Lawnmower Emissions Regulations

On Tuesday, April 17, 2007, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new proposal that sets strict standards for most lawn and garden equipment and small recreational watercraft. These proposed small engine rules should bring big emissions cuts to the United States.

“From the largest locomotives to the smallest lawn mowers, EPA’s current and planned clean air regulations will continue environmental progress, keeping the air cleaner than a generation ago,” said EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Bill Wehrum.

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA.) saluted the EPA’s draft rule and decision to implement California’s small engines emissions reduction target nationwide. CA’s small engine rule went into effect in January 2007, after EPA granted CA a Clean Air Act waiver in December 2006.

Groundbreaking Proposal

What makes this EPA draft rule significant to landscape gardeners?

Manufacturers will use catalytic converters for the first time on lawn and garden equipment, and small watercraft. Catalytic converters will allow equipment to adhere to the new exhaust emissions standards. The EPA determined after rigorous analysis and extensive work that such modifications were feasible and safe.

(According to the EPA press release, this proposed rule also includes the first fuel evaporative standards for all the types of equipment and watercraft originally covered in the national standards for vessels powered by sterndrive or inboard engines. It also includes carbon monoxide standards for gasoline-powered engines used in recreational watercraft.)

“It’s no secret that gasoline powered lawn mowers pollute the air,” says Dan Ariens, president of outdoor power equipment maker Ariens Co.

Americans spend more than three billion hours per year using lawn and garden equipment. At present, a push mower powered by a gasoline motor gives off as much pollution per hour as 11 cars and a riding mower emits as much as 34 cars.

Anticipated Results of Proposed Regulations

The proposed regulations include phased-in implementations to the new standards. These would apply as early as 2011 for most lawn and garden equipment (under 25 horsepower) and 2009 for watercraft. There are also regulations for larger lawn and garden equipment.

The EPA estimates that by 2030 emissions reductions would annually occur in these amounts:

• 2.7 million tons of carbon monoxide;
• 630,000 tons of hydrocarbon emissions;
• 98,000 tons of nitrogen oxide emissions; and
• 63,000 tons of direct particulate matter.

“Once this rule is implemented, millions of Americans across the country will experience the real health benefits of less smog and air pollution,” says Feinstein.

More Information

• The EPA Consumer Information Page provides consumer information, regulations, guidance, and compliance fee and certification data for ten categories of nonroad spark-ignition engines, ranging from lawn and garden equipment through airport service equipment. For the homeowner, there is information about maintaining a yard and lawn, while minimizing air pollution from spark-ignition engines.

• Comments are due on the proposed regulations by Aug. 3, 2007. The proposal and information about how to submit comments are at:
  • Lawn and Garden (Small Gasoline) Equipment,and
  • Gasoline Boats and Personal Watercraft.

• Diane Feinstein’s Positions and Data

• Small Engine Rule to Bring Big Emissions Cuts

©Text by Georgene A. Bramlage, April 2007. Reproduction without permission prohibited.