noise Control Act of 1972 (Pub. L. 92-574, 86 Stat. 1234).
(2) Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency or his authorized representative.
(3) Agency means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(4) Export exemption means an exemption from the prohibitions of section 10(a) (1), (2), (3), and (4) of the Act, granted by statute under section 10(b)(2) of the Act for the purpose of exporting regulated products.
(5) National security exemption means an exemption from the prohibitions of section 10(a) (1), (2), (3), and (5) of the Act, which may be granted under section 10(b)(1) of the Act for the purpose of national security.
(6) [Reserved]
(7) Sound Level means 20 times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of pressure of a sound to the reference pressure. The reference pressure is 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter). NOTE: Unless otherwise explicitly stated, it is to be understood that the sound pressure is the effective (rms) sound pressure, per American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018.
(8) Sound Pressure Level means in decibels, 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of a sound pressure to the reference sound pressure of 20 micropascals (20 micronewtons per square meter). In the absence of any modifier, the level is understood to be that of a root-mean-square pressure. The unit of any sound level is the decibel, having the unit symbol dB.
(9) dB(A) means the standard abbreviation for A-weighted sound levels in decibels.
(10) Highway means the streets, roads, and public ways in any State.
(11) Fast Meter Response means that the fast dynamic response of the sound level meter shall be used. The fast dynamic response shall comply with the meter dynamic characteristics in paragraph 5.3 of the American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters, ANSI SI.4-1971. This publication is available from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018.
(12) Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, or association, and except as provided in sections 11(e) and 12(a) of the Act includes any officer, employee, department, agency or instrumentality of the United States, a State or any political subdivision of a State.
(13) Reasonable assistance means providing timely and unobstructed access to test products or products and records required by this part, and opportunity for copying such records or testing such test products.
(14) Ultimate purchaser means the first person who in good faith purchases a product for purposes other than resale.
(15) New product means (i) a product the equitable or legal title of which has never been transferred to an ultimate purchaser, or (ii) a product which is imported or offered for importation into the United States and which is manufactured after the effective date of a regulation under section 6 or 8 which would have been applicable to such product had it been manufactured in the United States.
(16) Manufacturer means any person engaged in the manufacturing or assembling of new products, or the importing of new products for resale, or who acts for and is controlled by any such person in connection with the distribution of such products.
(17) Commerce means trade, traffic, commerce, or transportation:
(i) Between a place in a State and any place outside thereof, or
(ii) Which affects trade, traffic, commerce, or transportation described in paragraph (a)(17)(i) of this section.
(18) Distribute in commerce means sell in, offer for sale in, or introduce or deliver for introduction into, commerce.
(19) State includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
(20) Federal Agency means an executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code) and includes the United States Postal Service.
(21) Environmental noise means the intensity, duration, and the character of sounds from all sources.
(22) Warranty means the warranty required by section 6(c)(1) of the Act.
(23) Tampering means those acts prohibited by section 10(a)(2) of the Act.
(24) Maintenance instructions or instructions means those instructions for maintenance, use, and repair, which the Administrator is authorized to require pursuant to section 6(c)(1) of the Act.
(25) Type I Sound Level Meter means a sound level meter which meets the Type I requirements of ANSI SI.4-1972 specification for sound level meters. This publication is available from the American National Standards Institute, Inc., 1430 Broadway, New York, New York 10018.
(26) Testing exemption means an exemption from the prohibitions of section 10(a) (1), (2), (3), and (5) of the Act, which may be granted under section 10(b)(1) of the Act for the purpose of research, investigations, studies, demonstrations, or training, but not including national security.
(27) Product means any transportation equipment for which regulations have been promulgated under this part and includes “test product.”
(28) Test product means any product that is required to be tested pursuant to this part.
§ 205.3 Number and gender.
As used in this part, words in the singular shall be deemed to import the plural, and words in the masculine gender shall be deemed to import the feminine and vice versa, as the case may require.
§ 205.4 Inspection and monitoring.
(a) Any inspection or monitoring activities conducted under this section shall be for the purpose of determining (1) whether test products are being selected and prepared for testing in accordance with the provisions of these regulations, (2) whether test product testing is being conducted in accordance with these regulations, and (3) whether products being produced for distribution into commerce comply with these regulations.
(b) The Director, Noise Enforcement Division, may request that a manufacturer subject to this part admit an EPA Enforcement Officer during operating hours to any of the following:
(1) Any facility or site where any product to be distributed into commerce is manufactured, assembled, or stored;
(2) Any facility or site where any tests conducted pursuant to this part or any procedures or activities connected with such tests are or were performed; and
(3) Any facility or site where any test product is present.
(c)(1) An EPA Enforcement Officer, once admitted to a facility or site, will not be authorized to do more than:
(i) To inspect and monitor test product manufacture and assembly, selection, storage, preconditioning, noise emission testing, and maintenance, and to verify correlation or calibration of test equipment;
(ii) To inspect products prior to their distribution in commerce:
(iii) To inspect and photograph any part or aspect of any such product and any component used in the assembly thereof that are reasonably related to the purpose of his entry.
(iv) [Reserved]
(v) To obtain from those in charge of the facility or site such reasonable assistance as he may request to enable him to carry out any proper function listed in this section.
(2) [Reserved]
(3) The provisions of this section apply whether the facility or site is owned or controlled by the manufacturer or by one who acts for the manufacturer.
(d) For purposes of this section:
(1) An “EPA Enforcement Officer” is an employee of the EPA Office of Enforcement who displays upon arrival at a facility or site the credentials identifying him as such an employee and a letter signed by the Director, Noise Enforcement Division designating him to make the inspection.
(2) Where test product storage areas or facilities are concerned, “operating hours” shall mean all times during which personnel other than custodial personnel are at work in the vicinity of the area or facility and have access to it.
(3) Where facilities or areas other than those covered by paragraph (d)(2) of this section are concerned, “operating hours” shall mean all times during which product manufacture or assembly is in operation or all times during which product testing and maintenance is taking place and/or production or compilation of records is taking place, or any other procedure or activity related to selective enforcement audit testing or product manufacture or assembly being carried out in a facility.
(e) The manufacturer shall admit to a facility or site an EPA Enforcement Officer who presents a warrant authorizing entry. In the absence of such warrant, entry to any facility or site under this section will be only upon the consent of the manufacturer.
(1) It is not a violation of this regulation or the Act for any person to refuse entry without a warrant.
(2) The Administrator or his designee may proceed ex parte to obtain a warrant whether or not the manufacturer has refused entry.
§ 205.5 Exemptions.
§ 205.5-1 Testing exemption.
(a) A new product intended to be used solely for research, investigations, studies, demonstrations or training, and so labeled or marked on the outside of the container and on the product itself, shall be exempt from the prohibitions of section 10(a)(1), (2), (3), and (5) of the Act.
(b) No request for a testing exemption is required.
(c) For purposes of section 11(d) of the Act, any testing exemption shall be void ab initio with respect to each new product, originally intended for research, investigations, studies, demonstrations, or training, but distributed in commerce for other uses.
§ 205.5-2 National security exemptions.
(a) A new product which is produced to conform with specifications developed by a national security agency, and so labeled or marked on the outside of the container and on the product itself, shall be exempt from the prohibitions of section 10(a)(1), (2), (3), and (5) of the Act.
(b) No request for a national security exemption is required.
(c) For purposes of section 11(d) of the Act, any national security exemption shall be void ab initio with respect to each new product, originally intended to be produced to conform with specifications developed by a national security agency, but distributed in commerce for other uses.
(d) Any manufacturer or person subject to the liabilities of section 11(a) with respect to any product originally intended for a national security agency, but distributed in commerce for use in any State, may be excluded from the application of section 11(a) with respect to such product based upon a showing that such manufacturer:
(1) Had no knowledge of such product being distributed in commerce for use in any state; and
(2) Made reasonable effort to ensure that such products would not be distributed in commerce for use in any State. Such reasonable efforts would include investigation, prior dealings, contract provisions, etc.
§ 205.5-3 Export exemptions.
(a) A new product intended solely for export, and so labeled or marked on the outside of the container and on the product itself, shall be exempt from the prohibitions of section 10(a), (1), (2), (3), and (4) of the Act.
(b) No request for an export exemption is required.
(c) For purposes of section 11(d) of the Noise Control Act, the Administrator may consider any export exemption under section 10(b)(2) as void ab initio with respect to each new product intended solely for export which is distributed in commerce for use in any State.
(d) In deciding whether to institute proceedings against a manufacturer pursuant to section 11(d)(1) of the Act with respect to any product originally intended solely for export but distributed in commerce for use in any state, the Administrator will consider:
(1) Whether the manufacturer had knowledge that such product would be distributed in commerce for use in any state; and
(2) Whether the manufacturer made reasonable efforts to ensure that such product would not be distributed in commerce for use in any state. Such reasonable efforts would include consideration of prior dealings with any person which resulted in introduction into commerce of a product manufactured for export only, investigation of prior instances known to the manufacturer of introduction into commerce of a product manufactured for export only, and contract provisions which minimize the probability of introduction into commerce of a product manufactured for export only.
Subpart B—Medium and Heavy Trucks
§ 205.50 Applicability.
(a) Except as otherwise provided for in these regulations the provisions of this subpart apply to any vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) in excess of 10,000 pounds, which is capable of transportation of property on a highway or street and which meets the definition of the term “new product” in the Act.
(b) The provisions of the subpart do not apply to highway, city, and school buses or to special purpose equipment which may be located on or operated from vehicles. Tests performed on vehicles containing such equipment may be carried out with the special purpose equipment in nonoperating condition. For purposes of this regulation special purpose equipment includes, but is not limited to, construction equipment, snow plows, garbage compactors and refrigeration equipment.
§ 205.51 Definitions.
(a) As used in this subpart, all terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Act or in other subparts of this part.
(1) Acceptable Quality Level means the maximum percentage of failing vehicles that for purposes of sampling inspection, can be considered satisfactory as a process average.
(2) Acceptance of a batch means that the number of noncomplying vehicles in the batch sample is less than or equal to the acceptance number as determined by the appropriate sampling plan.
(3) Batch means the collection of vehicles of the same category, configuration or subgroup thereof as designated by the Administrator in a test request, from which a batch sample is to be drawn, and inspected to determine conformance with the acceptability criteria.
(4) Batch size means the number as designated by the Administrator in the test request of vehicles of the same category or configuration in a batch.
(5) Batch sample means the collection of vehicles of the same category, configuration or subgroup thereof which are drawn from a batch and from which test samples are drawn.
(6) Batch sample size means the number of vehicles of the same category or configuration in a batch sample.
(7) Cab over axle or cab over engine means the cab which contains the operator/passenger compartment is directly above the engine and front axle and the entire cab can be tilted forward to permit access to the engine compartment.
(8) Category means a group of vehicle configurations which are identical in all material aspects with respect to the parameters listed in § 205.55-2.
(9) Configuration means the basic classification unit of a manufacturer’s product line and is comprised of all vehicle designs, models or series which are identical in material aspects with respect to the parameters listed in § 205.55-3.
(10) Acceptance of a Batch sequence means that the number of rejected batches in the sequence is less than or equal to the acceptance number as determined by the appropriate sampling plan.
(11) Rejection of a Batch sequence means that the number of rejected batches in a sequence is equal to or greater than the rejection number as determined by the appropriate sampling plan.
(12) Capable of Transportation of Property on a street or highway means that the vehicle:
(i) Is self propelled and is capable of transporting any material or fixed apparatus, or is capable of drawing a trailer or semi-trailer;
(ii) Is capable of maintaining a cruising speed of at least 25 mph over level, paved surface;
(iii) Is equipped or can readily be equipped with features customarily associated with practical street or highway use, such features including but not being limited to: A reverse gear and a differential, fifth wheel, cargo platform or cargo enclosure, and
(iv) Does not exhibit features which render its use on a street or highway impractical, or highly unlikely, such features including, but not being limited to, tracked road means, an inordinate size or features ordinarily associated with combat or tactical vehicles.
(13) Exhaust System means the system comprised of a combination of components which provides for enclosed flow of exhaust gas from engine exhaust port to the atmosphere.
(14) Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination vehicle.
(15) Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.
(16) Inspection Criteria means the rejection and acceptance numbers associated with a particular sampling plan.
(17) Model year means the manufacturer’s annual production period which includes January 1 of such calendar year: Provided, that if the manufacturer has no annual production period, the term “model year” shall mean the calendar year.
(18) Noise Control System includes any vehicle part, component or system the primary purpose of which is to control or cause the reduction of noise emitted from a vehicle.
(19) Noise emission test means a test conducted pursuant to the measurement methodology specified in this subpart.
(20) [Reserved]
(21) Rejection of a batch means the number of noncomplying vehicles in the batch sample is greater than or equal to the rejection number as determined by the appropriate sampling plan.
(22) Shift means the regular production work period for one group of workers.
(23) Test sample means the collection of vehicles from the same category, configuration or subgroup thereof which is drawn from the batch sample and which will receive noise emissions tests.
(24) Failing vehicle means that the measured emissions of the vehicle, when measured in accordance with the applicable procedure, exceeds the applicable standard.
(25) Acceptance of a vehicle means that the measured emissions of the vehicle when measured in accordance with the applicable procedure, conforms to the applicable standard.
(26) Tampering means those acts prohibited by section 10(a)(2) of the Act.
(27) Test sample size means the number of vehicles of the same category or configuration in a test sample.
(28) Test vehicle means a vehicle selected and used to demonstrate compliance with the applicable noise emission standards.
(29) Vehicle means any motor vehicle, machine or tractor, which is propelled by mechanical power and capable of transportation of property on a street or highway and which has a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of 10,000 pounds and a partially or fully enclosed operator’s compartment.
§ 205.52 Vehicle noise emission standards.
(a) Low Speed Noise Emission Standard. Vehicles which are manufactured after the following effective dates shall be designed, built and equipped so that they will not produce sound emissions in excess of the levels indicated.
| Effective date | Level |
|---|---|
| (i) January 1, 1979 | 83 dBA. |
| (ii) January 1, 1988 | 80 dBA. |
(b) The standards set forth in paragraph (a) of this section refer to the sound emissions as measured in accordance with the procedures prescribed in § 205.54-1,2.
(c) Every manufacturer of a new motor vehicle subject to the standards prescribed in this paragraph shall, prior to taking any of the actions specified in section 10(a)(1) of the Act, comply with the other provisions of this subpart or Subpart A, as applicable.
(d) In-Use Standard. [Reserved]
(e) Low Noise Emission Product. [Reserved]
§ 205.54 Test procedures.
The procedures described in this and subsequent sections will be the test program to determine the conformity of vehicles with the standards set forth in § 205.52 for the purposes of Selective Enforcement Auditing and Testing by the Administrator.
§ 205.54-1 Low speed sound emission test procedures.
(a) Instrumentation. The following instrumentation shall be used, where applicable.
(1) A sound level meter which meets the Type 1 requirements of ANSI S1.4-1971, Specification for Sound Level Meters, or a sound level meter may be used with a magnetic tape recorder and/or a graphic level recorder or indicating meter, providing the system meets the requirements of § 205.54-2.
(2) A sound level calibrator. The calibrator shall produce a sound pressure level, at the microphone diaphragm, that is known to within an accuracy of ±0.5 dB. The calibrator shall be checked annually to verify that its output has not changed.
(3) An engine-speed tachometer which is accurate within ±2 percent of meter reading.
(4) An anemometer or other device for measurement of ambient wind speed accurate within ±10 percent.
(5) A thermometer for measurement of ambient temperature accurate within ±1 C.
(6) A barometer for measurement of ambient pressure accurate within ±1 percent.
(b)(1) The test site shall be such that the truck radiates sound into a free field over a reflecting plane. This condition may be considered fulfilled if the test site consists of an open space free of large reflecting surfaces, such as parked vehicles, signboards, buildings or hillsides, located within 100 feet (30.4 meters) of either the vehicle path or the microphone.
(2) The microphone shall be located 50 feet ±4 in. (15.2 ±0.1 meter) from the centerline of truck travel and 4 feet ±4 in. (1.2 ±0.1 meters) above the ground plane. The microphone point is defined as the point of intersection of the vehicle path and the normal to the vehicle path drawn from the microphone. The microphone shall be oriented in a fixed position to minimize the deviation from the flattest system response over the frequency range 100 Hz to 10 kHz for a vehicle traversing from the acceleration point through the end zone.
(3) An acceleration point shall be established on the vehicle path 50 feet (15 m) before the microphone point.
(4) An end point shall be established on the vehicle path 100 feet (30 m) from the acceleration point and 50 feet (15 m) from the microphone point.
(5) The end zone is the last 40 feet (12 m) of vehicle path prior to the end point.
(6) The measurement area shall be the triangular paved (concrete or sealed asphalt) area formed by the acceleration point, the end point, and the microphone location.
(7) The reference point on the vehicle, to indicate when the vehicle is at any of the points on the vehicle path, shall be the front of the vehicle except as follows:
(i) If the horizontal distance from the front of the vehicle to the exhaust outlet is more than 200 inches (5.1 meters), tests shall be run using both the front and rear of the vehicle as reference points.
(ii) If the engine is located rearward to the center of the chassis, the rear of the vehicle shall be used as the reference point.
(8) The plane containing the vehicle path and the microphone location (plane ABCDE in Figure 1) shall be flat within ±2 inches (.05 meters).
(9) Measurements shall not be made when the road surface is wet, covered with snow, or during precipitation.
(10) Bystanders have an appreciable influence on sound level meter readings when they are in the vicinity of the vehicle or microphone; therefore not more than one person, other than the observer reading the meter, shall be within 50 feet (15.2 meters) of the vehicle path or instrument and the person shall be directly behind the observer reading the meter, on a line through the microphone and observer. To minimize the effect of the observer and the container of the sound level meter electronics on the measurements, cable should be used between the microphone and the sound level meter. No observer shall be located within 1 m in any direction of the microphone location.
(11) The maximum A-weighted fast response sound level observed at the test site immediately before and after the test shall be at least 10 dB below the regulated level.
(12) The road surface within the test site upon which the vehicle travels, and, at a minimum, the measurements area (BCD in figure 205.1) shall be smooth concrete or smooth sealed asphalt, free of extraneous material such as gravel.
(13) Vehicles with diesel engines shall be tested using Number 1D or Number 2D diesel fuel possessing a cetane rating from 42 to 50 inclusive.
(14) Vehicles with gasoline engines shall use the grade of gasoline recommended by the manufacturer for use by the purchaser.
(15) Vehicles equipped with thermo- statically controlled radiator fans may be tested with the fan not operating.
(c) Procedures—(1) Vehicle operation for vehicles with standard transmissions. Full throttle acceleration and closed throttle deceleration tests are to be used. A beginning engine speed and proper gear ratio must be determined for use during measurements. Closed throttle deceleration tests are required only for those vehicles equipped with an engine brake.
(i) Select the highest rear axle and/or transmission gear (“highest gear” is used in the usual sense; it is synonymous to the lowest numerical ratio) and an initial vehicle speed such that at wide-open throttle the vehicle will accelerate from the acceleration point.
(a) Starting at no more than two-thirds (66 percent) of maximum rated or of governed engine speed.
(b) Reaching maximum rated or governed engine speed within the end zone.
(c) Without exceeding 35 mph (56 k/h) before reaching the end point.
(1) Should maximum rated or governed rpm be attained before reaching the end zone, decrease the approach rpm in 100 rpm increments until maximum rated or governed rpm is attained within the end zone.
(2) Should maximum rated or governed rpm not be attained until beyond the end zone, select the next lower gear until maximum rated or governed rpm is attained within the end zone.
(3) Should the lowest gear still result in reaching maximum rated or governed rpm beyond the permissible end zone, unload the vehicle and/or increase the approach rpm in 100 rpm increments until the maximum rated or governed rpm is reached within the end zone.
(ii) For the acceleration test, approach the acceleration point using the engine speed and gear ratio selected in paragraph (c)(1) of this section and at the acceleration point rapidly establish wide-open throttle. The vehicle reference shall be as indicated in paragraph (b)(7) of this section. Acceleration shall continue until maximum rated or governed engine speed is reached.
(iii) Wheel slip which affects maximum sound level must be avoided.
(2) Vehicle operation for vehicles with automatic transmissions. Full throttle acceleration and closed throttle deceleration tests are to be used. Closed throttle deceleration tests are required only for those vehicles equipped with an engine brake.
(i) Select the highest gear axle and/or transmission gear (highest gear is used in the usual sense; it is synonymous to the lowest numerical ratio) in which no up or down shifting will occur under any operational conditions of the vehicle during the test run. Also, select an initial vehicle speed such that at wide-open throttle the vehicle will accelerate from the acceleration point.
(a) Starting at two-thirds (66 percent) of maximum rated or of governed engine speed.
(b) Reaching maximum rated or governed engine speed within the end zone.
(c) Without exceeding 35 mph (56 k/h) before reaching the end point.
(1) Should maximum rated or governed rpm be attained before reaching the end zone, decrease the approach rpm in 100 rpm increments until maximum rated or governed rpm is attained within the end zone.
(2) Should maximum rated or governed rpm not be attained until beyond the end zone, select the next lower gear until maximum rated or governed rpm is attained within the end zone.
(3) Should the lowest gear still result in reaching maximum rated or governed rpm beyond the permissible end zone, unload the vehicle and/or increase the approach rpm in 100 rpm increments until the maximum rated or governed rpm is reached within the end zone, notwithstanding that approach engine speed may now exceed two-thirds of maximum rated or of full load governed engine speed.
(4) Should the maximum rated or governed rpm still be attained before entering the end zone, and the engine rpm during approach cannot be further lowered, begin acceleration at a point 10 feet closer to the beginning of the end zone. The approach rpm to be used is to be that rpm used prior to the moving of the acceleration point 10 feet closer to the beginning of the end zone.
(5) Should the maximum rated or governed rpm still be attained before entering the end zone, repeat the instructions in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(c)(4) of this section until maximum rated or governed rpm is attained within the end zone.
