Control of Air Pollution from New Motor Vehicles: Amendment to the Tier 2 Motor Vehicle Emission Regulations; Proposed Rule

EPA is proposing to clarify and revise certain provisions of the Tier 2/Gasoline Sulfur regulations (65 FR 6698, February 10, 2000, hereinafter referred to as the Tier 2 rule). Today's action proposes minor revisions to clarify the regulations governing compliance with the Tier 2 rule, and it proposes to modify the Tier 2 program to provide for cleaner diesel engines than were anticipated during the interim Tier 2 program (through the 2006 model year). In the "Rules and Regulations" section of this Federal Register, we are making these technical amendments as a direct final rule without prior proposal because we view these technical amendments as noncontroversial revisions and anticipate no adverse comment. We have explained our reasons for these technical amendments in the preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule. If we receive adverse comment, we will withdraw the portions of the direct final rule receiving such comment and those portions will not take effect. We will address all public comments in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. We will not institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.