b'LEGISLATIVE REPORTLEGISLATIVE EPA Says Stricter Vessel Air Emissions Rules for California Passenger Vessels Can Be EnforcedRICHARD PATCH // PVA LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOREDMUND WELCH // SENIOR LEGISLATIVE ADVISORP assengervesseloperatorsinthe now-approved 2022 CHC amend- and auxiliary engines with Tier 4 or Californiamustfamiliarizements will make them even tougher.Tier3EPA-certifiedengines,plus themselveswiththe2022diesel particulate filters. The amend-amendmentstothestatesUnder the federalments set out emission standards that CommercialHarborCraft(CHC)are to be attained and schedules and emissions rules, developed by the Cal- Clean Air Act,dates by which repowering project are ifornia Air Resources Board (CARB). California has thetobeaccomplished,concludingby Bymeansofadecisiondocumentability to establish andDec. 31, 2034.datedJan.6,2025,theU.S.Envi- enforce stricter airPASSENGER VESSELronmental Protection Agency (EPA)emissions rules thanCATEGORIESgavetherequiredCleanAirActForpurposesofthe2022amend-waiver to enable California to beginthose set nationwidements,passengervesselsfallwithin enforcement of most of the amend- by the EPA.threecategories:ferries,short-run ments. Click here to see the EPA De- ferries, and excursion vessels. A short-cision Document. Californias existingrunferrymostcommonlyprovides rules for passengerregularly scheduled round-trip service The amendments contain several ele- betweentwopointslessthanthree ments dealing with operations. Thesevessel emissionsnautical miles apart.includesmokeopacitytesting,fees,already exceed those types of allowable fuel, idling limits,COMPLIANCE DATESand unique vessel identifier numbers.that apply elsewhere inFOR ENGINES ONThesewillbediscussedinafuturecountry, and the now- IN-USE (EXISTING)Foghorn article. approved 2022 CHCPASSENGER VESSELSForcompliancedates,seetables16 Themostsignificantaspectsoftheamendments will make(Pre-Tier 1 and Tier 1 engines), table 2022amendmentsimposestringentthem even tougher. 17(ferries),andtable18(excursion marineengineemissionsstandards,vessels). Even though table 17 is labeled far stricter than exist today, and theto exclude in-use (existing) short-run rest of this article will focus on them.The objective of the 2022 amendmentsferries, the effect of the EPAs Deci-Here is a link to the full text of theis to force passenger vessel operators insionDocumentwillprobablymean 2022 amendments. the state to further clean up their act.that the table 17 compliance dates will It may lead affected vessel operators toapply to them as well. These tables are Under the federal Clean Air Act, Cal- eventuallyadoptzero-emissiontech- found starting at page 76 of the 2022 ifornia has the ability to establish andnology, and it could lead to some olderCHC amendments.enforce stricter air emissions rules thanvessels being taken out of service over those set nationwide by the EPA. Cal- the next decade. However, CARB ex- Any Pre-Tier 1 and Tier 1 engine must iforniasexistingrulesforpassengerpects that compliance will be accom- be brought into compliance by Dec. vesselemissionsalreadyexceedthoseplishedprimarilybyvesseloperators31, 2025 (unless an extension is sought that apply elsewhere in country, andreplacingexistingdieselpropulsionandgranted).Thecompliancedates FOGHORN 32'