(ii) For the acceleration test, approach the acceleration point using the engine speed and gear ratio selected in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section and at the acceleration point rapidly establish wide-open throttle. The vehicle reference shall be as indicated in paragraph (b)(7) of this section. Acceleration shall continue until maximum rated or governed engine speed is reached.
(iii) Wheel slip which affects maximum sound level must be avoided.
(3) Measurements. (i) The meter shall be set for “fast response” and the A-weighted network.
(ii) The meter shall be observed during the period while the vehicle is accelerating or decelerating. The applicable reading shall be the highest sound level obtained for the run. The observer is cautioned to rerun the test if unrelated peaks should occur due to extraneous ambient noises. Readings shall be taken on both sides of the vehicle.
(iii) The sound level associated with a side shall be the average of the first two pass-by measurements for that side, if they are within 2 dB(A) of each other. Average of measurements on each side shall be computed separately. If the first two measurements for a given side differ by more than 2 dB(A), two additional measurements shall be made on each side, and the average of the two highest measurements on each side, within 2 dB(A) of each other, shall be taken as the measured vehicle sound level for that side. The reported vehicle sound level shall be the higher of the two averages.
(d) General requirements. (1) Measurements shall be made only when wind velocity is below 12 mph (19 km/hr).
(2) Proper usage of all test instrumentation is essential to obtain valid measurements. Operating manuals or other literature furnished by the instrument manufacturer shall be referred to for both recommended operation of the instrument and precautions to be observed. Specific items to be adequately considered are:
(i) The effects of ambient weather conditions on the performance of the instruments (for example, temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure).
(ii) Proper signal levels, terminating impedances, and cable lengths on multi-instrument measurement systems.
(iii) Proper acoustical calibration procedure to include the influence of extension cables, etc. Field calibration shall be made immediately before and after each test sequence. Internal calibration means is acceptable for field use, provided that external calibration is accomplished immediately before or after field use.
(3)(i) A complete calibration of the instrumentation and external acoustical calibrator over the entire frequency range of interest shall be performed at least annually and as frequently as necessary during the yearly period to insure compliance with the standards cited in American National Standard S1.4-1971 “Specifications for Sound Level Meters” for a Type 1 instrument over the frequency range 50 Hz-10,000 Hz.
(ii) If calibration devices are utilized which are not independent of ambient pressure (e.g., a piston-phone) corrections must be made for barometric or altimetric changes according to the recommendation of the instrument manufacturer.
(4) The truck shall be brought to a temperature within its normal operating temperature range prior to commencement of testing. During testing appropriate caution shall be taken to maintain the engine temperatures within such normal operating range.
§ 205.54-2 Sound data acquisition system.
(a) Systems employing tape recorders and graphic level recorders may be established as equivalent to a Type I—ANSI S1.4-1971 sound level meter for use in determining compliance with this regulation by meeting the requirements of this section (§ 205.54-2(b)). This sound data acquisition system qualification procedure is based primarily on ANSI S6.1-1973.
(1) Performance requirements—(i) System frequency response. It is required that the overall steady-state frequency response of the data acquisition system shall be within the tolerances prescribed in Table 205.1 when measured in accordance with section (2). The tolerances in Table 205.1 are applicable to either flat or A-weighted response. (See paragraph (a)(3)(iii) of this section.)
(ii) Detector response. To ensure that a (true) rms indication is provided, the difference between the level indicated for a 1000 Hz sinusoidal signal equivalent to a sound level of 86 dB (rms) and the level indicated for an octave band of random noise of equal energy as the sinusoidal signal centered at 1000 Hz shall be no greater than 0.5 dB. A true rms voltmeter shall be used to determine equivalence of two input signals.
(iii) Indicating meter. If an indicating meter is used to obtain sound levels or band pressure levels, it must meet the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1)(ii) and (vi)(B) of this section and the following.
Table 205.1—System Response Data
| Freq. (hertz) | A-weighted response (Re-1000 Hz, dB) | Tolerance (decibels) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plus— | Minus— | ||
| 31.5 | −39.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 40.0 | −34.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 50.0 | −30.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 63.0 | −26.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 80.0 | −22.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 100.0 | −19.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 125.0 | −16.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 160.0 | −13.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 200.0 | −10.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 250.0 | −8.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 315.0 | −6.6 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 400.0 | −4.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 500.0 | −3.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 630.0 | −1.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 800.0 | −.8 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 1,000.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 1,250.0 | .6 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 1,600.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 2,000.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 2,500.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 3,150.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 4,000.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 5,000.0 | .5 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| 6,300.0 | −.1 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| 8,000.0 | −1.1 | 1.5 | 3.0 |
| 10,000.0 | −2.5 | 2.0 | 4.0 |
| 12,500.0 | −4.3 | 3.0 | 6.0 |
(A) The scale shall be graduated in 1 dB steps.
(B) No scale indication shall be more than 0.2 dB different from the true value of the signal when an input signal equivalent to 86 dB sound level indicates correctly.
(C) Maximum indication for an input signal of 1000 Hz tone burst of 0.2 sec duration shall be within the range of −2 to 0 dB with respect to the steady-state indication for a 1000 Hz tone equivalent to 86 dB sound level.
(iv) Microphone. If microphone is used which has not been provided as a component of a precision sound level meter, it must be determined to meet the microphone characteristics described in IEC Publication 179, Precision Sound Level Meters.
(v) Magnetic tape recorders. No requirements are described in this document pertaining to tape recorders, except for frequency response. Generally, recorders of adequate quality to provide the frequency response performance required will also meet other minimum requirements for distortion, signal-to-noise ratio, etc.
(vi) Graphic level recorder dynamic response. When using a graphic level recorder, it is necessary to select pen response settings such that the readings obtained are statistically equivalent to those obtained by directly reading a meter which meets the “fast” dynamic requirement of a precision sound level meter indicating meter system for the range of vehicles to be tested. To ensure statistical equivalence, at least 30 comparative observations of real test data shall be made and the average of the absolute value of the differences observed shall be less than 0.5 dB. The settings described in this paragraph likely assure appropriate dynamic response; however, different settings may be selected on the basis of the above requirement.
(A) Use a pen writing speed of nominally 60-100 dB/sec. If adjustable, low frequency response should be limited to about 20 Hz.
(B) Indicated overshoot for a suddenly applied 1000 Hz sinusoidal signal equivalent to 86 dB sound level shall be no more than 1.1 dB and no less than 0.1 dB.
(2) Frequency response qualification procedure. (i) Typical noise measurement and analysis configurations are shown in Figures 205.2 through 205.4. The qualification procedure described herein duplicates these configurations, but with the microphone replaced by an electronic sinewave oscillator. Caution should be exercised when connecting an oscillator to the input of a sound level meter to ensure, perhaps by using a resistive voltage divider network, that the input is not overloaded (see § 205.54-2(a)(2)(ii)).
(ii) Calibrate the oscillator to be used by measuring its output relative to the voltage which is equivalent to 86 dB sound level at each of the 27 frequencies listed in Table 205.1 using an electronic voltmeter of known calibration. Record the result in voltage level in dB re voltage corresponding to 86 dB sound level at 1000 Hz. This will describe the frequency response characteristics of the oscillator.
(iii) If a graphic level recorder is to be used, connect it to the oscillator output. If the oscillator and graphic level recorder can be synchronized, slowly sweep the frequency over the range of 31.5 to 12,500 Hz, recording the oscillator output. If they cannot be synchronized, record oscillator output for signals at the 27 frequencies given in Table 205.1. The differences between the combined response thus obtained and the oscillator response obtained previously will describe the frequency response of the graphic level recorder.
(iv) If visual observation of an indicating meter is to be used for obtaining data, the oscillator should be connected to the indicating meter input (such as the microphone input of a sound level meter) and the meter reading observed for a fixed oscillator output voltage setting for signals at the 27 frequencies given in Table 205.1.
(v) To check a tape recorder, connect the instruments as shown in Figure 205.4. Using a 1000 Hz tone, adjust the oscillator output level to obtain a reading 15 dB below maximum record level. If the synchronized oscillator/graphic level recorder system is to be used for analysis, record an oscillator sweep over the range of 31.5 to 12,500 Hz, using an appropriate tape recorder input attenuator setting. Alternatively, tape-record frequency tones at the 27 frequencies given in Table 205.1. Replay the tape recordings using the setup shown in Figure 205.3. Record the data on a graphic level recorder or through visual observation of the indicating meter. Subtract the oscillator frequency response in paragraph (b)(2) of this section from the response obtained through the record-playback sequence to obtain the record/reproduce frequency response of the system except for the microphone.
(vi) To obtain the overall system frequency response, add the manufacturer’s microphone calibration data to the response just obtained. This may be the frequency response for the specific microphone to be used, including calibration tolerances. Alternatively, use the manufacturer’s “typical” microphone response plus and minus the maximum deviation expected from “typical” including calibration tolerances. Use the microphone response curve which corresponds to the manner in which it is used in the field. It may be required to add a correction to the response curves provided to obtain field response; refer to the manufacturer’s manual.
(vii) Adjustment or repair of equipment may be required to obtain response within the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section. After any adjustments, the system shall be requalified according to paragraph (b) of this section.
(3) General comments. (i) Calibrate tape recorders using the brand and type of magnetic tape used for actual data acquisition. Differences in tape can cause an appreciable variation in the recorder/reproduce frequency response characteristics of tape recorder.
(ii) It shall be ensured that the instrumentation used will perform within specifications and applicable tolerances over the temperature, humidity, and other environmental variation ranges which may be encountered in vehicle noise measurement works.
(iii) Qualification tests shall be performed using equipment (including cables) and recording and playback techniques identical with those used while recording vehicle noise. For example, if weighted sound level data are normally recorded use similar weighting and apply the tolerances of Table 205.1 to the weighting curve for comparison with record-playback curves. Precautions should also be taken to ensure that source and load impedances are appropriate to the device being tested. Other data acquisition systems may use any combination of microphones, sound level meters, amplifiers, tape recorders, graphic level recorders, or indicating meters. The same approach to qualifying such a system shall be taken as described in this document for the systems depicted in Figures 205.2, 205.3 and 205.4.
(b) Systems other than those specified in §§ 205.54-1(a) and 205.54-2(a) may be used for establishing compliance with this regulation. In each case the system must yield sound levels which are equivalent to those produced by a sound level meter Type 1 ANSI S1.4-1971. The manufacturer bears the burden of demonstrating such equivalence.
§ 205.55 Requirements.
§ 205.55-1 General requirements.
(a) Every new vehicle manufactured for distribution in commerce in the United States which is subject to the standards prescribed in this subpart and not exempted in accordance with § 205.5:
(1) Shall be labeled in accordance with the requirements of § 205.55-5 of this subpart.
(2) Shall conform to the applicable noise emission standard established in § 205.52 of this regulation.
(b) The requirements of paragraph (a) apply to new products which conform to the definition of vehicles in these regulations and at the time such new products are assembled to that state of completeness in which the manufacturer distributes them in commerce.
(c) Subsequent manufacturers of a new product which conforms to the definition of vehicle in these regulations when received by them from a prior manufacturer, need not fulfill the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) where such requirements have already been complied with by a prior manufacturer.
§ 205.55-2 Compliance with standards.
(a)(1) Prior to distribution in commerce of vehicles of a specific configuration, the first manufactures of such vehicles must verify such configurations in accordance with the requirements of this subpart.
(2) [Reserved]
(3) At any time following receipt of notice under this section with respect to a configuration, the Administrator may require that the manufacturer ship test vehicles to the EPA test facility in order for the Administrator to perform the tests required for production verification.
(b) The requirements for purposes of testing by the Administrator and selective enforcement auditing with regard to each vehicle configuration consist of:
(1) Testing in accordance with § 205.54 of a vehicle selected in accordance with § 205.57-2, and
(2) Compliance of the test vehicle with the applicable standard when tested in accordance with § 205.54.
(c)(1) In lieu of testing vehicles of every configuration as described in paragraph (b) of this section, the manufacturer may elect to verify the configuration based on representative testing, the requirements of which consist of:
(i) Grouping configurations into a category where each category will be determined by a separate combination of at least the following parameters (a manufacturer may use more parameters):
(a) Engine type.
(1) Gasoline—two stroke cycle.
(2) Gasoline—four stroke cycle.
(3) Diesel—two stroke cycle.
(4) Diesel—four stroke cycle.
(5) Rotary—wankel.
(6) Turbine.
(7) Other.
(b) Engine manufacturer.
(c) Engine displacement.
(d) Engine configuration (e.g., L-6, V-8, etc.).
(e) Series (i.e., cab design) including but not limited to conventional, cab over engine, and cab forward.
(ii) Identifying the configuration within each category which emits the highest sound pressure level (dBA) based on his best technical judgment and/or emission test data;
(iii) Testing in accordance with § 205.54 of a vehicle selected in accordance with § 205.57-2 which must be a vehicle of the configuration which is identified pursuant to paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section as having the highest sound pressure level (estimated or actual) within the category; and
(iv) Compliance of the test vehicle with applicable standards when tested in accordance with § 205.54.
(2) Where the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) are complied with, all those configurations contained within a category are considered represented by the tested vehicle.
(3) Where the manufacturer tests a vehicle configuration which has not been determined as having the highest sound pressure level of a category, but all other requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section are complied with all those configurations contained with that category which are determined to have sound pressure levels no greater than the tested vehicle are considered to be represented by the tested vehicle, however, a manufacturer must for purposes of Testing by the Administrator and Selective Enforcement Auditing verify according to the requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) and/or (c)(1) of this section any configurations in the subject category which have a higher sound pressure level than the vehicle configuration tested.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) The manufacturer may, at his option, proceed with any of the following alternatives with respect to any vehicle determined not in compliance with applicable standards.
(1) In the case of representative testing a new test vehicle from another configuration must be selected according to the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section, in order to verify the configurations represented by the non-compliant vehicle.
(2) Modify the test vehicle and demonstrate by testing that it meets applicable standards. The manufacturer must modify all production vehicles of the same configuration in the same manner as the test vehicle before distribution into commerce.
§ 205.55-3 Configuration identification.
(a) A separate vehicle configuration shall be determined by each combination of the following parameters:
(1) Exhaust system configuration. (i) Single vertical.
(ii) Dual vertical.
(iii) Single horizontal.
(iv) Dual horizontal.
(2) Air induction system (engine). (i) Natural.
(ii) Turbocharged.
(3) Fan. (i) Diameter.
(ii) Drive.
(a) Direct.
(b) Thermostatic.
(iii) Max fan rpm.
(4) Engine manufacturer’s horsepower rating.
(5) Cab characteristic. (i) Sleeper.
(ii) Non sleeper.
(6) Category parameters listed in § 205.55-2.
§ 205.55-4 Labeling-compliance.
(a)(1) The manufacturer of any vehicle subject to the provisions of § 205.52 shall, at the time of manufacture, affix a permanent, legible label, of the type and in the manner described below, containing the information hereinafter provided, to all such vehicles to be distributed in commerce. The labels shall be affixed in such a manner that they cannot be removed without destroying or defacing them, and shall not be affixed to any equipment which is easily detached from such vehicle.
(2) A label shall be permanently attached, in a readily visible position, in the operator’s compartment.
(3) Labels for vehicles not manufactured solely for use outside the United States shall contain the following information lettered in the English language in block letters and numerals, which shall be of a color that contrasts with the background of the label:
(i) The label heading: Vehicle Noise Emission Control Information;
(ii) Full corporate name and trademark of manufacturer;
(iii) Month and year of manufacture;
(iv) The statement:
This Vehicle Conforms to U.S. EPA Regulations for Noise Emission Applicable to Medium and Heavy Trucks.
The following acts or the causing thereof by any person are prohibited by the Noise Control Act of 1972:
(A) The removal or rendering inoperative, other than for purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement, of any noise control device or element of design (listed in the owner’s manual) incorporated into this vehicle in compliance with the Noise Control Act;
(B) The use of this vehicle after such device or element of design has been removed or rendered inoperative.
(b) Labels for vehicles manufactured solely for use outside the United States shall contain the words “For Export Only.”
§ 205.55-5 Labeling-exterior. [Reserved]
§ 205.56 Testing by the Administrator.
(a)(1) The Administrator may require that any vehicles to be tested pursuant to the Act be submitted to him, at such place and time as he may reasonably designate and in such quantity and for such time as he may reasonably require for the purpose of conducting tests in accordance with test procedures described in § 205.54 to determine whether such vehicles or a manufacturer’s test facility conform to applicable regulations. It is a condition of the requirements under this section that the manner in which the Administrator conducts such tests, the EPA test facility itself, and the test procedures he employs shall be based upon good engineering practice and meet or exceed the requirements of § 205.54 of the regulations.
(2) The Administrator may specify that he will conduct such testing at the manufacturer’s facility, in which case instrumentation and equipment of the type required by these regulations shall be made available by the manufacturer for test operations. The Administrator may conduct such tests with his own equipment, which shall equal or exceed the performance specifications of the instrumentation or equipment specified by the Administrator in these regulations.
(3) The manufacturer may observe tests conducted by the Administrator pursuant to this section on vehicles produced by such manufacturer and may copy the data accumulated from such tests. The manufacturer may inspect any such vehicles before and after testing by the Administrator.
(b)(1) If, based on tests conducted by the Administrator or other relevant information, the Administrator determines that the test facility does not meet the requirements of § 205.54-1 (a) and (b) he will notify the manufacturer in writing of his determination and the reasons therefor.
(2) The manufacturer may at any time within 15 days after receipt of a notice issued under paragraph (b)(1) of this section request a hearing conducted in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 554 on the issue of whether his test facility was in conformance. Such notice will not take effect until 15 days after receipt by the manufacturer, or if a hearing is requested under this paragraph, until adjudication by the hearing examiner.
(3) After any notification issued under paragraph (b)(1) of this section has taken effect, no data thereafter derived from such test facility will be acceptable for purposes of this part.
(4) The manufacturer may request in writing that the Administrator reconsider his determination under paragraph (b)(1) of this section based on data or information which indicates that changes have been made to the test facility and such changes have resolved the reasons for disqualification.
(5) The Administrator will notify the manufacturer of his determination and an explanation of the reasons underlying it with regard to the requalification of the test facility within 10 working days after receipt of the manufacturer’s request for reconsideration pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
(c)(1) The Administrator will assume all reasonable costs associated with shipment of vehicles to the place designated pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section except with respect to:
(i) [Reserved]
(ii) Testing of a reasonable number of vehicles for purposes of selective enforcement auditing under § 205.57 or testing of smaller numbers of vehicles, if the manufacturer has failed to establish that there is a correlation between its test facility and the EPA test facility or the Administrator has reason to believe, and provides the manufacturer a statement of such reasons, that the vehicles to be tested would fail to meet the standard prescribed in this subpart if tested at the EPA test facility, but would meet such standard if tested at the manufacturer’s test facility;
(iii) Any testing performed during a period when a notice of nonconfor- mance of the manufacturer’s test facility issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section is in effect;
(iv) Any testing performed at place other than the manufacturer’s facility as a result of the manufacturer’s failure to permit the Administrator to conduct or monitor testing as required by this part.
§ 205.57 Selective enforcement auditing requirements.
§ 205.57-1 Test request.
(a) The Administrator will request all testing under § 205.57 by means of a test request addressed to the manufacturer.
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (a) (2) and (3) of this section, the Administrator will not issue to a manufacturer during any model year more test requests than a number determined by dividing the total number of vehicles subject to this regulation which the manufacturer projects he will produce during that model year by 25,000 and rounding to the next higher whole number: Except, that the Administrator may issue one additional test request beyond the annual limit to any manufacturer for each time a batch sequence for any category, configuration or subgroup thereof of such manufacturer’s production is rejected in accordance with § 205.57-7.
(2) Any test request issued against a category, configuration or subgroup thereof which the Administrator has reason to believe does not meet the standards specified in § 205.52 will not be counted against the annual limit on test requests described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. Any such request shall include a statement of the Administrator’s reason for such belief.
(3) Any test request under which testing is not completed will not be counted against the annual limit on test requests described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.
(b) The test request will be signed by the Assistant Administrator for Enforcement or his designee. The test request will be delivered by an EPA Enforcement Officer to the plant manager or other responsible official as designated by the manufacturer.
(c) The test request will specify the vehicle category, configuration or subgroup thereof selected for testing, the batch from which sampling is to begin, the batch size, the manufacturer’s plant or storage facility from which the vehicles must be selected, the time at which a vehicle must be selected. The test request will also provide for situations in which the selected configuration or category is unavailable for testing. The test request may include an alternative category or configuration selected for testing in the event that vehicles of the first specified category or configuration are not available for testing because the vehicles are not being manufactured at the specified plant and/or are not being manufactured during the specified time or not being stored at the specified plant or storage facility.
(d) Any manufacturer shall, upon receipt of the test request, select and test a batch sample of vehicles from two consecutively produced batches of the vehicle category or configurations specified in the test request in accordance with these regulations and the conditions specified in the test request.
(e)(1) Any testing conducted by the manufacturer pursuant to a test request shall be initiated within such period as is specified within the test request: Except, that such initiation may be delayed for increments of 24 hours or one business day where ambient test site weather conditions, or other conditions beyond the control of the manufacturer, in any 24-hour period do not permit testing: Provided, That these conditions for that period are recorded.
(2) The manufacturer shall complete emission testing on a minimum of five vehicles per day unless otherwise provided for by the Administrator or unless ambient test site conditions only permit the testing of a lesser number: Provided, that ambient test site weather conditions for that period are recorded.
(3) The manufacturer will be allowed 24 hours to ship vehicles from a batch sample from the assembly plant to the testing facility if the facility is not located at the plant or in close proximity to the plant: Except, that the Administrator may approve more time based upon a request by the manufacturer accompanied by a satisfactory justification.
(f) The Administrator may issue an order to the manufacturer to cease to distribute into commerce vehicles of a specified category or configuration being manufactured at a particular facility if:
(1) The manufacturer refuses to comply with the provisions of a test request issued by the Administrator pursuant to this section; or
(2) The manufacturer refuses to comply with any of the requirements of this section.
