This sorta ticks me off… They (the man) has worked so hard to stop pollution by starting with what? Killing off two stroke scooters and mopeds, when they should have really been worrying about the engines that almost everyone has and uses every weekend. They are planning to have a plan by 2007. (I know I’m being selfish because I use electric yard tools and want the two stroke to stay around a few more years).
Science News Article | Reuters.com: “WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday that catalytic converters can safely be added to lawn mower and jet ski engines to meet tougher clean air rules the agency plans to propose later this year.
An agency report cleared the way for the government to require less-polluting gasoline engines that are smaller than 50 horsepower.
The study concluded that technology would allow companies to make the cleaner-burning smaller engines without increasing the risk of fire or burns to consumers.
It was required under a legislative deal between Sen. Kit Bond, a Missouri Republican, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat. Bond had argued that regulations on small engines could force production overseas.
Some manufacturers, including Briggs & Stratton Corp. which has production facilities in Missouri, had argued that the smog devices could start fires.
Small engines emit about 10 percent of the pollutants that make up smog.
Other federal agencies and more than 20 experts, including fire marshals and engine manufacturers, were consulted for the report.
EPA spokesman John Millett said after the agency proposes the rules, they should be finalized in 2007. “
18. March 2006 at 3:43 am
If the federal govt. doesn’t get it in gear, California will require emissions control on new small engines sold in their state. They’ve done it before, they can do it again.
I’m still a little unsure of how lawn equipment emissions controls would start fires.
18. March 2006 at 4:08 pm
Did they say how much these things would COST? If its $300 it would mean the end of smaller, lower powered devices, at the very least.
19. March 2006 at 12:53 am
“I’m still a little unsure of how lawn equipment emissions controls would start fires.”
It’s not the lawn mower etc. that’s the problem, rather the catalytic conv. Regular cats use high temp to burn/oxydise the crap in exhaust gases; this creates a fire hazard (so much so that some cars come with a warning not to keep the engine running over dry vegetation).
20. March 2006 at 4:32 am
Since it takes almost 18 years for the amount of small engine pollution to equal the yearly belching of just co2 from volcanoes, I fail to see the problem. Enviro-activism is nothing but a business.
20. March 2006 at 5:57 pm
The two stroke scooter is alive and well and living down at your local Aprilia and TGB dealers. The SR50 is well known – how about some coverage of the new RS50X?
28. March 2006 at 4:37 am
You do make a good point Anon. The 2 Stroke IS still alive. Not in the numbers that used to be available, but some have managed to survive. I need to do some 2 stroke coverage soon.