In a visit to Portland, ME today, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler met with local lobstermen and announced amendments to the national marine diesel program “to provide much needed regulatory relief that will benefit America’s hardworking lobsterm[e]n and pilot boat captains.”
To address concerns associated with obtaining and installing certified Tier 4 marine diesel engines in certain high-speed commercial vessels, EPA specifically amended the national marine diesel engine program to provide relief provisions in the form of additional lead time for qualifying engines and vessels and modification of the marine diesel engine certification program through streamlined engine certification requirements.
In announcing the relief, EPA said that in its absence, “boat builders would be unable to build these types of high-speed vessels, leaving those in the market for a new boat the choice between either purchasing underpowered, unsuitable vessels or using existing vessels with older, dirtier engines.”