(g) A cease-to-distribute order shall not be issued under paragraph (f) of this section if such refusal is caused by conditions and circumstances outside the control of the manufacturer which renders it impossible to comply with the provisions of a test request or any other requirements of this section. Such conditions and circumstances shall include, but are not limited to, any uncontrollable factors which result in the temporary unavailability of equipment and personnel needed to conduct the required tests, such as equipment break-down or failure or illness of personnel, but shall not include failure of the manufacturer to adequately plan for and provide the equipment and personnel needed to conduct the tests. The manufacturer will bear the burden of establishing the presence of the conditions and circumstances required by this paragraph.
(h) Any such order shall be issued only after a notice and opportunity for a hearing.
§ 205.57-2 Test vehicle sample selection.
(a) Vehicles comprising the batch sample which are required to be tested pursuant to a test request in accordance with this subpart will be selected in the manner specified in the test request from a batch of vehicles of the category or configuration specified in the test request. If the test request specifies that the vehicles comprising the batch sample must be selected randomly, the random selection will be achieved by sequentially numbering all of the vehicles in the batch and then using a table of random numbers to select the number of vehicles as specified in paragraph (c) of this section based on the batch size designated by the Administrator in the test request. An alternative random selection plan may be used by a manufacturer: Provided, That such a plan is approved by the Administrator. If the test request does not specify that test vehicles must be randomly selected, the manufacturer shall select test vehicles consecutively.
(1) Should a situation arise in which the configuration to be tested consists of only vehicles with automatic transmissions, they shall be tested in accordance with § 205.54-1(c)(2).
(2) If the configuration to be tested consists of both automatic transmission and standard transmission vehicles, the test vehicle shall be a standard transmission vehicle unless the manufacturer has reason to believe that the automatic transmission vehicle emits a greater sound level.
(b) The Acceptable Quality Level is 10 percent. The appropriate sampling plans associated with the designated AQL are contained in Appendix I, Table II.
(c) The appropriate batch sample size will be determined by reference to Appendix I, Table I and II. A code letter is obtained from Table I based on the batch size designated by the Administrator in a test request. The batch sample size will be obtained from Table II. The batch sample size will be equal to the maximum cumulative sample size for the appropriate code letter obtained from Table I plus an additional 10 percent rounded off to the next highest number.
(d) If the test request specifies that vehicles comprising the batch sample must be selected randomly, individual vehicles comprising the test sample will be randomly selected from the batch sample using the same random selection plan as in paragraph (a) of this section. Test sample size will be determined by entering Table II.
(e) The test vehicle of the category, configuration or subgroup thereof selected for testing shall have been assembled by the manufacturer for distribution in commerce using the manufacturer’s normal production process in accordance with § 205.55-5(a).
(f) Unless otherwise indicated in the test request, the manufacturer will select the batch sample from the production batch, next scheduled after receipt of the test request, of the category or configuration specified in the test request.
(g) Unless otherwise indicated in the test request, the manufacturer shall select the vehicles designated in the test request for testing.
(h) At their discretion, EPA Enforcement Officers, rather than the manufacturer, may select the vehicles designated in the test request.
(i) The manufacturer will keep on hand all vehicles in the batch sample until such time as the batch is accepted or rejected in accordance with § 205.57-6: Except, that vehicles actually tested and found to be in conformance with these regulations need not be kept.
§ 205.57-3 Test vehicle preparation.
(a) Prior to the official test, the test vehicle selected in accordance with § 205-57-2 shall not be prepared, tested, modified, adjusted, or maintained in any manner unless such adjustments, preparation, modification and/or tests are part of the manufacturer’s prescribed manufacturing and inspection procedures, and are documented in the manufacturer’s internal vehicle assembly and inspection procedures or unless such adjustments and/or tests are required or permitted under this subpart or are approved in advance by the Administrator. For purposes of this section, prescribed manufacturing and inspection procedures include quality control testing and assembly procedures normally performed by the manufacturer on like products during early production so long as the resulting testing is not biased by the procedure. In the case of imported products the manufacturer may perform adjustments, preparations, modification and/or tests normally performed at the port of entry by the manufacturer to prepare the vehicle for delivery to a dealer or customer.
(b) Equipment or fixtures necessary to conduct the test may be installed on the vehicle: Provided, That such equipment or fixtures shall have no effect on the noise emissions of the vehicle, as determined by measurement methodology.
(c) In the event of vehicle malfunction (i.e., failure to start, misfiring cylinder, etc.) the manufacturer may perform the maintenance that is necessary to enable the vehicle to operate in a normal manner.
(d) No quality control, testing, assembly or selection procedures shall be used on the completed vehicle or any portion thereof, including parts and subassemblies, that will not normally be used during the production and assembly of all other vehicles of the category which will be distributed in commerce, unless such procedures are required or permitted under this subpart.
§ 205.57-4 Testing procedures.
(a) The manufacturer shall conduct one valid test in accordance with the test procedures specified in § 205.54 of this subpart for each vehicle selected for testing pursuant to this subpart.
(b) No maintenance will be performed on test vehicles except as provided for by § 205.57-3. In the event a vehicle is unable to complete the emission test, the manufacturer may replace the vehicle. Any replacement vehicle will be a production vehicle of the same configuration as the replaced vehicle. It will be randomly selected from the batch sample and will be subject to all the provisions of these regulations.
§ 205.57-5 Reporting of the test results.
(a) Within 5 working days after completion of testing of all vehicles in a batch sample the manufacturer shall submit to the Administrator a final report which will include the information required by the test request in the format stipulated in the test request in addition to the following:
(1) The name, location, and description of the manufacturer’s emission test facilities which meet the specifications of § 205.54 and were utilized to conduct testing reported pursuant to this section: Except, that a test facility that has been described in a previous submission under this subpart need not again be described but must be identified as such.
(2) A description of the random vehicle selection method used, referencing any tables of random numbers that were used, name of the person in charge of the random number selection, if the vehicle test request specifies a random vehicle selection.
(3) The following information for each noise emission test conducted,
(i) The completed data sheet required by § 205.54 for all noise emission tests including: For each invalid test, the reason for invalidation.
(ii) A complete description of any modification, repair, preparation, maintenance, and/or testing which could affect the noise emissions of the vehicle and which was performed on the test vehicle but will not be performed on all other production vehicles.
(iii) The reason for the replacement where a replacement vehicle was authorized by the Administrator, and, if any, the test results for the replaced vehicles.
(4) A complete description of the sound data acquisition system if other than those specified in §§ 205.54-1(a) and 205.54-2(a).
(5) The following statement and endorsement:
This report is submitted pursuant to section 6 and section 13 of the Noise Control Act of 1972. To the best of ______(company name) knowledge, all testing for which data are reported herein was conducted in strict conformance with applicable regulations under 40 CFR 205.1 et seq., all the data reported herein are a true and accurate representation of such testing and all other information reported herein is true and accurate. I am aware of the penalties associated with violations of the Noise Control Act of 1972 and the regulations thereunder.
(b) All information required to be forwarded to the Administrator pursuant to this section shall be addressed to Director, Noise Enforcement Division (EN-387), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460.
§ 205.57-6 Acceptance and rejection of batches.
(a) The batch from which a batch sample is selected will be accepted or rejected based upon the number of failing vehicles in the batch sample. A sufficient number of test samples will be drawn from the batch sample until the cumulative number of failing vehicles is less than or equal to the acceptance number or greater than or equal to the rejection number appropriate for the cumulative number of vehicles tested. The acceptance and rejection numbers listed in Appendix I, Table II at the appropriate code letter obtained according to § 205.57-2 will be used in determining whether the acceptance or rejection of a batch has occurred.
(b) Acceptance or rejection of a batch takes place when the decision that a vehicle is a failing vehicle is made on the last vehicle required to make a decision under paragraph (a) of this section.
§ 205.57-7 Acceptance and rejection of batch sequence.
(a) The manufacturer will continue to inspect consecutive batches until the batch sequence is accepted or rejected based upon the number of rejected batches. A sufficient number of consecutive batches will be inspected until the cumulative number of rejected batches is less than or equal to the sequence acceptance number of greater than or equal to the sequence rejection number appropriate for the cumulative number of batches inspected. The acceptance and rejection numbers listed in Appendix I, Table III at the appropriate code letter obtained according to § 205.57-2 will be used in determining whether the acceptance or rejection of a batch sequence has occurred.
(b) Acceptance or rejection of a batch sequence takes place when the decision that a vehicle is a failiing vehicle is made on the last vehicle required to make a decision under paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) If the batch sequence is accepted, the manufactureer will not be required to perform any additional testing on vehicles from subsequent batches pursuant to the initiating test request.
(d) The Administrator may terminate testing earlier than required in paragraph (b) of this section based on a request by the manufacturer accompanied by voluntary cessation of distribution in commerce, of vehicles from the category, configuration or subgroup in question manufactured at the plant which produced the vehicles under test: Provided, That before reinitiating distribution in commerce of vehicles from such plant of such vehicle category, configuration or subgroup, the manufacturer must take the action described in § 205.57-9(a)(1) and (a)(2).
§ 205.57-8 Continued testing.
(a) If a batch sequence is rejected in accordance with paragraph (b) of § 205.57-7, the Administrator may require that any or all vehicles of that category, configuration of subgroup thereof produced at that plant be tested before distribution in commerce.
(b) The Administrator will notify the manufacturer in writing of his intent to require such continued testing of vehicles pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) The manufacturer may request a hearing on the issues of whether the selective enforcement audit was conducted properly; whether the criteria for batch sequence rejection in § 204.57-7 have been met; and, the appropriateness or scope of a continued testing order. In the event that a hearing is requested, the hearing shall begin no later than 15 days after the date on which the Administrator received the hearing request. Neither the request for a hearing nor the fact that a hearing is in progress shall affect the reponsibility of the manufacturer to commence and continue testing required by the Administrator pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
(d) Any tested vehicle which demonstrated conformance with the applicable standards may be distributed into commerce.
(e) Any knowing distribution into commerce of a vehicle which does not comply with the applicable standards is a prohibited act.
§ 205.57-9 Prohibition on distribution in commerce; manufacturer’s remedy.
(a) The Administrator will permit the cessation of continued testing under § 205.57-8 once the manufacturer has taken the following actions:
(1) Submit a written report to the Administrator which identifies the reason for the noncompliance of the vehicles, describes the problem and describes the proposed quality control and/or quality assurance remedies to be taken by the manufacturer to correct the problem or follows the requirements for an engineering change. Such requirements include the following:
(i) Any change to a configuration with respect to any of the parameters stated in § 205.55-3 shall constitute the addition of a new and separate configuration or category to the manufacturer’s product line.
(ii) When a manufacturer introduces a new category or configuration to his product line, he shall proceed in accordance with § 205.55-2.
(iii) If the configuration to be added can be grouped within a verified category and the new configuration is estimated to have a lower sound pressure level than a previously verified configuration within the same category, the configuration shall be considered verified.
(2) Demonstrates that the specified vehicle category, configuration or subgroup thereof has passed a retest conducted in accordance with § 205.57 and the conditions specified in the initial test request.
(3) The manufacturer may begin testing under paragraph (a)(2) of this section upon submitting such report, and may cease continued testing upon making the demonstration required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section, provided that the Administrator may require resumption of continued testing if he determines that the manufacturer has not satisfied the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section.
(b) Any vehicle failing the prescribed noise emission tests conducted pursuant to this Subpart B may not be distributed in commerce until necessary adjustments or repairs have been made and the vehicle passes a retest.
(c) No vehicles of a rejected batch which are still in the hands of the manufacturer may be distributed in commerce unless the manufacturer has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Administrator that such vehicles do in fact conform to the regulations: Except, that any vehicle that has been tested and does, in fact, conform with these regulations may be distributed in commerce.
§ 205.58 In-use requirements.
§ 205.58-1 Warranty.
(a) The vehicle manufacturer shall include the owner’s manual or in other information supplied to the ulitmate purchaser the following statement:
(Name of vehicle manufacturer) warrants to the first person who purchases this vehicle for purposes other than resale and to each subsequent purchaser that this vehicle as manufactured by (names of vehicle manufacturer), was designed, built and equipped to conform at the time it left (name of vehicle manufacturer)’s control with all applicable U.S. EPA Noise Control Regulations.
This warranty covers this vehicle as designed, built and equipped by (Name of vehicle manufacturer), and is not limited to any particular part, component or system of the vehicle manufactured by (name of vehicle manufacturer). Defects in design, assembly or in any part, component or system of the vehicle as manufactured by (name of vehicle manufacturer), which, at the time it left (name of vehicle manufacturer)’s control, caused noise emissions to exceed Federal standards, are covered by this warranty for the life of the vehicle.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 205.58-2 Tampering.
(a) For each configuration of vehicles covered by this part, the manufacturer shall develop a list of those acts which, in his judgment, might be done to the vehicle in use and which would constitute the removal or rendering inoperative of noise control devices or elements of design of the vehicle.
(b) The manufacturer shall include in the owner’s manual the following information:
(1) The statement:
Federal law prohibits the following acts or the causing thereof:
(1) The removal or rendering inoperative by any person, other than for purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement, of any device or element of design incorporated into any new vehicle for the purpose of noise control prior to its sale or delivery to the ultimate purchaser or while it is in use; or (2) the use of the vehicle after such device or element of design has been removed or rendered inoperative by any person.
(2) The statement:
Among those acts presumed to constitute tampering are the acts listed below.
(c) Any act included in the list prepared pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section is presumed to constitute tampering; however, in any case in which a proscribed act has been committed and it can be shown that such act resulted in no increase in the noise level of the vehicle or that the vehicle still meets the noise emission standard of § 205.52, such act will not constitute tampering.
(d) The provisions of this section are not intended to preclude any State or local jurisdiction from adopting and enforcing its own prohibitions against the removal or rendering inoperative of noise control systems on vehicles subject to this part.
§ 205.58-3 Instructions for maintenance, use and repair.
(a)(1) The manufacturer shall provide to the ultimate purchaser of each vehicle covered by this subpart written instructions for the proper maintenance, use and repair of the vehicle in order to provide reasonable assurance of the elimination or minimization of noise emission degradation throughout the life of the vehicle.
(2) The purpose of the instructions is to inform purchasers and mechanics of those acts necessary to reasonably assure that degradation of noise emission level is eliminated or minimized during the life of the vehicle. Manufacturers should prepare the instructions with this purpose in mind. The instructions should be clear and, to the extent practicable, written in nontechnical language.
(3) The instructions must not be used to secure an unfair competitive advantage. They should not restrict replacement equipment to original equipment or service to dealer service. Manufacturers who so restrict replacement equipment should be prepared to make public any performance specifications on such equipment.
(b) For the purpose of encouraging proper maintenance, the manufacturer shall provide a record or log book which shall contain a schedule for the performance of all required noise emission control maintenance. Space shall be provided in this record book so that the purchaser can note what maintenance was done, by whom, where and when.
§ 205.59 Recall of noncomplying vehicles.
(a) Pursuant to section 11(d)(1) of the Act, the Administrator may issue an order to the manufacturer to recall and repair or modify any vehicle distributed in commerce not in compliance with this subpart.
(b) A recall order issued pursuant to this section shall be based upon a determination by the Administrator that vehicles of a specified category or configuration have been distributed in commerce which do not conform to the regulations. Such determination may be based on:
(1) A technical analysis of the noise emission characteristics of the category or configuration in question; or
(2) Any other relevant information, including test data.
(c) For the purposes of this section, noise emissions may be measured by any test prescribed in § 205.54 for testing prior to sale or any other test which has been demonstrated to correlate with the prescribed test procedure.
(d) Any such order shall be issued only after notice and an opportunity for a hearing.
(e) All costs, including labor and parts, associated with the recall and repair or modification of non-complying vehicles under this section shall be borne by the manufacturer.
(f) This section shall not limit the discretion of the Administrator to take any other actions which are authorized by the Act.
Appendix I to Subpart B of Part 205
Table I—Sample Size Code Letters
| Batch size | Code letter |
|---|---|
| 4 to 8 | A. |
| 9 to 15 | B. |
| 16 to 25 | C. |
| 26 and larger | D. |
Table II—Sampling Plans for Inspecting Batches
| Sample size code letter | Test sample | Test sample size | Cumulative test sample size | Batch inspection criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance No. | Rejection No. | ||||
| A | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| B | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| C | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 2d | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | |
| D | 1st | 2 | 2 | ( 1) | 2 |
| 2d | 2 | 4 | ( 1) | 2 | |
| 3d | 2 | 6 | 0 | 2 | |
| 4th | 2 | 8 | 0 | 3 | |
| 5th | 2 | 10 | 1 | 3 | |
| 6th | 2 | 12 | 1 | 3 | |
| 7th | 2 | 14 | 2 | 3 | |
1 Batch acceptance not permitted at this sample size.
Table III—Batch Sequence Plans
| Sample size code letter | Number of batches | Cumulative number of batches | Sequence inspection criteria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance No. | Rejection No. | |||
| A | 2 | 2 | 1 | ( 2) |
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2 | 6 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2 | 8 | 4 | 5 | |
| B | 2 | 2 | 0 | ( 2) |
| 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 5 | |
| 2 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |
| 2 | 10 | 4 | 6 | |
| 2 | 12 | 5 | 6 | |
| C | 2 | 2 | ( 1) | 2 |
| 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | 6 | 0 | 3 | |
| 2 | 8 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2 | 10 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2 | 12 | 3 | 4 | |
| D | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | |
| 2 | 6 | 2 | 4 | |
| 2 | 8 | 3 | 4 | |
1 Batch sequence acceptance not permitted for this number of batches.
2 Batch sequence rejection not permitted for this number of batches.
Table IV—Recommended Format for Vehicle Noise Data Sheet
| Test Report Number: | Manufacturer: | ||
| VEHICLE: | |||
| Trade Name: | VIN: | ||
| Model Year: | Other Reference No: | ||
| Configuration Identification: | Category Identification: | ||
| Test Site Identification and Location: | |||
| INSTRUMENTATION: | |||
| Microphone Manufacturer: | Model No: | Serial No: | |
| Sound Level Manufacturer: | Model No: | Serial No: | |
| Calibrator Manufacturer: | Model No: | Serial No: | |
| Other and Manufacturer: | Model No: | Serial No: | |
| TEST DATA: | |||
| Approach Gear: | Date of Test: | ||
| Approach RPM: | Temp: | Wind: | |
| Acceleration Test: | |||
| Deceleration Test: | |||
Acceleration Test
| Run No. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| dBA | Left | |||||
| Right | ||||||
| Highest RPM attained in End Zone | ||||||
| Calculated Sound Pressure | dBA | |||||
| Deceleration Test with Exhaust Brake Applied | ||||||
| dBA | Left | |||||
| Right | ||||||
| Calculated Sound Pressure | dBA | |||||
| TEST Personnel: | ||||||
| (Name) | ||||||
| Recorded By: | Date:……… | |||||
| (Signature) | ||||||
| Supervisor: | Title:……… | |||||
| (Signature) | ||||||
Subpart C [Reserved]
Subpart D—Motorcycles
§ 205.150 Applicability.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in these regulations, the provisions of this subpart apply to 1983 and subsequent model year motorcycles manufactured after December 31, 1982, which meet the definition of “new product” in the Act.
(b) The provisions of this subpart do not apply to electric or battery-powered motorcycles.
(c) Except as provided in § 205.158, the provisions of this subpart do not apply to competition motorcycles as defined in § 205.151(a)(3).
§ 205.151 Definitions.
(a) As used in this subpart and in Subpart E, all terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Act or in Subpart A of this part.
(1) Motorcycle means any motor vehicle, other than a tractor, that:
(i) Has two or three wheels;
(ii) Has a curb mass less than or equal to 680 kg (1499 lb); and
(iii) Is capable, with an 80 kg (176 lb) driver, of achieving a maximum speed of at least 24 km/h (15 mph) over a level paved surface.
(2) Street motorcycle means:
(i) Any motorcycle that:
(A) With an 80 kg (176 lb) driver, is capable of achieving a maximum speed of at least 40 km/h (25 mph) over a level paved surface; and
(B) Is equipped with features customarily associated with practical street or highway use, such features including but not limited to any of the following: stoplight, horn, rear view mirror, turn signals: or
(ii) Any motorcycle that:
(A) Has an engine displacement less than 50 cubic centimeters;
(B) Produces no more than two brake horse power;
(C) With a 80 kg (176 lb) driver, cannot exceed 48 km/h (30 mph) over a level paved surface.
(3) Competition motorcycle means any motorcycle designed and marketed solely for use in closed course competition events.
(4) Off-road motorcycle means any motorcycle that is not a street motorcycle or competition motorcycle.
(5) Acceleration test procedure means the measurement methodologies specified in Appendix I.
(6) Acceptable quality level (AQL) means the maximum allowable average percentage of vehicles or exhaust systems that can fail sampling inspection under a Selective Enforcement Audit.
(7) Acoustical Assurance Period (AAP) means a specified period of time or miles driven after sale to the ultimate purchaser during which a newly manufactured vehicle or exhaust system, properly used and maintained, must continue in compliance with the Federal standard.
(8) Advertised Engine Displacement means the rounded off volumetric engine capacity used for marketing purposes by the motorcycle manufacturer.
(9) Category means a group of vehicle configurations which are identical in all material aspects with respect to the parameters listed in § 205.157-2 of this subpart.
(10) Class means a group of vehicles which are identical in all material aspects with respect to the parameters listed in § 205.155 of this subpart.
(11) Closed course competition event means any organized competition event covering an enclosed, repeated or confined route intended for easy viewing of the entire route by all spectators. Such events include short track, dirt track, drag race, speedway, hillclimb, ice race, and the Bonneville Speed Trials.
(12) Closing rpm means the engine speed in Figure 2 of Appendix I.
(13) Configuration means the basic classification unit of a manufacturer’s product line and is comprised of all vehicle designs, models or series which are identical in all material aspects with respect to the parameters listed in § 205.157-3 of this subpart.
(14) Engine displacement means volumetric engine capacity as defined in § 205.153.
(15) Exhaust system means the combination of components which provides for the enclosed flow of exhaust gas from the engine exhaust port to the atmosphere. “Exhaust system” further means any constituent components of the combination which conduct exhaust gases and which are sold as separate products. “Exhaust System” does not mean any of the constituent components of the combination, alone, which do not conduct exhaust gases, such as brackets and other mounting hardware.
(16) Failing vehicle means a vehicle whose noise level is in excess of the applicable standard.
(17) Maximum rated RPM means the engine speed measured in revolutions per minute (RPM) at which peak net brake power (SAE J-245) is developed for motorcycles of a given configuration.
(18) Model specific code means the designation used for labeling purposes in §§ 205.158 and 205.169 for identifying the motorcycle manufacturer, class, and “advertised engine displacement,” respectively.
(19) Model year means the manufacturer’s annual production period, which includes January 1 of any calendar year, or if the manufacturer has no annual production period, the term “model year” shall mean the calendar year.
(20) Motorcycle noise level means the A-weighted noise level of a motorcycle as measured by the acceleration test procedure.
(21) Noise control system means any vehicle part, component or system, the purpose of which includes control or the reduction of noise emitted from a vehicle, including all exhaust system components.
(22) Noise emission standard means the noise levels in § 205.152 or § 205.166.
(23) Noise emission test means a test conducted pursuant to a measurement methodology specified in this subpart.
(24) [Reserved]
(25) Serial number means the identification number assigned by the manufacturer to a specific production unit.
(26) Tampering means the removal or rendering inoperative by any person, other than for purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement, of any device or element of design incorporated into any product in compliance with regulations under section 6, prior to its sale or delivery to the ultimate purchaser or while it is in use; or the use of a product after such device or element of design has been removed or rendered inoperative by any person.
(27) Test vehicle means a vehicle in a Selective Enforcement Audit test sample.
(28) Tractor means for the purposes of this subpart, any two or three wheeled vehicle used exclusively for agricultural purposes, or for snow plowing, including self-propelled machines used exclusively in growing, harvesting or handling farm produce.
(29) Vehicle means any motorcycle regulated pursuant to this subpart.
(30) Warranty means the warranty required by section 6(d)(1) of the Act.
§ 205.152 Noise emission standards.
(a) Noise emission standards. (1) Street motorcycles of the following and subsequent model years must not produce noise emissions in excess of the levels indicated:
(i) Street motorcycles other than those that meet the definition of § 205.151(a)(2)(ii):
| Model year | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (A) 1983 | 83 |
| (B) 1986 | 80 |
(ii) Street motorcycles that meet the definition of § 205.151(a)(2)(ii)(moped-type street motorcycles):
| Model year | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (A) 1983 | 70 |
(2) Off-road motorcycles of the following and subsequent model years must not produce noise emissions in excess of the levels indicated:
(i) Off-road motorcycles with engine displacements of 170 cc and lower:
| Model year | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (A) 1983 | 83 |
| (B) 1986 | 80 |
(ii) Off-road motorcycles with engine displacements greater than 170 cc:
| Model year | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (A) 1983 | 86 |
| (B) 1986 | 82 |
(3) Street motorcycles must be designed, built and equipped so that, when properly maintained and used, they will not produce noise emissions in excess of the levels specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, for an Acoustical Assurance Period of one year or a distance of 6000 km (3730 mi) after the time of sale to the ultimate purchaser, whichever occurs first.
(4) Off-road motorcycles must be designed, built and equipped so that, when properly maintained and used, they will not produce noise emissions in excess of the levels specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, for an Acoustical Assurance Period of one year or a distance of 3000 km (1865 mi) after the time of sale to the ultimate purchaser, whichever occurs first.
(5) At the time of sale to the ultimate purchaser, all products must comply with the standards set forth in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section.
(b) Measurement procedure. (1) The standards set forth in paragraph (a) of this section refer to noise emissions as measured in accordance with the measurement methodology specified in Appendix I-1 for all motorcycles except those street motorcycles that meet the definition of § 205.151(a)(2)(ii).
(2) The standards set forth in paragraph (a) of this section for street motorcycles that meet the definition of § 205.151(a)(2)(ii) (moped-type street motorcycles) refer to noise emissions measured in accordance with the measurement methodology specified in Appendix I-2.
(c) Low noise emission product standard. For the purpose of Low-Noise-Emission Product certification pursuant to 40 CFR part 203, motorcycles procured by the Federal government after the following dates must not produce noise emissions in excess of the noise levels indicated:
(1) For street motorcycles with engine displacement greater than 170 cc:
| Date | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (i) January 1, 1982 | 73 |
| (ii) January 1, 1989 | 71 |
(2) For off-road motorcycles with engine displacements greater than 170 cc:
| Date | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (i) January 1, 1982 | 75 |
(3) For off-road motorcycles with engine displacement 170 cc and lower and street motorcycles with engine displacement 170 cc and lower that do not meet the definition of § 205.151(a)(2)(ii):
| Date | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (i) January 1, 1982 | 71 |
(4) For street motorcycles that meet the definition of § 205.151(a)(2)(ii) (moped-type street motorcycles):
| Date | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (i) January 1, 1982 | 60 |
§ 205.153 Engine displacement.
(a) Engine displacement must be calculated using nominal engine values and rounded to the nearest whole cubic centimeter, in accordance with American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) E 29-67.
(b) For rotary engines, displacement means the maximum volume of a combustion chamber between two rotor tip seals minus the minimum volume of that combustion chamber between those two rotor seals times three times the number of rotors.
§ 205.154 Consideration of alternative test procedures.
The Administrator may approve applications from manufacturers of motorcycles for the approval of test procedures which differ from those contained in this subpart so long as the alternative procedures have been demonstrated to correlate with the prescribed procedure. To be acceptable, alternative test procedures must be such that the test results obtained will identify all those test motorcycles which would not comply with the noise emission standards prescribed in § 205.152 when tested in accordance with the measurement methodology specified in Appendix I. After approval by the Administrator, testing conducted by manufacturers using alternative test procedures will be accepted by the Administrator for all purposes including, but not limited to, selective enforcement audit testing.
§ 205.155 Motorcycle class and manufacturer abbreviation.
(a) Motorcycles must be grouped into classes determined by separate combinations of the following parameters:
(1) Engine type:
(i) Gasoline—two stroke.
(ii) Gasoline—four stroke.
(iii) Gasoline—rotary.
(iv) Other.
(2) Engine displacement.
(3) Engine configuration:
(i) Number of cylinders.
(ii) Cylinder arrangement (i.e., in line, opposed, etc.).
(4) Exhaust system:
(i) Muffler: (A) Type, (B) Location, (C) Number.
(ii) Expansion chambers: (A) Location, (B) Size.
(iii) Spark arrestors.
(iv) Other exhaust system components.
§ 205.156 [Reserved]
§ 205.157 Requirements.
§ 205.157-1 General requirements.
(a) Each manufacturer of vehicles manufactured for distribution in commerce in the United States which are subject to the standards prescribed in this subpart and not exempted in accordance with Subpart A, § 205.5:
(1) Shall be labeled in accordance with the requirements of § 205.158 of this subpart.
(2) Must ensure that each vehicle conforms to the applicable noise emission standard establishd in § 205.152 of this subpart.
(b) The requirements of paragraph (a) of this section apply to new products which conform to the definition of vehicles in these regulations and at the time such new products are assembled to that state of completeness in which the manufacturer sends them to a subsequent manufacturer or otherwise distributes them in commerce.
(c) Subsequent manufacturers of a new product which conforms to the definition of vehicle in these regulations when received by them from a prior manufacturer, need not fulfill the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section where such requirements have already been complied with by a prior manufacturer.
(d) The manufacturer who is required to conduct product verification testing to demonstrate compliance with a particular standard, must satisfy all other provisions of this subpart applicable to that standard, including but not limited to, record keeping, reporting and in-use requirements.
§ 205.157-2 Compliance with standards.
(a)(1) Prior to distribution in commerce of vehicles of a specific configuration, the first manufacturer of such vehicle must verify such configurations in accordance with the requirements of this subpart.
(2) [Reserved]
(3) At any time following receipt of notice under paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section with respect to a configuration, the Administrator may require that the manufacturer ship test vehicles to an EPA test facility for the required production verification testing.
(b) The requirements for purposes of testing by the Administrator and selective enforcement auditing with regard to each vehicle configuration consist of:
(1) Testing in accordance with § 205.160-4 of a vehicle selected in accordance with § 205.160-2.
(2) Compliance of the test vehicle with the applicable standard when tested in accordance with § 205.160-4.
(c)(1) In lieu of testing vehicles of every configuration as described in paragraph (b) of this section, the manufacturer may elect to verify the configuration based on representative testing. The requirements of representative testing are:
(i) Grouping configurations into categories where each category is determined by a separate combination of at least the following parameters (a manufacturer may use more parameters):
(A) Engine type: (1) Gasoline-two stroke; (2) gasoline-four stroke; (3) gasoline-rotary; and (4) other.
(B) Engine displacement.
(C) Engine configuration: (1) Number of cylinders; and (2) cylinder arrangement (i.e., in line, opposed, etc.)
(ii) Identifying the configuration within each category which emits the highest A-weighted sound level (in dB).
(iii) Testing in accordance with § 205.160-4 of a vehicle selected in accordance with § 205.160-2 which much be a vehicle of the configuration which is identified pursuant to paragraph (c)(1)(ii) of this section as having the highest sound pressure level (estimated or actual) within the category.
(iv) Demonstrating compliance of that vehicle with the applicable standard when tested in accordance with the test procedure specified in Appendix I.
(2) Where the requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section are complied with, all those configurations contained within a category are considered represented by the tested vehicle.
(3) Where the manufacturer tests a vehicle configuration which has not been determined as having the highest sound pressure level of a category, but all other requirements of paragraph (c)(1) of this section are complied with, all those configurations contained within that category which are determined to have sound pressure levels not greater than the tested vehicle are considered to be represented by the tested vehicle; however, a manufacturer must for purposes of Testing by the Administrator and Selective Enforcement Auditing verify according to the requirements of (b)(1) and/or (c)(1) of this section any configurations in the subject category which have a higher sound pressure level than the vehicle configuration tested.
(d) A manufacturer may elect for purposes of Testing by the Administrator and Selective Enforcement Auditing to use representative testing pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section for all or part of his product line.
(e) The manufacturer has the following alternatives if any test vehicle is determined to not be in compliance with applicable standards:
(1) In the case of representative testing, a new test vehicle from another configuration must be selected according to the requirements of paragraph (c) of this section, in order to verify the configurations represented by the non-compliant vehicle.
(2) Modify the test vehicle and demonstrate by testing that it meets applicable standards. The manufacturer must modify all production vehicles of the same configuration in the same manner as the test vehicle before distribution into commerce.
§ 205.157-3 Configuration identification.
(a) A separate vehicle configuration shall be determined by each combination of the following parameters:
(1) Exhaust system (engine): (i) Mufflers; (ii) expansion chambers; (iii) spark arrestors; and (iv) other exhaust system components.
(2) Air induction system (engine): (i) Intake muffler; (ii) intake ducting; and (iii) air cleaner element.
(3) Vehicle drive train: (i) Chain; and (ii) shaft.
(4) Transmission gear ratio: (i) Standard transmission; and (ii) automatic transmission.
(5) Cooling system configuration: (i) Natural air cooled; (ii) liquid cooled; and (iii) forced air cooled.
(6) Category parameters listed in § 205.157-2.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 205.158 Labeling requirements.
(a)(1) The manufacturer of any vehicle subject to this subpart must, at the time of manufacture, affix a label, of the type specified in paragraphs (a)(2), (3), and (4) of this section, to all such vehicles to be distributed in commerce.
(2) The label must be plastic or metal and be welded, riveted, or otherwise permanently attached in a readily visible position.
(3) The label must be affixed by the vehicle manufacturer to the vehicle in such a manner that the label cannot be removed without destroying or defacing it, and must not be affixed to any piece of equipment that is easily detached from such vehicle.
(4) The label must be lettered in the English language in legible block letters and numerals, which must be of a color that contrasts with the background of the label.
(5) The label must contain the following information:
(i) The label heading: Motorcycle Noise Emission Control Information;
(ii) The statement:
This ______ (model year) ______ (model specific code) motorcycle, ______ (serial number), meets EPA noise emission requirements of ______ (noise emission standard) dBA at ______ (closing rpm) rpm by the Federal test procedure. Modifications which cause this motorcycle to exceed Federal noise standards are prohibited by Federal law. See owner’s manual.
(6) The model specific code is limited to ten spaces which includes three spaces for the manufacturer’s abbreviation (see paragraph (a)(7) of this section), three spaces for the class identification, and four spaces for the advertised engine displacement respectively.
(7) All motorcycle manufacturers shall use the following abbreviations in their model specific code.
| BMW | BMW |
| Bultaco | BUL |
| Can-Am Bombardier | CAB |
| Chaparral | CHA |
| Cheeta | CHE |
| Ducati | DUC |
| Fox | FOX |
| Harley Davidson | HAR |
| Heald | HEA |
| Hercules | HER |
| Hodaka | HOD |
| Honda | HON |
| Husqvarna | HUS |
| JAWA/CZ | JAW |
| Kawasaki | KAW |
| KTM | KTM |
| Laverda | LAV |
| Moto Benilli | BEN |
| Moto Guzzi | GUZ |
| Moto Morini | MOR |
| MV Agusta | MVA |
| Norton Triumph | TRI |
| Rokon | ROK |
| Suzuki | SUZ |
| Yamaha | YAM |
(8) Moped manufacturers only shall use the following abbreviations in their model specific code.
| AMF | AMF |
| Benelli | BEL |
| Califfo | CAL |
| Carabela | CAR |
| Cimatti | CIM |
| Columbia | COL |
| E-Z Rider | EZR |
| Flying Dutchman | FLY |
| Foxi | FOI |
| Gadabout | GAD |
| Garelli | GAR |
| Gitane | GIT |
| Honda | HON |
| Indian | IND |
| Intramotor | INT |
| Italvelo | ITA |
| Kreidler | KRE |
| Lazer | LAZ |
| Malagati | MAL |
| Morini | MOI |
| Motobecane/Solex | MBE |
| Moto Guzzi | GUZ |
| Negrini | NEG |
| Odyssey | ODY |
| Pacer | PAC |
| Pack-A-Way | PAK |
| Peugeot | PEU |
| Puch | PUC |
| Riviera | RIV |
| Sachs | SAC |
| Safari | SAF |
| Scorpion | SCO |
| Smily | SMI |
| Snark | SNA |
| Sori II | SON |
| Speed Bird | SPE |
| Sprinter | SPR |
| SuVega | SUV |
| Tomas | TOM |
| Vaespa | VES |
| Yankee Peddler | YAN |
(9) If a new motorcycle manufacturer begins production of vehicles subject to this regulation, the Administrator will assign him a 3-letter manufacturer abbreviation as soon as reasonably practical after his existence is known to the Agency.
(b) Any vehicle manufactured in the United States solely for use outside the United States must be clearly labeled in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a) (2), (3), and (4) of this section with the statement; “For Export Only”.
(c) Any competition motorcycle as defined in § 205.151(a)(3), shall be labeled in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a)(1), (2), (3) and (4) of this section with the statement:
This motorcycle is designed for closed course competition use only. It does not conform to U.S. EPA motorcycle noise standards.
(d) It will be permissible for manufacturers to meet the requirements of this section by consolidating these labeling requirements with other government labeling requirements in one or more labels, provided the provisions of paragraphs (a) (2), (3) and (4) of this section are met.
§ 205.159 Testing by the Administrator.
(a)(1) In order for the Administrator to determine whether such vehicles or a manufacturer’s test facility conform to applicable regulations, the Administrator may require that vehicles to be tested pursuant to the Act be submitted to him, at such place and time as he reasonably designates. He may designate the quantity of vehicles and the duration of time he reasonably requires for the purpose of conducting tests in accordance with test procedures described in appendix I. The manner in which the Administrator conducts such tests, the EPA test facility, and the test procedures employed will be based upon good engineering practice and meet or exceed the requirements of appendix I of the regulations.
(2) If the Administrator specifies that he will conduct such testing at the manufacturer’s facility, the manufacturer shall make available instrumentation and equipment of the type required for test operations by these regulations. The Administrator may conduct such tests with his own equipment, having specifications equal to or exceeding the performance specifications of the instrumentation and equipment required in these regulations.
(3) The manufacturer may observe tests conducted by the Administrator pursuant to this section on vehicles produced by the manufacturer and may copy the data accumulated from such tests. The manufacturer may inspect any of the vehicles before and after testing by the Administrator.
(b)(1) If, based on tests conducted by the Administrator, or on other relevant information, the Administrator determines that the test facility does not meet the requirements of appendix I (or the requirements for an alternative test procedure approved under § 205.154), the Administrator will give notice to the manufacturer in writing of his determination and the reasons underlying it.
(2) The manufacturer may, at any time within 15 days after receipt of a notice issued under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, request a hearing conducted in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 554 on the issue of whether his test facility met the requirements as specified in appendix I (or the alternative procedure). Such notice will not take effect until 15 days after its receipt by the manufacturer or, if a hearing is requested under this paragraph, until adjudication by the Administrative law judge.
(3) After any notice issued under paragraph (b)(1) of this section has taken effect, no data thereafter derived from that test facility will be acceptable for purposes of this subpart.
(4) The manufacturer may request in writing that the Administrator reconsider his determination under paragraph (b)(1) of this section based on data or information which indicates that changes have been made to the test facility and that those changes have resolved the reasons for disqualification.
(5) Within 10 working days after receipt of the manufacturer’s request for reconsideration pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of this section, the Administrator will notify the manufacturer of his determination and of the reasons underlyng it with regard to the requalification of the test facility.
(c) The Administrator will assume all reasonable costs associated with shipment of vehicles to the place designated pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section except with respect to:
(1) Any production verification testing performed at a place other than the manufacturer’s facility as provided in § 205.157-2(a), or as a result of the manufacturer’s not owning or having access to a test facility;
(2) Testing of a reasonable number of vehicles (i) for purposes of selective enforcement auditing under § 205.160, (ii) or if the manufacturer has failed to establish that there is a correlation between its test facility and the EPA test facility, (iii) or the Administrator has reason to believe, and provides the manufacturer with a statement of such reason, that the vehicles to be tested would fail to meet the standard prescribed in this subpart if tested at the EPA test facility even though they would meet such standard if tested at the manufacturer’s test facility;
(3) Any testing performed during a period when a notice issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section is in effect;
(4) Any testing performed at a place other than the manufacturer’s facility as a result of the manufacturer’s failure to permit the Administrator to conduct or monitor testing as required by this subpart; and
(5) Testing of up to 10 percent of the manufacturer’s test vehicles for a model year if the Administrator determines testing these vehicles at the EPA test site is necessary to assure that a manufacturer has acted or is acting in compliance with the Act.
§ 205.160 Selective enforcement auditing (SEA) requirements.
§ 205.160-1 Test request.
(a) The Administrator will request all testing under § 205.160 by means of a test request addressed to the manufacturer.
(b) The test request will be signed by the Assistant Administrator for Enforcement or his designee. The test request will be delivered to the plant manager or other responsible official as designated by the manufacturer.
(c) The test request will specify the vehicle category, configuration or configuration subgroup selected for testing, the manufacturer’s plant or storage facility from which the vehicles must be selected, and the time at which the vehicles must be selected. The test request will also provide for situations in which the selected category, configuration, or configuration subgroup is unavailable for testing. The test request may include an alternative category, configuration, or configuration subgroup designated for testing in the event that vehicles of the first specified category, configuration, or configuration subgroup are not available for testing because the vehicles are not being manufactured at the specified plant, are not being manufactured during the specified time, or are not being stored at the specified plant or storage facility.
(d)(1) If the manufacturer projects a yearly production of fewer than 50 vehicles of the specified category, configuration or configuration subgroup to be tested, then within five (5) days of receipt of the request, the manufacturer must notify the Administrator of such low volume production. The Administrator will then provide a revised test request specifying a testing plan which imposes no greater risk of failure (5%) at the acceptable quality level (10%) than the plan in Appendix II. Upon receipt of the revised test request, the manufacturer must select and test a sample of vehicles from the category, configuration or configuration subgroup specified in the test request in accordance with this subpart and the conditions specified in the test request.
(2) If the manufacturer produces 50 or more vehicles of the specified category, configuration or configuration subgroup per year, then upon receipt of the test request, the manufacturer must select and test a sample of vehicles from the category, configuration or configuration subgroup specified in the test request in accordance with this subpart and the conditions specified in the test request.
(e)(1) Any testing conducted by the manufacturer under a test request must be initiated within the time period specified in the test request; except that initiation may be delayed for increments of 24 hours or one business day where ambient test site weather conditions, or other conditions beyond the control of the manufacturer, in that 24-hour period, do not permit testing. The manufacturer must record the conditions for this period.
(2) The manufacturer must complete noise emission testing on a minimum of ten vehicles per day unless otherwise provided by the Administrator or unless ambient test site conditions permit only the testing of a lesser number in which case the ambient test site weather conditions for that period must be recorded.
(3) The manufacturer is allowed 24 hours to ship vehicles from a sample from the assembly plant to the testing facility if the facility is not located at the plant or in close proximity to the plant. The Administrator may approve more time based upon a request by the manufacturer accompanied by a satisfactory justification.
(f) The Administrator may issue an order to the manufacturer to cease distribution in commerce of vehicles of a specified category, configuration, or configuration subgroup being manufactured at a particular facility, if:
(1) The manufacturer refuses to comply with the provisions of a test request issued by the Administrator under this section; or
(2) The manufacturer refuses to comply with any of the requirements of this section.
(g) A cease distribution order will not be issued under paragraph (f) of this section if the manufacturer’s refusal is caused by conditions and circumstances outside his control which render compliance with the provisions of a test request or with any other requirements of this section impossible. Conditions and circumstances outside the control of the manufacturer include, but are not limited to, the temporary unavailability of equipment and personnel needed to conduct the required tests caused by uncontrollable factors, such as equipment breakdown or failure or illness of personnel. Failure of the manufacturer to adequately plan for and provide the equipment and personnel needed to conduct the tests do not constitute uncontrollable factors. The manufacturer must bear the burden of establishing the presence of the conditions and circumstances required by this paragraph.
(h) Any order to cease distribution will be issued only after a notice and opportunity for a hearing in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 554.
§ 205.160-2 Test sample selection and preparation.
(a) Vehicles comprising the sample which are required to be tested under a test request in accordance with this subpart must be selected consecutively as they are produced. Before the official test, the test vehicle must not be prepared, tested, modified, adjusted, or maintained in any manner unless such preparation, tests, modifications, adjustments or maintenance are part of the manufacturer’s prescribed manufacturing and inspection procedures, and are documented in the manufacturer’s internal vehicle assembly and inspection procedures, are required or permitted under this subpart, or are approved in advance by the Administrator. For purposes of this section, prescribed manufacturing and inspection procedures include quality control testing and assembly procedures normally performed by the manufacturer on like products during early production if the resulting testing is not biased by this procedure. In the case of imported products, the manufacturer may perform adjustments, preparations, modification or tests normally performed at the port of entry by the manufacturer to prepare the vehicle for delivery to a dealer or customer.
(1) Equipment or fixtures necessary to conduct the test may be installed on the vehicle if such equipment or fixtures have no effect on the noise emissions of the vehicle, as determined by the measurement methodology.
(2) In the event of a vehicle malfunction (i.e., failure to start, etc.) the manufacturer may perform the maintenance that is necessary to enable the vehicle to operate in a normal manner. This maintenance must be documented and reported in the SEA report.
(3) No quality control, quality assurance testing, assembly or selection procedures may be used on the test vehicle or any portion of the test vehicle including parts and subassemblies, unless such quality control, quality assurance testing, assembly or selection procedures are used normally during the production and assembly of all other vehicles of this configuration which will be distributed in commerce, are required or permitted under this subpart or are approved in advance by the Administrator.
(4) If a vehicle is unable to complete the noise tests, the manufacturer may replace the vehicle. Any replacement vehicle must be a production vehicle of the same configuration as the replaced vehicle or a noisier configuration and will be subject to all the provisions of these regulations. Any replacement must be reported in the SEA report.
(b) The Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) is 10 percent. The appropriate sampling plans associated with the designated AQL are contained in Appendix II or the test request.
(c) The vehicles of the category, configuration or configuration subgroup selected for testing must be assembled by the manufacturer for distribution in commerce using the manufacturer’s normal production process.
(d) Unless otherwise indicated in the test request, the manufacturer must initiate testing with the vehicles of the category, configuration or configuration subgroup specified in the test request which are next scheduled for production after receipt of the test request.
(e) The manufacturer must keep on hand all products in the test sample until the sample is accepted or rejected in accordance with § 205.160-6; except that vehicles actually tested and found to be in conformance with this regulation need not be kept.
§ 205.160-3 [Reserved]
§ 205.160-4 Testing procedures.
(a) The manufacturer must conduct one valid test in accordance with the appropriate test procedures specified in Appendix I, on each vehicle selected for testing under this subpart.
(b) In the event a vehicle is unable to complete the noise emission test, the manufacturer may replace the vehicle. Any replacement vehicle must be a production vehicle of the same category, configuration or subgroup as the vehicle which it replaced, and it is subject to all the provisions of this subpart.
§ 205.160-5 Reporting of the test results.
(a)(1) The manufacturer must submit a copy of the test report for all testing conducted pursuant to § 205.160 at the conclusion of each 24-hour period during which testing is done.
(2) For each test conducted the manufacturer must provide the following information:
(i) Category, configuration or configuration subgroup identification where applicable;
(ii) Year, make, assembly date, and model of vehicle;
(iii) Vehicle serial number; and
(iv) Test results by serial numbers.
(b) In the case where an EPA Enforcement Officer is present during testing required by this subpart, the written reports requested in paragraph (a) of this section may be given directly to the Enforcement Officer.
(c) Within 5 days after completion of testing of an SEA, the manufacturer must submit to the Administrator a final report which will include the following:
(1) The name, location, and description of the manufacturer’s noise emission test facilities which meet the specifications of Appendix I, and were utilized to conduct testing reported under this section, except, that a test facility that has been described in a previous submission under this subpart need not again be described, but must be identified as that facility.
(2) The following information for each noise emission test conducted:
(i) The individual records for the test vehicles required by § 205.161(a)(2) for all noise emission tests including for each invalid test, the reason for invalidation.
(ii) A complete description of any modification, repair, preparation, maintenance, or testing which could affect the noise emissions of the product and which was performed on the test vehicle but not performed on all other production vehicles; and,
(iii) The test results for any replaced vehicle and the reason for its replacement.
(3) A complete description of the sound data acquisition system if other than those specified in Appendix I.
(4) The following statement and endorsement:
This report is submitted pursuant to section 6 and section 13 of the Noise Control Act of 1972. To the best of ______ (company name) knowledge, all testing for which data are reported here was conducted in strict conformance with applicable regulations under 40 CFR part 205 et seq., all the data reported here are a true and accurate representation of such testing, and all other information reported here is true and accurate. I am aware of the penalties associated with violations of the Noise Control Act of 1972 and the regulations thereunder. ______ (authorized representative).
(5) Additional information required by the test request.
(d) Information required to be submitted to the Administrator under this section must be sent to the following address: Director, Noise and Radiation Enforcement Division, (EN-387), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460.
§ 205.160-6 Passing or failing under SEA.
(a) A failing vehicle is one whose measured noise level is in excess of the applicable noise emission standard in § 205.152.
(b) The number of failing vehicles in a sample determines whether the sample passes or fails (See applicable tables in Appendix II). If the number of failing vehicles is greater than or equal to the number of Column B, the sample fails. If the number of failing vehicles is less than or equal to the number in Column A, the sample passes.
(c) Pass or failure of an SEA takes place when a decision that a vehicle is a passing or failing unit is made on the last vehicle required to make a decision under paragraph (b) of this section.
(d) If the manufacturer passes the SEA, he will not be required to perform any additional testing on subsequent vehicles to satisfy the test request.
(e) The Administrator may terminate testing earlier than required in paragraph (b) of this section, based on a request by the manufacturer, accompanied by voluntarily ceasing distribution in commerce of vehicles from the category, configuration or configuration subgroup in question, manufactured at the plant which produced the products being tested. Before reinitiating distribution in commerce of that vehicle category, configuration or configuration subgroup from that plant, the manufacturer must take the action described in § 205.160-8(a)(1) and (2).
§ 205.160-7 Continued testing.
(a) If an SEA failure occurs according to paragraph (b) of § 205.160-6, the Administrator may require that any or all vehicles of that category, configuration or configuration subgroup produced at that plant be tested before distribution in commerce.
(b) The Administrator will notify the manufacturer in writing of his intent to require continued testing of vehicles under paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) The manufacturer may request a hearing on the issues of whether the SEA was conducted properly; whether the criteria for SEA failure have been met; and the appropriateness or scope of a continued testing order. If a hearing is requested, the hearing will begin no later than 15 days after the date on which the Administrator received the hearing request. Neither the request for a hearing nor the fact that a hearing is in progress will affect the responsibility of the manufacturer to commence and continue testing required by the Administrator pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
(d) Any tested vehicle which demonstrates conformance with the applicable standard may be distributed into commerce.
(e) Any distribution into commerce of a vehicle which does not comply with the applicable standard is a prohibited act.
§ 205.160-8 Prohibition of distribution in commerce; manufacturer’s remedy.
(a) The Administrator will permit the manufacturer to cease testing under § 205.160-7 after the manufacturer has taken the following actions:
(1) Submission of a written report to the Administrator which identifies the reason for the noncompliance of the vehicles, describes the problem and/or quality control or quality assurance remedies to be taken by the manufacturer to correct the problem.
(2) Demonstration that the specified vehicle category, configuration or configuration subgroup has passed a retest conducted in accordance with § 205.160, and the conditions specified in the test request.
(b) The manufacturer may begin testing under paragraph (a)(2) of this section upon submitting the report required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and may cease continued testing upon making the demonstration required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section. The Administrator may require resumption of continued testing if he determines that the manufacturer has not satisfied the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section.
(c) Any vehicle failing the prescribed noise emission tests conducted pursuant to appendix I may not be distributed in commerce until necessary adjustments or repairs have been made and the vehicle passes a retest.
§ 205.162 In-use requirements.
§ 205.162-1 Warranty.
(a) The vehicle manufacturer who is required to production verify under this subpart must include in the owner’s manual or in other information supplied to the ultimate purchaser the following statement:
NOISE EMISSIONS WARRANTY [RESERVED]
(b) [Reserved]
§ 205.162-2 Tampering.
(a) For each configuration of vehicles covered by this part, the manufacturer shall develop a list of acts which, in his judgment, constitute the removal or rendering totally or partially inoperative, other than for purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement of noise control devices or elements of design of the vehicle.
(b) The manufacturer shall include in the owner’s manual the following information:
(1) The statement:
Federal law prohibits the following acts or causing thereof:
(1) The removal or rendering inoperative by any person other than for purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement, of any device or element of design incorporated into any new vehicle for the purpose of noise control prior to its sale or delivery to the ultimate purchaser or while it is in use, or (2) the use of the vehicle after such device or element of design has been removed or rendered inoperative by any person.
(2) The statement:
Among those acts presumed to constitute tampering are the acts listed below.
(c) Any act included in the list prepared pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section is presumed to constitute tampering; however, in any case in which a presumed act of tampering has been committed and it can be shown that such act resulted in no increase in the noise level of the vehicle or that the vehicle still meets the noise emission standard of § 205.152, the act will not constitute tampering.
(d) The provisions of this section are not intended to preclude any State or local jurisdiction from adopting and enforcing its own prohibitions against the removal or rendering inoperative of noise control systems on vehicles subject to this part.
§ 205.162-3 Instructions for maintenance, use, and repair.
(a)(1) The manufacturer must provide to the purchaser of each vehicle covered by this subpart written instructions for the proper maintenance, use, and repair of the vehicle in order to provide reasonable assurance of the elimination or minimization of noise emission degradation throughout the life of the vehicle.
(2) The purpose of the instructions is to inform purchasers and mechanics of the acts necessary to reasonably assure that degradation of noise emission level is eliminated or minimized during the life of the vehicle. Manufacturers shall prepare the instructions with this purpose in mind. The instructions shall be clear and, to the extent practicable, written in non-technical language.
(3) The instructions must not be used to secure an unfair competitive advantage. They shall not restrict replacement equipment to original equipment or restrict service to dealer service unless such manufacturer makes public the performance specifications on such equipment.
(b) For the purpose of encouraging proper maintenance, the manufacturer must provide a record or log book which shall contain a schedule for the performance of all required noise emission control maintenance. Space must be provided in this record book so that the purchaser can note what maintenance was done, by whom, where, and when.
§ 205.163 Recall of noncomplying motorcycles; relabeling of mislabeled motorcycles.
(a) Pursuant to section 11(d)(1) of the Act, the Administrator may issue an order to the manufacturer to recall, repair, modify, or relabel any vehicles distributed in commerce which are not in compliance with this subpart.
(b) A recall order issued under this section shall be based upon a determination by the Administrator that vehicles of a specified category, configuration, or class which do not conform to the regulations or are improperly labeled have been distributed in commerce. This determination may be based on: (1) A technical analysis of the noise emission characteristics of the category, configuration, or class in question; or (2) any other relevant information, including test data.
(c) For the purpose of this section, noise emissions are to be measured by the appropriate test procedure prescribed in appendix I prior to sale or any other test which has been demonstrated to correlate with the prescribed test procedure in accordance with § 205.154.
(d) Any order to recall shall be issued only after notice and an opportunity for a hearing.
(e) All cost, including labor and parts, associated with the recall and repair or modification of noncomplying vehicles and relabeling of mislabeled vehicles under this section shall be borne by the manufacturer.
(f) This section shall not limit the discretion of the Administrator to take any other actions which are authorized by the Act.
Appendix I to Subparts D-E of Part 205—Motorcycle Noise Emission Test Procedures [Note]
Subpart E—Motorcycle Exhaust Systems
§ 205.164 Applicability.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in these regulations, the provisions of this subpart apply to any motorcycle replacement exhaust system or motorcycle replacement exhaust system component which:
(1) Meets the definition of the term “new product” in the Act; and
(2) Is designed and marketed for use on any motorcycle subject to the provisions of subpart D of this part.
(b) The provisions of § 205.169 additionally apply to the motorcycle exhaust systems originally installed on vehicles subject to the requirements of subpart D of this part.
(c) The provisions of § 205.169(d)(3) additionally apply to motorcycle replacement exhaust systems manufactured after January 1, 1983 that are designed and marketed for use on motorcycles manufactured before January 1, 1983.
(d) Except as provided for in § 205.169, the provisions of this subpart do not apply to exhaust systems which are designed and marketed solely for use on competition motorcycles as defined in § 205.151(a)(3).
(e) The provisions of the subpart do not apply to exhaust header pipes sold as separate products.
§ 205.165 Definitions.
(a) As used in this subpart, all terms not defined herein have the meaning given them in subpart D of this part or in the Act.
(1) Category means a group of exhaust systems which are identical in all material aspects with respect to the parameters listed in § 205.168 of this subpart.
(2) Exhaust header pipe means any tube of constant diameter which conducts exhaust gas from an engine exhaust port to other exhaust system components which provide noise attenuation. Tubes with cross connections or internal baffling are not considered to be “exhaust header pipes.”
(3) Failing exhaust system means that, when installed on any Federally regulated motorcycle for which it is designed and marketed, that motorcycle and exhaust system exceed the applicable standards.
(4) Federally regulated motorcycle means, for the purpose of this subpart, any motorcyle subject to the noise standards of subpart D of this part.
(5) Federal standards means, for the purpose of this subpart, the standards specified in § 205.152(a)(1), (2) and (3).
(6) [Reserved]
(7) Stock configuration means that no modifications have been made to the orginal equipment motorcycle that would affect the noise emissions of the vehicle when measured according to the acceleration test procedure.
(8) Test exhaust system means an exhaust system in Selective Enforcement Audit test sample.
(b) [Reserved]
§ 205.166 Noise emission standards.
(a) Noise emission standards. (1) Exhaust systems and exhaust system components that are designed and marketed for use on any Federally regulated street motorcycle of the following and subsequent model years must be designed and built so that when installed on any such motorcycle which is in compliance with the requirements of subpart D of this part, they will not cause that motorcycle to produce noise emissions in excess of the levels indicated:
(i) Systems designed and marketed for use on street motorcycles other than those that meet the definition of § 205.151(a)(2)(ii):
| Motorcycle model year | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (A) 1983 | 83 |
| (B) 1986 | 80 |
(ii) Systems designed and marketed for street motorcycles that meet the definition of § 205.151(a)(2)(ii) (moped-type street motorcycles):
| Motorcycle model year | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (A) 1983 | 70 |
(2) Exhaust systems and exhaust system components that are designed and marketed for use on any Federally regulated off-road motorcycle of the following and subsequent model years must be designed and built so that, at the time of sale, when installed on any such motorcycle which is in compliance with the requirements of subpart D of this part, they will not cause that motorcycle to produce noise emissions in excess of the levels indicated:
(i) Systems designed and marketed for use on off-road motorcycles with engine displacements of 170 cc and lower:
| Motorcycle model year | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (A) 1983 | 83 |
| (B) 1986 | 80 |
(ii) Systems designed and marketed for use on off-road motorcycles with engine displacements greater than 170 cc:
| Motorcycle model year | A-weighted noise level (dB) |
|---|---|
| (A) 1983 | 86 |
| (B) 1986 | 82 |
(3) Exhaust systems and exhaust system components that are designed and marketed for use on any Federally regulated street motorcycle shall be designed and built so that, when installed on any such motorcycle which is in compliance with the requirements of subpart D of this part, and when both the motorcycle and the exhaust system are properly maintained and used, they will not cause that motorcycle to produce noise emissions in excess of the levels specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, for an Acoustical Assurance Period of one year or a distance of 6000 km (3729 mi) after the time of sale to the ultimate purchaser, whichever occurs first.
(4) Exhaust systems and exhaust system components that are designed and marketed for use on any Federally regulated off-road motorcycle must be designed and built so that, when installed on any such motorcycle which is in compliance with the requirements of subpart D of this part, and when both the motorcycle and the exhaust system are properly maintained and used, they will not cause that motorcycle to produce noise emissions in excess of the levels specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, for an Acoustical Assurance Period of one year or a distance of 3000 km (1865 mi) after the time of sale to the ultimate purchaser, whichever occurs first.
(5) At the time of sale to the ultimate purchaser all products must comply with the standards set forth in paragraphs (a) (1) and (2) of this section.
(b) Measurement procedure. (1)(i) The standards set forth in paragraph (a) of this section refer to the noise emissions as measured in accordance with the measurement methodology specified in appendix I-1 for all motorcycles except those street motorcycles meeting the definition of § 205.151(a)(2)(ii). Exhaust systems which alter a motorcycle’s maximum rated RPM shall be tested using the unmodified motorcycle’s maximum rated RPM to determine closing RPM or test RPM.
(ii) The standards set forth in paragraph (a) of this section for street motorcycles meeting the definition of § 205.151(a)(2)(ii) (moped-type street motorcycles) refer to noise emissions measured in accordance with the measurement methodology specified in appendix I-2.
(2) Exhaust system components sold as separate products shall be tested as part of a system made up of that part and original equipment components to complete the system.
(3) Exhaust system components sold as separate products which are incompatible with original equipment components necessary to make a complete exhaust system, or which would not meet standards as prescribed in this subpart in such configuration, may be tested with non-original equipment components provided that the provisions of § 205.169(e)(1)(ii)(B) are carried out.
§ 205.167 Consideration of alternative test procedures.
The Administrator may approve applications from manufacturers of original equipment and replacement exhaust systems for the approval of test procedures which differ from those contained in this subpart so long as the alternative procedures have been demonstrated to correlate with the prescribed procedure. To be acceptable, alternative test procedures must be such that the test results obtained will identify all those test exhaust systems which would not comply with the noise emission standards prescribed in § 205.166 when tested in accordance with the measurement methodology specified in appendix I. After approval by the Administrator, testing conducted by manufacturers using alternative test procedures may be accepted by the Administrator for all purposes including, but not limited to, production verification testing and selective enforcement audit testing.
§ 205.168 Requirements.
§ 205.168-1 General requirements.
(a) Each manufacturer of motorcycle exhaust systems manufactured for Federally regulated motorcycles and distributed in commerce in the United States which are subject to the noise emission standards prescribed in this subpart and not exempted in accordance with subpart A, § 205.5:
(1) Must label each exhaust system in accordance with the requirements of § 205.169 of this subpart; and
(2) Must only manufacture exhaust systems which conform to the applicable noise emission standard established in § 205.166 of this regulation when installed on any Federally regulated motorcycle for which it has been designed and marketed.
(b) The manufacturer who is required to conduct testing to demonstrate compliance with a particular standard must satisfy all other provisions of this subpart applicable to that standard.
(c) Prior to distribution into commerce of exhaust systems of a specific category, the manufacturer of the exhaust system shall verify the category in accordance with this subpart.
(1) Not withstanding paragraph (a)(1) of this section, the manufacturer may distribute in commerce exhaust systems of that category for up to 90 days if weather or other conditions beyond the control of the manufacturer make testing of a category impossible and if the following conditions are met:
(i) The manufacturer performs the tests required under paragraph (d) or (e) of this section on such category as soon as conditions permit;
(ii) [Reserved]
(d) The requirements for each exhaust system category consist of:
(1) Testing in accordance with § 205.171-1 of an exhaust system selected in accordance with § 205.171-2.
(2) Compliance of the test exhaust system on a motorcycle for which it is marketed with the applicable standard when tested in accordance with appendix I; and
(e) A manufacturer is required to verify all categories of exhaust systems within his product line for each class of Federally regulated motorcycle for which it is designed and marketed. A category of a replacement exhaust system is defined by a separate combination of at least the following parameters:
(1) Muffler/Silencer: (i) Volume; (ii) type of absorption material; (iii) amount of absorption material; (iv) length; (v) diameter; (vi) directional flow of exhaust gas; (vii) interior construction; (viii) shell and inner construction material; (ix) number of header pipes entering muffler; and (x) specific motorcycle application.
(2) Expansion Chamber: (i) Volume; (ii) diameter; (iii) construction material; (iv) directional flow of exhaust gas; (v) length; and (vi) specific motorcycle application.
(3) Spark Arrestors: (i) Volume; (ii) construction material; (iii) directional flow of exhaust gas; (iv) length; (v) diameter, and (vi) specific motorcycle application.
(4) Other Exhaust System Components: (i) Volume; (ii) shape; (iii) length; (iv) diameter; (v) material; (vi) directional flow of exhaust gas; and (vii) specific motorcycle application.
(f) Exhaust system components sold as separate products shall be tested pursuant to § 205.166(b).
(g) Original equipment exhaust systems that are also sold as replacement systems for the same motorcycle configuration need not be tested under this subpart if they have been tested or represented in a test report under subpart D of this part.
(h) A manufacturer has the following alternatives if any test exhaust system is determined not to be in compliance with applicable standards:
(i) Modify the test exhaust system and demonstrate by testing that it meets applicable standards. The manufacturer must modify all production exhaust systems of the same category in the same manner as the test exhaust system before distribution in commerce.
§ 205.168-11 Order to cease distribution.
(a) If a category of exhaust systems is found not to comply with this subpart because it has not been verified or labeled as required by § 205.169, the Administrator may issue an order to the manufacturer to cease distribution in commerce exhaust systems of that category. This order will not be issued if the manufacturer has made a good faith attempt to properly production verify the category and can establish such good faith.
(b) Any such order shall be issued after notice and opportunity for a hearing which will be held in accordance with title 5 U.S.C. 554.
§ 205.169 Labeling requirements.
(a) The manufacturer of any product (including the manufacturer of newly produced motorcycles) subject to this subpart must, at the time of manufacture, affix a permanent, legible label, or mark of the type and in the manner described below, containing the information provided below, to all such exhaust systems or exhaust system components to be distributed in commerce.
(b) The labels or marks shall be affixed in such a manner that they cannot be removed without destroying or defacing them, and must not be applied to any part which is easily detached from such product.
(c) The label or mark shall be in a readily visible position when the exhaust system or exhaust system component is installed on all motorcycles for which it is designed and marketed.
(d) All required language shall be lettered in the English language in block letters and numerals in a color that contrasts with its background.
(e) The label or mark must contain the following information:
(1) For exhaust systems subject to the noise emission standards of § 205.166:
(i) The label heading: Motorcycle Exhaust System Noise Emission Control Information;
(ii)(A) For original equipment and replacement exhaust system, the following statement:
This (manufacturer’s name) exhaust system (serial number) meets EPA noise emission requirements of (noise emission standard) dBA for the following motorcycles: (list of model specific codes). Installation of this exhaust system on motorcycle models not specified may violate Federal law.
(B) For exhaust system components designed and marketed for motorcycles, and tested in accordance with § 205.168 as a constituent of a complete exhaust system comprising non-original equipment components (other than itself), as provided for in § 205.166(b)(3), the following statement:
This (manufacturer’s name) (type of component) (serial number), when installed with a legal (type of component), meets EPA noise emission requirements of (noise emission standard) dBA for the following motorcycles: (list of model specific codes). Installation of this exhaust system components on motorcycle models not specified may violate Federal law.
(iii) The model specific code must be the same as used by the motorcycle manufacturer and described in § 205.158(a)(6).
(2) For exhaust systems designed solely for use on competition motorcycles (as defined by § 205.151(a)(3) and so designated and labeled by the manufacturer), the statement:
This product is designed for use on closed course competition motorcycles only and does not conform to U.S. EPA noise emission standards. Used on motorcycles subject to EPA noise regulations constitutes tampering and is a violation of Federal law unless it can be shown that such use does not cause the motorcycle to exceed applicable Federal standards.
(3) For exhaust systems designed solely for use on motorcyles manufactured before January 1, 1982, the statement:
This product is designed for use on pre-1982 model year motorcycles only and does not conform to U.S. EPA noise emission standards. Use on motorcycles subject to EPA noise regulations constitutes tampering and is a violation of Federal law unless it can be shown that such use does not cause the motorcycle to exceed applicable Federal standards.
(4) For replacement exhaust systems manufactured in the United States solely for use outside the U.S. and not conforming to the noise emissions standards of this regulation, the statement: “For Export Only.”
§ 205.170 Testing by the Administrator.
(a)(1) In order for the Administrator to determine whether such exhaust systems or a manufacturer’s test facility conform to applicable regulations, the Administrator may require that exhaust systems to be tested pursuant to the Act be submitted to him, at such place and time as he reasonably designates. He may designate the quantity of exhaust systems and the duration of time he reasonably requires for the purpose of conducting tests in accordance with test procedures described in appendix I. The manner in which the Administrator conducts such tests, the EPA test facility, and the test procedures employed will be based upon good engineering practice and meet or exceed the requirements of appendix I.
(2) If the Administrator specifies that he will conduct such testing at the manufacturer’s facility, the manufacturer shall make available instrumentation and equipment of the type required for test operators by these regulations. The Administrator may conduct such tests with his own equipment, having specifications equal to or exceeding the performance specifications of the instrumentation and equipment required in these regulations.
(3) The manufacturer may observe tests conducted by the Administrator pursuant to this section on exhaust systems produced by the manufacturer and may copy the data accumulated from such tests. The manufacturer may inspect any of the exhaust systems before and after testing by the Administrator.
(b)(1) If, based on tests conducted by the Administrator or on other relevant information, the Administrator determines that the test facility does not meet the requirements of appendix I or the requirements for an alternative test procedure approved under § 205.154, the Administrator will give notice to the manufacturer in writing of his determination and the reasons underlying it.
(2) The manufacturer may, at any time within 15 days after receipt of a notice issued under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, request a hearing conducted in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 554 on the issue of whether his test facility met the requirements. Such notice will not take effect until 15 days after its receipt by the manufacturer, or, if a hearing is requested under this paragraph, until adjudication by the administrative law judge.
(3) After any notice issued under paragraph (b)(1) of this section has taken effect, no data thereafter derived from that test facility will be acceptable for purposes of this subpart.
(4) The manufacturer may request in writing that the Administrator reconsider his determination under paragraph (b)(1) of this section based on data or information which indicates that changes have been made to the test facility and that such changes have resolved the reasons for disqualification.
(5) Within 10 working days after receipt of the manufacturer’s request for reconsideration pursuant to paragraph (b)(4) of this section, the Administrator will notify the manufacturer of his determination and the reasons underlying it with regard to the requalification of the test facility.
(c) The Administrator will assume all reasonable costs associated with shipment of exhaust systems to the place designated pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section except with respect to:
(1) [Reserved]
(2) Testing of a reasonable number of exhaust systems (i) for purposes of selective enforcement auditing under § 205.171, or (ii) if the manufacturer has failed to establish that there is a correlation between its test facility and the EPA test facility, or (iii) the Administrator has reason to believe, and provides the manufacturer with a statement of such reason, that the exhaust systems to be tested would fail to meet the standard prescribed in this subpart if tested at the EPA test facility, even though they would meet such standard if tested at the manufacturer’s test facility;
(3) Any testing performed during a period when a notice of non- conformance of the manufacturer’s test facility issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section is in effect;
(4) Any testing performed at a place other than the manufacturer’s facility as a result of the manufacturer’s failure to permit the Administrator to conduct or monitor testing as required by this subpart; and
(5) In addition to any exhaust systems included in paragraphs (c) (2), (3), or (4) of this section, testing of up to 10 percent of the manufacturer’s exhaust systems for a model year if the Administrator determines testing these exhaust systems at the EPA test site is necessary to assure that a manufacturer has acted or is acting in compliance with the Act.
§ 205.171 Selective enforcement auditing (SEA) requirements.
§ 205.171-1 Test request.
(a) The Administrator will request all testing under § 205.171 by means of a test request addressed to the manufacturer.
(b) The test request will be signed by the Assistant Administrator for Enforcement or his designee. The test request will be delivered to the plant manager or other responsible official as designated by the manufacturer.
(c) The test request will specify the exhaust system category, model and model year of motorcycle selected for testing, the manufacturer’s plant or storage facility from which the exhaust systems must be selected, the method of selection and the time at which the exhaust systems must be selected. The test request will also provide for situations in which the selected exhaust system is unavailable for testing. The test request may include an alternative exhaust system category designated for testing in the event that exhaust systems of the first specified category are not available for testing because the exhaust systems are not being manufactured at the specified plant or are not being manufactured during the specified time or are not being stored at the specified plant or storage facility.
(d)(1) If the manufacturer projects a yearly production of fewer than 50 exhaust systems of the specified category to be tested, then, within five (5) days of receipt of the request, the manufacturer must notify the Administrator of such low volume production. The Administrator will then provide a revised test request specifying a testing plan which imposes no greater risk of failure (5%) at the acceptable quality level (10%) than the plan in appendix II. Upon receipt of the revised test request, the manufacturer must select and test a sample of exhaust systems from the category specified in the test request in accordance with this subpart and the conditions specified in the test request.
(2) If the manufacturer produces 50 or more of the specified category, then, upon receipt of the test request, the manufacturer must select and test a sample of exhaust systems for the category specified in the test request in accordance with this subpart and the conditions specified in the test request.
(e)(1) Any testing conducted by the manufacturer under a test request must be initiated within the time period specified in the test request; except that initiation may be delayed for increments of 24 hours or one business day where ambient test site weather conditions, or other conditions beyond the control of the manufacturer, in that 24-hour period do not permit testing. The manufacturer must record the conditions for this period.
(2) The manufacturer must complete noise emission testing on a minimum of ten exhaust systems per day unless otherwise provided by the Administrator or unless ambient test site conditions permit only the testing of a lesser number, in which event the ambient test site weather conditions for that period must be recorded.
(3) The manufacturer is allowed 24 hours to ship exhaust systems from a sample from the assembly plant to the testing facility if the facility is not located at the plant or in close proximity to the plant. The Administrator may approve more time based upon a request by the manufacturer accompanied by a satisfactory justification.
(f) The Administrator may issue an order to the manufacturer to cease distribution in commerce of exhaust systems of a specified category being manufactured at a particular facility if:
(1) The manufacturer refuses to comply with the provisions of a test request issued by the Administrator under this section; or
(2) The manufacturer refuses to comply with any of the requirements of this section.
(g) A cease distribution order will not be issued under paragraph (f) of this section if the manufacturer’s refusal is caused by conditions and circumstances outside his control which render compliance with the provisions of a test request or with any other requirements of this section impossible. Conditions and circumstances outside the control of the manufacturer include, but are not limited to, the temporary unavailability of equipment and personnel needed to conduct the required tests, caused by uncontrollable factors such as equipment breakdown or failure or illness of personnel. Failure of the manufacturer to adequately plan for and provide the equipment and personnel needed to conduct the tests does not constitute uncontrollable factors. The manufacturer must bear the burden of establishing the presence of the conditions and circumstances required by this paragraph.
(h) Any order to cease distribution will be issued only after notice and opportunity for a hearing in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 554.
§ 205.171-2 Test exhaust system sample selection and preparation.
(a)(1) Exhaust systems comprising the sample which are required to be tested under a test request in accordance with this subpart must be selected consecutively as they are produced.
(2) Test motorcycles and test exhaust systems to be used for testing of exhaust systems must be of the subject class which has been assembled using the manufacturer’s normal production processes, in stock configuration including exhaust system, as sold or offered for sale in commerce.
(3) Before the official test, the test motorcycle and test exhaust system must not be prepared, tested, modified, adjusted, or maintained in any manner unless such preparation, tests, modifications, adjustments or maintenance are part of the original equipment manufacturer’s prescribed manufacturing and inspection procedures, and are documented in the manufacturer’s internal motorcycle assembly and inspection procedures, or are required or permitted under this subpart, or are approved in advance by the Administrator.
(4) Equipment or fixtures necessary to conduct the test may be installed on the motorcycle, if such equipment or fixtures shall have no effect on the noise emissions of the motorcycle as determined by the measurement methodology.
(5) In the event of a motorcycle malfunction (i.e., failure to start, etc.) maintenance that is necessary may be performed to enable the vehicle to operate in a normal manner. This maintenance must be documented and reported in the final report prepared and submitted in accordance with this subpart.
(6) No quality control, quality assurance testing, assembly or selection procedures may be used on the test vehicle or any portion thereof, including parts and subassemblies, that will not normally be used during the production and assembly of all other motorcycles of that class which will be distributed in commerce, unless such procedures are required or permitted under this subpart or are approved in advance by the Administrator.
(b) The Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) is 10 percent. The appropriate sampling plans associated with the designated AQL are contained in appendix II or the test request.
(c) The exhaust systems of the category selected for testing must be assembled by the manufacturer for distribution in commerce using the manufacturer’s normal production process.
(d) Unless otherwise indicated in the test request, the manufacturer must initiate testing with the exhaust systems of the category specified in the test request which are next scheduled for production after receipt of the test request.
(e) The manufacturer must keep on hand all products in the test sample until the sample is accepted or rejected in accordance with § 205.171-8; except that exhaust systems actually tested and found to be in conformance with this regulation need not be kept.
§ 205.171-3 Test motorcycle sample selection.
A test motorcycle to be used for selective enforcement audit testing of exhaust systems must be a motorcycle of the subject class which has been assembled using the manufacturer’s normal production process, in stock configuration including exhaust system, and sold or offered for sale in commerce.
§ 205.171-6 Testing procedures.
(a) The manufacturer of the exhaust system must conduct one valid test in accordance with the appropriate test procedure specified in appendix I for each exhaust system selected for testing under this subpart.
(b) No maintenance may be performed on the test exhaust system except as provided by § 205.171-2. In the event an exhaust system is unable to complete the noise emission test, the manufacturer may replace the exhaust system. Any replacement exhaust system must be a production exhaust system of the same category as the exhaust system which it replaced, and it is subject to all the provisions of this subpart.
§ 205.171-7 Reporting of the test results.
(a)(1) The manufacturer must submit a copy of the test report for all testing conducted pursuant to § 205.171 at the conclusion of each 24-hour period during which testing is done.
(2) For each test conducted, the manufacturer must provide the following information:
(i) Category identification where applicable;
(ii) Year, manufacturing date, serial number and model of exhaust system;
(iii) Year, make serial number, and model of test motorcycle; and
(iv) Test results by serial numbers.
(b) In the case where an EPA Enforcement Officer is present during testing required by this subpart, the written reports requested in paragraph (a) of this section may be given directly to the Enforcement Officer.
(c) Within 5 days after completion of an SEA, the manufacturer must submit to the Administrator a final report which will include the following:
(1) The name, location, and description of the manufacturer’s noise emission test facilities which meet the specifications of appendix I and where utilized to conduct testing reported under this section, except, that a test facility that has been described in a previous submission under this subpart need not again be described, but must be identified as that facility.
(2) The following information for each noise emission test conducted:
(i) The individual records required by § 205.172 (a)(2) for all noise emission tests including for each invalid test, the reason for invalidation;
(ii) A complete description of any modification, repair, preparation, maintenance, or testing, which could affect the noise emissions of the product and which was performed on the test exhaust system but not performed on all other production exhaust systems;
(iii) The test results for any replacement exhaust system and the reason for its replacement.
(3) A complete description of the sound data acquisition system if other than that specified in appendix I.
(4) The following statement and endorsement:
This report is submitted pursuant to section 6 and section 13 of the Noise Control Act of 1972. To the best of (company name) knowledge, all testing for which data is reported here was conducted in strict conformance with applicable regulations under 40 CFR Part 205 et seq., all the data reported here are a true and accurate representation of such testing, and all other information reported here is true and accurate. I am aware of the penalties associated with violations of the Noise Control Act of 1972 and the regulations thereunder. (authorized representative).
(5) Additional information required by the test request.
(d) Information required to be submitted to the Administrator under this section must be sent to the following address: Director, Noise and Radiation Enforcement Division, (EN-387), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460.
§ 205.171-8 Passing or failing under SEA.
(a) A failing exhaust system is one which, when installed on any motorcycle which is in compliance with the requirements of subpart D and for which it is designed and marketed, together with such motorcycle produces a measured noise level in excess of the applicable noise emission standard in § 205.166.
(b) The number of failing vehicles in a sample determines whether the sample passes or fails (See applicable tables in appendix II). If the number of failing vehicles is greater than or equal to the number in Column B, the sample fails. If the number of failing vehicles is less than or equal to the number in Column A, the sample passes.
(c) Pass or failure of a SEA takes place when a decision that an exhaust system is a passing or failing unit is made on the last exhaust system required to make a decision under paragraph (b) of this section.
(d) If the manufacturer passes the SEA, he will not be required to perform any additional testing on subsequent exhaust systems to satisfy the test request.
(e) The Administrator may terminate testing earlier than required in paragraph (b) of this section, based on a request by the manufacturer, accompanied by voluntarily ceasing distribution in commerce of exhaust systems from the category in question, manufactured at the plant which produced the exhaust systems being tested. Before reinitiating distribution in commerce of that exhaust system category from that plant, the manufacturer must take the action described in § 205.171-10(a)(1) and (2).
§ 205.171-9 Continued testing.
(a) If an SEA failure occurs according to paragraph (b) of § 205.171-8, the Administrator may require that any or all exhaust systems of that category produced at that plant be tested before distribution in commerce.
(b) The Administrator will notify the manufacturer in writing of his intent to require continued testing of exhaust systems under paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) The manufacturer may request a hearing on the issues of whether the SEA was conducted properly; whether the criteria for SEA failure have been met; and the appropriateness or scope of a continued testing order. If a hearing is requested, the hearing will begin no later than 15 days after the date on which the Administrator received the hearing request. Neither the request for a hearing nor the fact that a hearing is in progress will affect the responsibility of the manufacturer to commence and continue testing required by the Administrator pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
(d) Any tested exhaust system which demonstrates conformance with the applicable standard may be distributed into commerce.
(e) Any distribution into commerce of an exhaust system which does not comply with the applicable standard is a prohibited act.
§ 205.171-10 Prohibition on distribution in commerce; manufacturer’s remedy.
(a) The Administrator will permit the manufacturer to cease testing under § 205.171-9 after the manufacturer has taken the following actions:
(1) Submission of a written report to the Administrator which identifies the reason for the noncompliance of the exhaust systems, describes the problem and describes the proposed quality control or quality assurance remedies to be taken by the manufacturer to correct the problem.
(2) Demonstration that the specified exhaust system category has passed a retest conducted in accordance with § 205.171 and the conditions specified in the test request.
(b) The manufacturer may begin testing under paragraph (a)(2) of this section upon submitting the report, required by paragraph (a)(1) of this section any may cease continued testing upon making the demonstration required by paragraph (a)(2) of this section. The Administrator may require resumption of continued testing if he determines that the manufacturer has not satisfied the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section.
(c) Any exhaust system failing the noise emission tests conducted pursuant to Appendix I may not be distributed into commerce until necessary adjustment or repairs have been made and the exhaust system passes a retest.
§ 205.172 Maintenance of records; submittal of information.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in regulation, the manufacturer of any new exhaust system subject to any of the standards or procedures prescribed in this subpart must establish, maintain and retain the following adequately organized and indexed records:
(1) General records:
(i) Identification and description by category parameters of all exhaust systems in the manufacturer’s product line;
(ii) A description of any procedures other than those contained in this subpart used to perform noise emission tests on any test exhaust system;
(iii) A record of the calibration of the acoustical instrumentation as is described in appendix I;
(iv) A record of the date of manufacture of each exhaust system subject to this subpart, keyed to the serial number.
(2) Individual records for test exhaust systems:
(i) A complete record of all noise emission tests performed for Production Verification and Selective Enforcement Audit (except tests performed by EPA directly), including all individual worksheets and other documentation or exact copies relating to each test;
(ii) A record of the information recorded as described in Appendix I; and
(iii) A record and description of all repairs, maintenance and other servicing which were performed before successful testing of the exhaust system pursuant to these regulations and which could affect the noise emission of the exhaust system, giving the date and time of the maintenance or service, the reason for it, the person authorizing it, and the names of supervisory personnel responsible for the conduct of the maintenance or service.
(3) A properly filed production verification report following the format prescribed by the Administrator in § 205.168-3 fulfills the requirements of paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section.
(4) All records required to be maintained under this subpart must be retained by the manufacturer for a period of three (3) years from the production verification date. Records may be retained as hard copy or alternatively reduced to microfilm, punch cards, etc., depending on the record retention procedures of the manufacturer; however, when an alternative method is used, all information contained in the hard copy must be contained in the copy made by the alternative method.
(b) The manufacturer must, upon request, submit to the Administrator the following information with regard to new exhaust system production:
(1) Number of exhaust systems, by category, scheduled for production for the time period designated in the request.
(2) Number of exhaust systems, by category, produced during the time period designated in the request.
(c) The reporting requirements of this regulation will no longer be effective after five (5) years from the last effective date of this regulation. However, the requirements will remain in effect if the Administrator is taking appropriate steps to repromulgate or modify the reporting requirements at that time.
§ 205.173 In-use requirements.
§ 205.173-1 Warranty.
(a) The exhaust system manufacturer must include in the information supplied to the ultimate purchaser pursuant to § 205.173-4, the following statement:
[The manufacturer] warrants that this exhaust system, at time of sale, meets all applicable U.S. E.P.A. Federal noise standards. This warranty extends to the first person who buys this exhaust system for purposes other than resale, and to all subsequent buyers. Warranty claims should be direct to ______. (Manufacturer shall fill in this blank with his name, address and telephone number.)
(b) [Reserved]
(c) All information must be sent to:
§ 205.173-2 Tampering.
The manufacturer must include the following statement pursuant to § 205.173-4 with each product of that category the manufacturer distributes into commerce:
Federal law prohibits any modification to this exhaust system which causes the motorcycle to exceed the Federal noise standard. Use of the motorcycle with such a modified exhaust system is also prohibited.
Acts likely to constitute tampering include removal or puncturing the muffler, baffles, header pipes, or any other component which conducts exhaust gases.
§ 205.173-3 Warning statement.
The manufacturer must include the following statement pursuant to § 205.173-4 with each product of that category the manufacturer distributes into commerce:
Warning: This product should be checked for repair or replacement if the motorcycle noise has increased significantly through use. Otherwise, the owner may become subject to penalties under state and local ordinances.
§ 205.173-4 Information sheet.
The manufacturer must include the Noise Emissions Warranty statement, Tampering Prohibition statement and the Warning statement with each product. All three statements must be printed on a white sheet or card at least 8
§ 205.174 Remedial orders.
The Administrator may issue appropriate remedial orders to a manufacturer if products are distributed into commerce not in compliance with the regulations of this subpart. Potential orders are stop sale orders, orders to cease distribution, relabel, replace or recall, or any other orders appropriate in the specific circumstances. A remedial order will be issued only after notice and opportunity for a hearing in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 554.
Appendix I to Subparts D-E of Part 205—Motorcycle Noise Emission Test Procedures
(a) Instrumentation. Proper usage of all test instrumentation is essential to obtain valid measurements. Operating manuals or other literature furnished by the instrument manufacturer must be referred to for both recommended operation of the instrument and precautions to be observed. The following instrumentation must be used, where applicable:
(1) A sound level measurement system which meets the type S1A requirements of American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters, ANSI S1.4-1971. As an alternative to making direct measurements using a sound level meter, a microphone or sound level meter may be used with a magnetic tape recorder and/or a graphic level recorder or indicating instrument provided that the system meets the performance requirements of ANSI S1.4-1971. The sound level measurement system must be calibrated at least annually to insure that the system meets the performance requirements of ANSI S1.4-1971.
(2) An acoustic calibrator with an accuracy of within ±0.5 dB. The calibrator must be checked annually to verify that its output is within the specified accuracy.
(3)(i) An engine speed measurement system having the following characteristics:
(A) Steady-state accuracy of within ±3% of actual engine speed in the range of 45% to 100% of the engine speed (RPM) where peak net brake power (maximum rated RPM) is developed; and
(B) Response characteristics such that, when closing RPM is indicated under an acceleration as described below, actual engine speed is no more than 3 percent (of closing RPM) greater than the specified closing RPM.
(ii) The vehicle tachometer may be used to ascertain:
(A) The approach RPM provided it meets the specifications in paragraph (a)(3)(i)(A).
(B) The closing RPM provided it meets the specifications in paragraphs (a)(3)(i)(A) and (B).
(iii) Indirect engine speed measurement systems, such as systems which determine engine speed from vehicle speed measurement, may be used provided the specifications of paragraph (a)(1)(i) are met.
(4) An anemometer with steady-state accuracy of within ±10% at 20 km/h (12.4 mph).
(5) A microphone wind screen which does not affect microphone response more than ±0.5 dB for frequencies of 20-4000 Hz or ±1.0 dB for frequencies of 4000-10,000 Hz, taking into account the orientation of the microphone.
(b) Test site. (1) The measurement area within the test site must meet the following requirements and be laid out as described:
(i) The following points must be established:
(A) Microphone target point—a reference point on the vehicle path;
(B) End point—a point on the vehicle path 7.5 ±0.3m (24.6 ±1.0 ft) beyond the microphone target point, and
(C) Microphone location point—a point 15 ±0.3m (49.2 ±1.0 ft) from the microphone target point on a normal to the vehicle path through the microphone target point.
(ii) The microphone must be:
(A) Positioned at the microphone location point 1.2 ±0.1 m (3.9 ±0.3 ft) above the ground plane; and
(B) Oriented in a plane perpendicular to the vehicle path, and at an angle for which the microphone was calibrated to have the flatest response characteristics over the frequency range of 100 Hz to 10,000 Hz when measured with respect to the motorcycle source.
(iii) The surface of the ground within at least the triangular area formed by the microphone location and the points 15 ±0.3m (49.2 ±1.0 ft.) prior to and 15 ±0.3 m (49.2 ±1.0 ft.) beyond the microphone target point must be flat (+5 cm (2.0 in)) and level (grade not more than 0.5% along vehicle path), have a concrete or sealed asphalt surface, and be free from snow, soil or other extraneous material.
(iv) The vehicle path must be relatively smooth and of sufficient length for safe acceleration, deceleration and stopping of the motorcycle.
(2) The test site must be flat, open space free of large sound-reflecting surfaces (other than the ground), such as parked vehicles, sign-boards, buildings or hillsides located within a 30 ±0.3 m (98.4 ±1.0 ft) radius of the microphone location and the following points on the vehicle path (see Figure 1):
(i) The microphone location point;
(ii) A point 15 ±0.3 m (49.2 ±1.0 ft.) before the microphone target point; and
(iii) A point 15 ±0.3 m (49.2 ±1.0 ft) beyond the microphone target point.
(c) Measurement procedure. (1) To establish the acceleration point, the end point must be approached in second gear from the reverse of the intended test direction at a constant engine speed of 50% of maximum rated RPM or closing RPM less ten percent (of maximum rated RPM), whichever is lower, (±2.5% of observed reading). When the front of the motorcycle reaches the end point (approached from the reverse direction), the throttle must be smoothly and fully opened to accelerate the motorcycle past the microphone target point under wide open throttle. When the motorcycle reaches closing RPM the throttle must be smoothly and fully closed. An ignition disable device may be used to turn off the engine at closing RPM in lieu of closing the throttle manually. The location of the front of the motorcycle at the time of throttle closure is the acceleration point for the test runs. The test runs must be made in the opposite direction. A sufficient number of trial runs must be made to assure accurate establishment of the acceleration point.
(2) Closing RPM must be determined according to the motorcycle engine displacement, as follows (see Figure 2):
| Displacement (cc) | Closing RPM (Fraction of maximum rated RPM—percent) |
|---|---|
| 0 to 175 | 95 |
| 176 to 675 | 109 to 0.08 × (engine displacement in cc) |
| 676 and above | 55 |
(3) The distance from the acceleration point to the end point must be at least 10 m (32.8 ft). If this distance is less than 10 m (32.8 ft) by the procedure specified in paragraph (c)(1), above, third gear, if the motorcycle is so equipped, must be used. If the distance is still less than 10 m (32.8 ft), fourth gear, if the motorcycle is so equipped, must be used, and so on. If closing RPM is reached before the vehicle travels 10 m (32.8 ft), with the vehicle in its highest gear, the throttle must be opened less rapidly, but in such a manner that full throttle and closing RPM are attained at the end point.
(4) If the motorcycle is equipped with an automatic transmission, the procedure specified in paragraph (c)(1), must be followed except that the lowest selectable range must be employed, and the procedure specified in paragraph (c)(3) must be followed using the next selectable higher range, if necessary, and if the vehicle is so equipped. If closing RPM is reached before the vehicle travels 10 m (32.8 ft.), the throttle must be opened less rapidly, but in such a manner that full throttle and closing RPM are attained at the end point.
(5) Throttle opening must be controlled to avoid excessive wheel slip or lift-off.
(6) To conduct a sound measurement, the motorcycle must proceed along the vehicle path in the forward direction in second gear (or higher gear as applicable under paragraph (c)(3)) at a constant engine speed of 50% of maximum rated RPM or at closing RPM less ten percent (of maximum rated RPM), whichever is lower (±2.5 percent of observed reading). When the front of the vehicle reaches the acceleration point, the throttle must be smoothly and fully opened. Full acceleration must continue until closing RPM is reached, which must occur within ±1.0 m (3.3 ft.) of the end point, and at which time the throttle must be smoothly and fully closed. An ignition disable device may be used to turn off the engine at closing RPM in lieu of closing the throttle manually.
(7) A sufficient number of preliminary runs must be conducted before the testing to familiarize the rider with the test procedure and operating conditions of the vehicle. The engine temperature must be within the normal operating range prior to each run.
(d) Measurements. (1) The sound level meter must be set for fast response and for the A-weighting network. The microphone wind screen must be used. The sound level meter must be calibrated with the acoustic calibrator as often as is necessary throughout testing to maintain the accuracy of the measurement system.
(2) The sound level meter must be observed throughout the acceleration period. The highest sound level obtained for the run must be recorded.
(3) Measurements must be made until at least four readings from each side are within 2 dB of each other. The noise level for each side is the average of the four which are within 2 dB of each other. The noise level reported must be for that side of the motorcycle having the highest noise level.
(4) While making sound level measurements, not more than one person other than the rider and the observer reading the meter may be within 15 m (49.2 ft) of the vehicle or microphone, and that person must be directly behind the observer reading the meter, on a line through the microphone and the observer.
(5) The ambient noise level (including wind effects) at the test site due to sources other than the motorcycle being measured must be at least 10 dB lower than the noise level at the microphone location produced by the motorcycle under test.
(6) Wind speed at the test site during tests must be less than 20 km/h (12.4 mph).
(e) Required data. For each valid test, the following data must be recorded:
(1) Motorcycle type, serial number, model year, and date of manufacture.
(2) Names of persons conducting test.
(3) Test location.
(4) Wind speed and ambient noise level measured on the same day as the test and representative of conditions during the test.
(5) Motorcycle engine displacement, maximum rated RPM, and closing RPM.
(6) The gear used for testing if other than second gear; or type of transmission and description of testing if motorcycle is equipped with automatic transmission.
(7) Description of the sound level meter including type, serial number, and calibration date.
(8) Description of the external acoustic calibrator including type, serial number, and calibration date.
(9) Description of the tachometer or engine speed measurement system used for conducting the test.
(10) Maximum noise level for each pass on each side of the motorcycle including invalid readings and reasons for invalidation.
(11) Reported noise level.
(12) Other information as appropriate to completely describe testing conditions and procedure.
(a) Instrumentation. Proper usage of all test instrumentation is essential to obtain valid measurements. Operating manuals or other literature furnished by the instrument manufacturer must be referred to for both recommended operation of the instrument and precautions to be observed. The following instrumentation must be used, where applicable:
(1) A sound level measurement system which meets the type SIA requirements of American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters, ANSI S1.4-1971. As an alternative to making direct measurements using a sound level meter, a microphone or sound level meter may be used with a magnetic tape recorder and/or a graphic level recorder or indicating instrument provided that the system meets the performance requirements of ANSI S1.4-1971. The sound level measurement system must be calibrated at least annually to insure that the system meets the performance requirements of ANSI S1.4-1971.
(2) An acoustic calibrator with an accuracy of within ±0.5 dB. The calibrator must be checked annually to verify that its output is within the specified accuracy.
(3) An anemometer with steady-state accuracy of within ±10% at 20 km/h (12.4 mph).
(4) A microphone wind screen which does not affect microphone response more than ±0.5 dB for frequencies of 20-4000 Hz or ±1.0 dB for frequencies of 4000-10,000 Hz, taking into account the orientation of the microphone.
(b) Test site. (1) The measurement area within the test site must meet the following requirements and be laid out as described:
(i) The following points must be established:
(A) Microphone target point—a reference point on the vehicle path;
(B) End point—a point on the vehicle path 7.5 ±0.3 m (24.6 ±1.0 ft) beyond the microphone target point; and
(C) Microphone location point—a point 15 ±0.3 m (49.2 ±1.0 ft) from the microphone target point on a normal to the vehicle path through the microphone target point. Alternately, the microphone location point may be a point 7.5 ±0.3 m (24.6 ±1.0 ft) from the microphone target point provided that the sound level reported is adjusted as provided in this appendix under paragraph (d)(3).
(ii) The microphone must be:
(A) Positioned at the microphone location point 1.2 ±0.1 m (3.9 ±0.3 ft) above the ground plane; and
(B) Oriented in a plane perpendicular to the vehicle path, and at an angle for which the microphone was calibrated to have the flattest response characteristics over the frequency range of 100 Hz to 10,000 Hz when measured with respect to the motorcycle source.
(iii) The surface of the ground within at least the triangular area formed by the microphone location and the points 15 ±0.3 m (49.2 ±1 ft) prior to and 15 ±0.3 m beyond the microphone target point must be flat (±5 cm (2.0 in)) and level (grade not more than 0.5% along vehicle path), have a concrete or sealed asphalt surface, and be free from snow, soil or other extraneous material.
(iv) The vehicle path must be relatively smooth and of sufficient length for safe acceleration, deceleration and stopping of the motorcycle.
(2) The test site must be a flat, open space free of large sound-reflecting surfaces (other than the ground), such as parked vehicles, signboards, buildings or hillsides located within a 30 ±0.3 m (98.4 ±1.0 ft) radius of the microphone location and the following points on the vehicle path (see Figure 1):
(i) The microphone location point;
(ii) A point 15 ±0.3 m (49.2 ±1 ft) before the microphone target point; and
(iii) A point 15 ±0.3 m (49.2 ±1 ft) beyond the microphone target point.
(c) Measurement procedure. (1) The combined weight of the test rider and test equipment used on the motorcycle must not be more than 80 kg (176 lb) nor less than 75 kg (165 lb). Weights shall be placed on the motorcycle saddle behind the rider to compensate for any difference between the actual driver/equipment load and the required 75 kg (165 lb) minimum.
(2) The motorcycle must approach the microphone target point with the throttle fully open and in the highest gear. The motorcycle must start such that maximum speed is reached before the vehicle is within 7.5 m of the microphone target point. The motorcycle must continue along the vehicle path with fully open throttle and at maximum speed past the end point, at which time the throttle must be closed.
(3) If the motorcycle is equipped with an automatic transmission, the procedure of paragraph (1), above, must be followed except that the highest selectable range shall be employed.
(d) Measurements. (1) The sound level meter must be set for fast response and for the A-weighting network. The microphone wind screen must be used. The sound level meter must be calibrated with the acoustic calibrator as often as is necessary throughout testing to maintain the accuracy of the measurement system.
(2) The sound level meter must be observed throughout the passby period. The highest noise level obtained for the run must be recorded.
(3) At least three measurements shall be made for each side of the motorcycle. Measurements must be made until at least three readings from each side are within 2 dB of each other. The noise level for each side must be the average of the three. The noise level reported must be for that side of the motorcycle having the highest noise level. If the microphone location point is 7.5 m from the vehicle path as allowed in this appendix under paragraph (b)(1)(i)(c), the noise level must be adjusted by subtracting 6 dB prior to being reported.
(4) While making noise level measurements, not more than one person other than the rider and the observer reading the meter may be within 15 m (49.2 ft) of the vehicle or microphone, and that person must be directly behind the observer reading the meter, on a line through the microphone and the observer.
(5) The ambient sound level (including wind effects) at the test site due to sources other than the motorcycle being measured must be no greater than 60 dB if the microphone is located 15 m from the vehicle path or 66 dB if the microphone is located 7.5 m from the vehicle path as allowed in this appendix under paragraph (b)(1)(i)(c).
(6) Wind speed at the test site during tests must be less than 20 km/h (12.4 mph).
(e) Required data. For each valid test, the following data must be recorded:
(1) Motorcycle type, serial number, model year, and date of manufacture.
(2) Names of persons conducting test.
(3) Test location.
(4) Wind speed and ambient noise level measured on the same day as the test and representative of conditions during the test.
(5) Description of the sound level meter including type, serial number, and calibration date.
(6) Description of the external acoustic calibrator including type, serial number, and calibration date.
(7) Maximum noise level for each pass on each side of the motorcycle including invalid readings and reasons for invalidation.
(8) Reported noise level.
(9) Other information as appropriate to completely describe testing conditions and procedure.
Appendix II to Subpart E of Part 205—Sampling Tables
Table 1—Model Year Production Volume of 50-99 Vehicles
| Cumulative number of tests | Number of failing vehicles | |
|---|---|---|
| Column A | Column B | |
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | |
| 4 | 3 | |
| 5 | 3 | |
| 6 | 3 | |
| 7 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | 1 | 4 |
| 12 | 1 | 4 |
| 13 | 1 | 5 |
| 14 | 1 | 5 |
| 15 | 2 | 5 |
| 16 | 2 | 5 |
| 17 | 2 | 5 |
| 18 | 2 | 5 |
| 19 | 2 | 5 |
| 20 | 4 | 5 |
Table 2—Model Year Production Volume of 100-199 Vehicles
| Cumulative number of tests | Number of failing vehicles | |
|---|---|---|
| Column A | Column B | |
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | |
| 4 | 3 | |
| 5 | 3 | |
| 6 | 3 | |
| 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | 1 | 4 |
| 12 | 1 | 5 |
| 13 | 1 | 5 |
| 14 | 1 | 5 |
| 15 | 1 | 5 |
| 16 | 2 | 5 |
| 17 | 2 | 5 |
| 18 | 2 | 5 |
| 19 | 2 | 5 |
| 20 | 4 | 5 |
Table 3—Model Year Production Volume of 200-399 Vehicles
| Cumulative number of tests | Number of failing vehicles | |
|---|---|---|
| Column A | Column B | |
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | |
| 4 | 3 | |
| 5 | 3 | |
| 6 | 3 | |
| 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | 0 | 5 |
| 12 | 1 | 5 |
| 13 | 1 | 5 |
| 14 | 1 | 5 |
| 15 | 1 | 5 |
| 16 | 2 | 5 |
| 17 | 2 | 5 |
| 18 | 2 | 5 |
| 19 | 2 | 5 |
| 20 | 4 | 5 |
Table 4—Model Year Production Volume of 400 or More Vehicles
| Cumulative number of tests | Number of failing vehicles | |
|---|---|---|
| Column A | Column B | |
| 1 | ||
| 2 | ||
| 3 | 3 | |
| 4 | 3 | |
| 5 | 3 | |
| 6 | 4 | |
| 7 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 10 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | 0 | 5 |
| 12 | 1 | 5 |
| 13 | 1 | 5 |
| 14 | 1 | 5 |
| 15 | 1 | 5 |
| 16 | 2 | 5 |
| 17 | 2 | 5 |
| 18 | 2 | 5 |
| 19 | 2 | 5 |
| 20 | 4 | 5 |
PART 209—RULES OF PRACTICE GOVERNING PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE NOISE CONTROL ACT OF 1972
Subpart A—Rules of Practice Governing Hearings for Orders Issued Under Section 11(d) of the Noise Control Act
§ 209.1 Scope.
These rules of practice govern all proceedings conducted in the issuance of an order under section 11(d) of the Noise Control Act of 1972, 42 U.S.C. 4910.
§ 209.2 Use of number and gender.
In these rules of practice, words in the singular number apply to the plural and words in the masculine gender apply to the feminine and vice versa.
§ 209.3 Definitions.
All terms not defined in this section shall have the meaning given them in the Act.
(a) Act means the Noise Control Act of 1972 (42 U.S.C. 4901 et seq.).
(b) Administrative law judge means an administrative law judge appointed under 5 U.S.C. 3105 (see also 5 CFR part 930, as amended by 37 FR 16787). “Administrative law judge” is synonymous with “hearing examiner” as used in Title 5 of the United States Code.
(c) Administrator means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency or his or her delegate.
(d) Agency means the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
(e) Complainant means the Agency acting through any person authorized by the Administrator to issue a complaint to alleged violators of the Act. The complainant shall not be the judicial officer or the Administrator.
(f) Hearing clerk means the hearing clerk of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(g) Intervener means a person who files a motion to be made a party under § 209.15 or § 209.16, and whose motion is approved.
(h) Party means the Environmental Protection Agency, the respondent(s) and any interveners.
(i) Person means any individual, corporation, partnership, or association, and includes any officer, employee, department, agency or instrumentality of the United States, a State, or any political subdivision of a State.
(j) Respondent means any person against whom a complaint has been issued under this subpart.
(k) Environmental Appeals Board means the Board within the Agency described in § 1.25 of this title. The Administrator delegates authority to the Environmental Appeals Board to issue final decisions in appeals filed under this part. An appeal directed to the Administrator, rather than to the Environmental Appeals Board, will not be considered. This delegation of authority to the Environmental Appeals Board does not preclude the Environmental Appeals Board from referring an appeal or a motion filed under this part to the Administrator for decision when the Environmental Appeals Board, in its discretion, deems it appropriate to do so. When an appeal or motion is referred to the Administrator, all parties shall be so notified and the rules in this part referring to the Environmental Appeals Board shall be interpreted as referring to the Administrator.
§ 209.4 Issuance of complaint.
If the complainant has reason to believe that a person has violated any provision of the Act or the regulations, he or she may institute a proceeding for the issuance of a remedial order by issuing a complaint.
§ 209.5 Complaint.
(a) Contents. The complaint shall include (1) specific reference to each provision of the Act or regulations which respondent is alleged to have violated; (2) a brief statement of the factual basis for alleging each violation; (3) the proposed order issued under section 11(d) of the Act to remedy the violation, signed by the Assistant Administrator for Enforcement, with notice that the order shall be effective 20 days after service of the complaint unless respondent requests a hearing under § 209.6; (4) notice of respondent’s right to request a hearing on any material fact or issue of law contained in the complaint, or on the appropriateness of the proposed order; and (5) a statement of whether the respondent must submit a remedial plan pursuant to § 209.8.
(b) Amendment of the complaint. At any time prior to the filing of an answer, the complainant may amend the complaint as a matter of right. Respondent shall have twenty (20) additional days from the date of service of the amended complaint to file an answer. At any time after the filing of an answer, the complaint may be amended upon motion granted by the administrative law judge.
(c) Withdrawal of the complaint. Where, on the basis of new information or evidence, the complainant concludes that no violation of the Act or the regulations has been committed by the respondent or that the issuance of the complaint was otherwise inappropriate, the complainant may withdraw the complaint without prejudice at any stage in the proceeding.
(d) Service of complaint. (1) Service of the complaint shall be made on the respondent personally (or on his or her representative), or by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(2) Service upon a domestic or foreign corporation or upon a partnership or another unincorporated association which is subject to suit under a common name shall be made by personal service or certified mail, return receipt requested, directed to an officer or partner, a managing or general agent, or any other agent authorized by appointment or by Federal or State law to receive service of process.
(3) Proof of service of the complaint shall be made by affidavit of the person making personal service, or by properly executed return receipt.
§ 209.6 Answer.
(a) General. Where respondent (1) contests any material fact alleged in the complaint to constitute a violation of the Act or regulations; or (2) contends that the remedial order proposed in the complaint is inappropriate to the violation; or (3) contends that he or she is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, he or she shall file a written answer with the complainant. Any answer must be filed with the complainant within twenty (20) days after service of the complaint. Initiation of informal conferences with the Agency under § 209.19 does not add to the twenty (20) day period. The time period in which to file an answer may be extended by the Administrator upon motion.
(b) Contents of the answer. The answer shall clearly and directly admit, deny or explain each of the factual allegations contained in the complaint with regard to which respondent has any knowledge. Whenever an allegation is denied, the answer shall state briefly the facts upon which the denial is based. The answer shall also state (1) whether a hearing is requested, (2) the facts respondent intends to place at issue, and (3) the circumstances or arguments which are alleged to constitute the grounds of defense.
(c) Hearing upon the issues. A hearing upon the issues raised by the complaint and answer shall be held upon written demand of respondent.
(d) Failure to plead specifically. A respondent’s failure to plead specifically to any material factual allegation contained in the complaint shall constitute an admission of such allegation.
(e) Amendment of the answer. The respondent may amend the answer upon motion granted by the administrative law judge.
§ 209.7 Effective date of order in complaint.
(a) The order in the complaint is effective and binding on respondent 20 days after service of the complaint, unless respondent requests a hearing pursuant to § 209.6. If the respondent does not request a hearing, the order is then a final order of the Agency.
(b) Respondent may file a motion with the complainant to vacate the final order, reopen the proceedings and request a hearing after the order is effective. This motion must be filed within twenty (20) days after the effective date of the order. The motion shall state the reasons respondent failed to file a timely answer, and provide the information required by § 209.6(b). The Administrator may, in his or her discretion and for good cause shown, grant the motion.
§ 209.8 Submission of a remedial plan.
(a) The Administrator may require the respondent to submit a remedial plan. Notice of this requirement and the due date will be given in the complaint. If the respondent requests a hearing, the remedial plan required by the complaint need not be submitted. The final order may include a requirement that the respondent submit a remedial plan.
(b) A respondent may always submit a remedial plan voluntarily in pursuit of informal settlement.
§ 209.9 Contents of a remedial plan.
(a) The Administrator will specify the requirements of the remedial plan. This may include, but is not limited to, the following information:
(1) A detailed description of the products covered by the remedial order, including the category and/or configuration if applicable, and the make, model year and model number, if applicable.
(2) A detailed description of the present location of the products, including a list of those in possession of the products and, if necessary, how the respondent intends to contact the persons in possession and retrieve the products.
(3) Any appropriate remedies the respondent would propose as an alternative to the specific remedies proposed by the Administrator.
(4) A detailed plan for implementing the remedies, both those proposed by the Administrator and those proposed by the respondent.
(5) A detailed account of the costs of implementing each of the proposed plans.
(b) Remedial plans shall be submitted to Director, Noise Enforcement Division (EN-387), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
§ 209.10 Approval of plan, implementation.
(a) If the Administrator finds that the remedial plan is designed to remedy the noncompliance effectively, he or she will so notify the respondent in writing. If the remedial plan is not approved, the Administrator will provide the respondent with written notice of the disapproval and the reasons for the disapproval. The Administrator may give the respondent an opportunity to revise the plan, or the Administrator may revise the plan.
(b) The respondent shall commence implementation of the approved plan upon receipt of notice from the Administrator that the remedial plan has been approved, or revised by the Administrator and then approved.
§ 209.11 Filing and service.
(a) After an answer containing a written demand for a hearing has been filed, an original and two copies of all documents or papers required or permitted to be filed under these rules of practice shall be filed with the hearing clerk.
(b) When a party files with the hearing clerk any pleadings, any additional issues for consideration at the hearing, or any written testimony, documents, papers, exhibits, or materials, proposed to be introduced into evidence or papers filed in connection with any appeal, it shall serve copies upon all other parties. A certificate of service shall be provided on or accompany each document or paper filed with the hearing clerk. Documents to be served upon the Director of the Noise Enforcement Division shall be mailed to: Director, Noise Enforcement Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EN-387), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
(c) Service by mail is complete upon mailing. Filing is completed when the document reaches the hearing clerk. It shall be timely if mailed within the time allowed for filing as determined by the postmark.
§ 209.12 Time.
(a) In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these rules of practice, the day of the act or event from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included, except as otherwise provided. Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal legal holidays shall be included in computing any period allowed for the filing of any document or paper, except that when a period expires on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal legal holiday, the period shall be extended to include the next following business day.
(b) A prescribed period of time within which a party is required or permitted to do an act shall be computed from the time of service, except that when service is accomplished by mail, 3 days shall be added.
§ 209.13 Consolidation.
The Administrator or the administrative law judge may consolidate two or more proceedings to be held under this section for resolving one or more issues whenever it appears that such consolidation will expedite or simplify consideration of such issues. Consolidation shall not affect the right of any party to raise any issues that could otherwise have been raised.
§ 209.14 Motions.
(a) All motions, except those made orally during the course of the hearing, shall be in writing, shall state the grounds with particularity, and shall set forth the relief or order sought.
(b) Within 10 days after service of any motion filed under this section or within such other time as may be fixed by the Environmental Appeals Board or the administrative law judge, as appropriate, any party may serve and file an answer to the motion. The movant shall, by leave of the Environmental Appeals Board or the administrative law judge, as appropriate, serve and file reply papers within the time set by the request.
(c) The administrative law judge shall rule upon all motions filed or made subsequent to his or her appointment and prior to the filing of his or her decision or accelerated decision, as appropriate. The Environmental Appeals Board shall rule upon all motions filed before the appointment of the administrative law judge and all motions filed after the filing of the decision of the administrative law judge or accelerated decision. Oral argument of motions will be permitted only if the administrative law judge or the Environmental Appeals Board, as appropriate, deems it necessary.
§ 209.15 Intervention.
(a) Persons desiring to intervene in a hearing to be held under section 11(d) of the act shall file a motion setting forth the facts and reasons why they should be permitted to intervene.
(b) In passing on a motion to intervene, the following factors, among other things, shall be considered by the administrative law judge:
(1) The nature of the movant’s interest including the nature and the extent of the property, financial, environmental protection, or other interest of the movant;
(2) The effect the order which may be entered in the proceeding may have on the movant’s interest;
(3) The extent to which the movant’s interest will be represented by existing parties or may be protected by other means;
(4) The extent to which the movant’s participation may reasonably be expected to assist materially in the development of a complete record;
(5) The extent to which one movant’s participation may reasonably be expected to delay the proceedings.
(c) A motion to intervene should be filed before the first prehearing conference, the initiation of correspondence under § 209.20, or the setting of the time and place for the hearing, whichever occurs earliest. Motions shall be served on all parties. Any opposition to such motion must be filed within 10 days of service.
(d) All motions to be made an intervener shall be reviewed by the administrative law judge using the criteria set forth in paragraph (b) of this section and considering any opposition to such motion. The administrative law judge may, in granting such motion, limit a movant’s participation to certain issues only.
(e) If the administrative law judge grants the motion with respect to any or all issues, he or she shall notify, or direct the hearing clerk to notify, the petitioner and all parties. If the administrative law judge denies the motion he or she shall notify, or direct the hearing clerk to notify, the petitioner and all parties and shall briefly state the reasons why the motion was denied.
(f) All motions to be made an intervener shall include the movant’s agreement that the movant and any person he or she represents will be subject to examination and cross-examination, and will also include an agreement to make any supporting and relevant records available at the movant’s own expense upon the request of the administrative law judge, on his or her own motion or the motion of any party or other intervener. If the intervener fails to comply with any of these requests, the administrative law judge may, in his or her discretion, terminate his or her status as an intervener.
§ 209.16 Late intervention.
Following the expiration of the time prescribed in § 209.15 for the submission of motions to intervene in a hearing, any person may file a motion with the administrative law judge to intervene in a hearing. Such a motion must contain the information and commitments required by paragraph (b) and (f) of § 209.15, and, in addition, must show that there is good cause for granting the motion and must contain a statement that the movant shall be bound by agreements, arrangements, and other determinations which may have been made in the proceeding.
§ 209.17 Amicus curiae.
Persons not parties to the proceedings who wish to file briefs may do so by leave of the Environmental Appeals Board or the administrative law judge, as appropriate, granted on motion. This motion shall identify the interest of the applicant and shall state the reasons why the proposed amicus brief is desirable. An amicus curiae shall be eligible to participate in any briefing following the granting of his or her motion, and shall be served with all briefs, reply briefs, motions and orders relating to issues to be briefed.
§ 209.18 Administrative law judge.
(a) General. The administrative law judge shall conduct a fair and impartial hearing in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 554, and shall take all necessary action to avoid delay and maintain order. He or she shall have all power consistent with Agency rule and with the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq., necessary to this end, including the following:
(1) To administer oaths and affirmations;
(2) To rule upon offers of proof and receive relevant evidence;
(3) To regulate the course of the hearings and the conduct of the parties and their counsel;
(4) To hold conferences for simplification of the issues or any other proper purpose;
(5) To consider and rule upon all appropriate procedural and other motions, and to issue all necessary orders;
(6) To require the submission of testimony in written form whenever in the opinion of the administrative law judge oral testimony is not necessary for full and true disclosure of the facts.
(7) To require the filing of briefs on any matter on which he or she is required to rule;
(8) To require any party or any witness, during the course of the hearing, to state his or her position on any relevant issue;
(9) To take depositions or cause depositions to be taken in accordance with § 209.22.
(10) To render judgments upon issues of law during the course of the hearing.
(11) To issue subpenas authorized by law.
(b) Assignment of administrative law judge. When an answer which contains a written demand for a hearing is filed, the administrator shall refer the proceeding to the chief administrative law judge, who shall conduct the proceeding, or assign another administrative law judge to conduct the proceeding.
§ 209.19 Informal settlement and consent agreement.
(a) Settlement policy. The Agency encourages settlement of the proceeding at any time after the issuance of a complaint if settlement is consistent with the provisions and the objectives of the act and the regulations. Whether or not respondent requests a hearing, he or she may confer with complainant concerning the facts stated in the complaint or concerning the appropriateness of the proposed remedial order. The terms of any settlement agreement shall be expressed in a written consent agreement. Conferences with complainant concerning possible settlement shall not affect the 20 day time limit for filing an answer under § 209.6.
(b) Consent agreement. A written consent agreement signed by the complainant and respondent shall be prepared by the complainant and forwarded to the Environmental Appeals Board whenever settlement or compromise is proposed. A copy shall be served on all other parties to the proceeding, no later than the date the consent agreement is forwarded to the Environmental Appeals Board. The consent agreement shall state that, for the purpose of this proceeding, respondent (1) admits the jurisdictional allegations of the complaint; (2) admits the facts as stipulated in the consent agreement or neither admits nor denies specific factual allegations contained in the complaint; and (3) consents to the issuance of a given remedial order. The consent agreement shall include (i) the terms of the agreement; (ii) any appropriate conclusions regarding material issues of law, fact and/or discretion as well as reasons therefor; and (iii) the Environmental Appeals Board’s proposed final order. The administrative law judge does not have jurisdiction over a consent agreement.
(c) Final order. No settlement or consent agreement shall be dispositive of any action pending under section 11(d) of the act without a final order of the Environmental Appeals Board. In preparing a final order, the Environmental Appeals Board may require that any or all of the parties to the settlement or other parties appear before it to answer inquiries relating to the proposed consent agreement. The hearing is terminated without further proceedings upon the filing of the final order with the hearing clerk.
§ 209.20 Conferences.
(a) At the discretion of the administrative law judge, conferences may be held prior to or during any hearing. The administrative law judge shall direct the hearing clerk to notify all parties of the time and location of any such conferences. At the discretion of the administrative law judge, persons other than parties may attend. At a conference the administrative law judge may:
(1) Obtain stipulations and admissions, receive requests and order depositions to be taken, identify disputed issues of fact and law, and require or allow the submission of written testimony from any witness or party.
(2) Set a hearing schedule for as many of the following as are deemed necessary by the administrative law judge:
(i) Oral and written statements;
(ii) Submission of written testimony as required or authorized by the administrative law judge;
(iii) Oral direct and cross-examination of a witness;
(iv) Oral argument, if appropriate;
(3) Identify matters of which official notice may be taken;
(4) Consider limitation of the number of expert and other witnesses;
(5) Consider the procedure to be followed at the hearing; and
(6) Consider any other matter that may expedite the hearing or aid in the disposition of the issue.
(b) The results of any conference including all stipulations shall, if not transcribed, be summarized in writing by the administrative law judge and made part of the record.
(c) The administrative law judge, on motion or sua sponte, may request correspondence from the parties for any of the objectives set forth in this section. Copies of the administrative law judge’s request and the parties’ correspondence shall be served upon all parties. The administrative law judge shall include such correspondence in the record and a written summary of any stipulation or agreement reached by means of such correspondence as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.
§ 209.21 Primary discovery (exchange of witness lists and documents).
(a) At a prehearing conference or within some reasonable time set by the administrative law judge prior to the hearing, each party shall make available to the other parties the names of the expert and other witnesses the party expects to call, together with a brief summary of their expected testimony and copies of all documents and exhibits which the party expects to introduce into evidence. Thereafter, witnesses, documents, or exhibits may be added and summaries of expected testimony amended upon motion by a party.
(b) The administrative law judge, may, upon motion by a party or other person, and for good cause shown, by order (1) restrict or defer disclosure by a party of the name of a witness or a narrative summary of the expected testimony of a witness, and (2) prescribe other appropriate measures to protect a witness. Any party affected by any such action shall have an adequate opportunity, once he or she learns the name of a witness and obtains the narrative summary of the witness’ expected testimony, to prepare for the presentation of his or her case.
§ 209.22 Other discovery.
(a) Further discovery under this section shall be undertaken only upon order of the administrative law judge or upon agreement of the parties, except as provided in § 209.21. The administrative law judge shall order further discovery only after determining:
(1) That such discovery will not delay the proceeding unreasonably;
(2) That the information to be obtained is not obtainable voluntarily; and
(3) That such information is relevant to the subject matter of the hearing.
(b) The administrative law judge shall order depositions upon oral questions only upon a showing of good cause and a finding that:
(1) The information sought cannot be obtained by alternative methods; or
(2) There is a substantial reason to believe that relevant and probative evidence may otherwise not be preserved for presentation by a witness at the hearing.
(c) Any party to the proceeding may make a motion or motions for an order of discovery. The motion shall set forth:
(1) The circumstances which require the discovery;
(2) The nature of the information expected to be discovered; and
(3) The proposed time and place where it will be taken. If the administrative law judge determines the motion should be granted, he or she shall issue an order for the taking of such discovery together with the conditions and terms thereof.
(d) A person’s or party’s failure to comply with a discovery order may lead to the inference that the information to be discovered is adverse to the person or party who failed to provide it.
§ 209.23 Trade secrets and privileged information.
In the presentation, admission, disposition, and use of evidence, the administrative law judge shall preserve the confidentiality of trade secrets and other privileged commercial and financial information. The confidential or trade secret status of any information shall not, however, preclude its being introduced into evidence. The administrative law judge may make such orders as may be necessary to consider such evidence in camera. This may include a supplemental initial decision to consider questions of fact and conclusions regarding material issues of law, fact or discretion which arise out of that portion of the evidence which is confidential or which includes trade secrets.
§ 209.24 Default order.
(a) Default. Respondent may be found to be in default upon failure to comply with a prehearing or hearing ruling of the Administrator or the administrative law judge. A respondent’s default shall constitute an admission of all facts alleged in the complaint and a waiver of respondent’s right to a hearing on such factual allegations. The remedial order proposed is binding on respondent without further proceedings upon the issuance by the Environmental Appeals Board of a final order issued upon default.
(b) Proposed default order. Where the administrative law judge finds a default has occurred after a request for a hearing has been filed, the administrative law judge may render a proposed default order to be issued against the defaulting party. For the purpose of appeal pursuant to § 209.31 this order shall be deemed to be the initial decision of the administrative law judge.
(c) Contents of a final order issued upon default. A final order issued upon default shall include findings of fact, conclusions regarding all material issues of law, fact, or discretion, and the remedial order which is issued. An order issued by the Environmental Appeals Board upon default of respondent shall constitute a final order in accordance with the terms of § 209.33.
§ 209.25 Accelerated decision; dismissal.
(a) The administrative law judge, upon motion of any party or sua sponte, may at any time render an accelerated decision in favor of the Agency or the respondent as to all or any part of the proceeding, without further hearing or upon such limited additional evidence such as affidavits as he or she may require, or dismiss any party with prejudice, under any of the following conditions:
(1) Failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, or direct or collateral estoppel;
(2) No genuine issue of material fact exists and a party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law, as to all or any part of a proceeding; or
(3) Such other reasons as are just, including failure to obey a procedural order of the administrative law judge.
(b) If under this section an accelerated decision is issued as to all the issues and claims joined in the proceedings, the decision shall be treated as the decision of the administrative law judge as provided in § 209.30.
(c) If under this section, judgment is rendered on less than all issues or claims in the proceeding, the administrative law judge shall determine what material facts exist without substantial controversy and what material facts are actually and in good faith controverted. The administrative law judge shall thereupon issue an order specifying the facts which appear without substantial controversy, and the issues and claims upon which the hearing will proceed.
§ 209.26 Evidence.
(a) The official transcripts and exhibits, together with all papers and requests filed in the proceeding, shall constitute the record. Evidence may be received at the hearing even though inadmissible under the rules of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings, provided it is relevant, competent and material and not unduly repetitious. Immaterial or irrelevant parts of an admissible document shall be segregated and excluded so far as practicable. The weight to be given evidence shall be determined by its reliability and probative value.
(b) Witnesses shall be examined orally, under oath or affirmation, except as otherwise provided in these rules of practice or by the administrative law judge. Parties shall have the right to cross-examine a witness who appears at the hearing provided that such cross-examination is not unduly repetitious.
(c) Rulings of the administrative law judge on the admissibility of evidence, the propriety of examination and cross-examination and other procedural matters shall appear in the record.
(d) Parties shall automatically be presumed to have taken exception to an adverse ruling.
§ 209.27 Interlocutory appeal.
(a) An interlocutory appeal may be taken to the Environmental Appeals Board either (1) with the consent of the administrative law judge where he or she certifies on the record or in writing that the allowance of an interlocutory appeal is clearly necessary to prevent exceptional delay, expense or prejudice to any party or substantial detriment to the public interest, or (2) absent the consent of the administrative law judge, by permission of the Environmental Appeals Board.
(b) Applications for interlocutory appeal of any ruling or order of the administrative law judge may be filed with the administrative law judge within 5 days of the issuance of the ruling or order being appealed. Answers by other parties may be filed within 5 days of the service of such applications.
(c) Applications to file such appeals absent consent of the administrative law judge shall be filed with the Environmental Appeals Board within 5 days of the denial of any appeal by the administrative law judge.
(d) The Environmental Appeals Board will consider the merits of the appeal on the application and answers. No oral argument will be heard nor other briefs filed unless the Environmental Appeals Board directs otherwise.
(e) Except under extraordinary circumstances as determined by the administrative law judge, the taking of an interlocutory appeal will not stay the hearing.
§ 209.28 Record.
(a) Hearings shall be reported and transcribed verbatim, stenographically or otherwise, and the original transcript shall be part of the record and the sole official transcript. Copies of the record shall be filed with the hearing clerk and made available during Agency business hours for public inspection. Any person who desires a copy of the record of the hearing or any part of it shall be entitled to it upon payment of the cost.
(b) The official transcripts and exhibits, together with all papers and requests filed in the proceeding, shall constitute the record.
§ 209.29 Proposed findings, conclusions.
(a) Within 20 days of the filing of the record with the hearing clerk as provided in § 209.28, or within such longer time as may be fixed by the administrative law judge, any party may submit for the consideration of the administrative law judge proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law, and a proposed rule or order, together with briefs in support of it. Such proposals shall be in writing, shall be served upon all parties, and shall contain adequate references to the record and authorities relied on.
(b) The record shall show the administrative law judge’s ruling on the proposed findings and conclusions except when the administrative law judge’s order disposing of the proceedings otherwise informs the parties of the action taken by him or her thereon.
§ 209.30 Decision of the administrative law judge.
(a) The administrative law judge shall issue and file with the hearing clerk his or her decision as soon as practicable after the period for filing proposed findings as provided for in § 209.29 has expired.
(b) The administrative law judge’s decision shall become the decision of the Environmental Appeals Board (1) when no notice of intention to appeal as described in § 209.31 is filed, 30 days after its issuance, unless in the interim the Environmental Appeals Board shall have taken action to review or stay the effective date of the decision; or (2) when a notice of intention to appeal is filed but the appeal is not perfected as required by § 209.31, 5 days after the period allowed for perfection of an appeal has expired unless within that 5 day period, the Environmental Appeals Board has taken action to review or stay the effective date of the decision.
(c) The administrative law judge’s decision shall include a statement of findings and conclusions, as well as the reasons or basis therefore, upon all the material issues of fact or law presented on the record and an appropriate rule or order. The decision shall be supported by a preponderance of the evidence and based upon a consideration of the whole record.
(d) At any time prior to issuing his or her decision, the administrative law judge may reopen the proceeding for the reception of further evidence.
§ 209.31 Appeal from the decision of the administrative law judge.
(a) Any party to a proceeding may appeal the administrative law judge’s decision to the Environmental Appeals Board: Provided, That within 10 days after the administrative law judge’s decision is issued, the party files a notice of intention to appeal, and within 30 days of the decision the party files an appeal brief.
(b) When an appeal is taken from the decision of the administrative law judge, any party may file a brief with respect to such appeal. The brief shall be filed within 20 days of the date of the filing of the appellant’s brief.
(c) Any brief filed under this section shall contain, in the order indicated:
(1) A subject index of the matter in the brief, with page references, and a table of cases (alphabetically arranged), textbooks, statutes, and other material cited, with page references thereto;
(2) A specification of the issues which will be argued;
(3) The argument presenting clearly the points of fact and law relied upon in support of the position taken on each issue, with specific page references to the record and the legal or other material relied upon; and
(4) A proposed form of rule or order for the Environmental Appeals Board’s consideration if different from the rule or order contained in the administrative law judge’s decision.
(d) Briefs shall not exceed 40 pages without leave of the Environmental Appeals Board.
(e) The Environmental Appeals Board may allow oral argument in its discretion.
§ 209.32 Review of the administrative law judge’s decision in absence of appeal.
(a) If, after the expiration of the period for taking an appeal under § 209.31, no notice of intention to appeal the decision of the administrative law judge has been filed, or if filed, not perfected, the hearing clerk shall so notify the Environmental Appeals Board.
(b) The Environmental Appeals Board, upon receipt of notice from the hearing clerk that no notice of intention to appeal has been filed, or if filed, not perfected pursuant to § 209.31, may, on its own motion, within the time limits specified in § 209.30(b), review the decision of the administrative law judge. Notice of the Environmental Appeals Board’s intention to review the decision of the administrative law judge shall be given to all parties and shall set forth the scope of such review and the issues which shall be considered and shall make provision for filing of briefs.
§ 209.33 Decision on appeal or review.
(a) Upon appeal from or review of the administrative law judge’s decision, the Environmental Appeals Board shall consider such parts of the record as are cited or as may be necessary to resolve the issues presented and, in addition shall to the extent necessary or desirable exercise all the powers which the Environmental Appeals Board could have exercised if it had presided at the hearing.
(b) The Environmental Appeals Board shall render a decision as expeditiously as possible. The Environmental Appeals Boa