EPA Seeks to Prohibit Conversion of Vehicles Into Racecars, appears legit.

[Spiffav8]

Their are no fair minded people in the EPA who are addressing this. The only intent is to eliminate any and all forms of racing via any means. It is and will be an attack on several fronts. They will eliminate the after market industry. Period. (SEMA's sole reason for existing and a huge cash cow) Any item that they can not prove as being "intended for" and that modify a vehicle from it's stock form will be so tightly controlled, restricted and expensive at every level, that it won't be worth it.

We have already seen changes in the ways various branches of our Government have started addressing and enforcing the laws they cover. What's to stop the EPA from showing up at an event in a law enforcement capacity. You are held until your car has passed their inspection and if it fails, it is confiscated (sent to the crusher) and the owner arrested/cited. We have seen "street racers" in CA have this happen (for violating the law). Even if they don't "catch you", they will "starve you". With no replacement parts, sooner or later it's game over.

Think they will allow non modified cars to be raced? Maybe for a few, but at some point the use of any and all cars will simply be deemed as "for transportation only". If it ain't taking you to and from work, you are "unnecessarily polluting or wasting" or a resource.

It's important to be leery of labels or of something like this being defined. Even more so when you consider "who" is doing it or what that "interpretation" is.

This isn't good on any level and should be fought on every level. 2016 is going to be a sh1t show, especially in it's final days.

Hey...Enjoy the weekend!

[TheJDMan]

Originally Posted by Spiffav8

Their are no fair minded people in the EPA who are addressing this. The only intent is to eliminate any and all forms of racing via any means.

This statement is completely unfair and false. The EPA is made up of ordinary people just like you and I, both Democrats and Republicans, who work a job, pay a mortgage and have families. The EPA has no interest in eliminating any form of racing. The EPA is focused solely on reducing emission sources and in that respect they have done an outstanding job. Today we have clean air to breath and clean water in our lakes and streams to drink.

Our problem as car enthusiasts is that we don't want them in our play ground messing with our toys. So the issue we need to focus on is not bashing the EPA, but working on solutions for stopping additional regulations from becoming law which will ultimately kill the aftermarket manufacturers.

To be perfectly honest, I happen to like clean air and water. The problem is I also like racing and racecars. So I have a conflict of interest that I have to deal with. Because of this conflict, would like to see a dialog started between SEMA and EPA on possible alternatives to just a blanket law that you must have factory certified emissions equipment installed. I would like to see an alternate procedure in place whereby any aftermarket engine builder would be allowed to simply pass an emissions sniff test and have the engine be certified legal. Given the state of modern technology, computer machining processes and EFI, I don't think it would be unreasonable to be able to build an engine that could pass emissions tests without the arbitrary need for emissions hardware hanging on it.

Join SEMA Action Network today!
http://semasan.com

[fleetus macmullitz]

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2...-investigation

An investigation of a mine waste accident in Colorado that fouled rivers in three states with arsenic, lead and other toxic substances has found further evidence that government workers knew a spill from the gold mine was possible, according to documents released on Thursday by a US House of Representatives committee.

Hays Griswold, an Environmental Protection Agency official in charge of the Gold King mine at the time of the August accident, said in an email he “personally knew” the plugged, inactive mine could contain large volumes of water.

The email was sent on 28 October to other EPA officials and provided on Thursday by the House natural resources committee as it released the findings of the Republican-led investigation.

An EPA clean-up crew triggered the spill during excavation work at the mine’s entrance, unleashing a three-million-gallon deluge that contaminated rivers in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah.

The release dumped more than 880,000lb of heavy metals into Colorado’s Animas River, forcing the closure of downstream public water systems until the plume passed and raising concerns about long-term environmental impacts.

“I personally knew it could be holding back a lot of water, and I believe the others in the group knew as well,” Griswold wrote in the email.

EPA officials did not immediately respond to questions about the email.

The spill occurred when workers for EPA and its contractor, Environmental Restoration, started excavation work that was intended to allow them to safely drain the mine.

An Interior Department investigation pinned responsibility on the EPA for not checking to see if the mine held pressurized water. EPA officials previously said the workers on site determined there was no or low pressure from water backed up inside the mine.

Griswold indicated in the email that the determination of low water pressure was based on mistaken assumptions about the location of the top of the mine’s buried entrance, known in mining as the brow.

The excavation work was intended to clear away debris for the entrance before the mine was to be drained at a later date, he wrote.

“We and or I particularly thought we were four or maybe five feet above the brow,” Griswold wrote.

...cont'd at link.

[Spiffav8]

Originally Posted by TheJDMan

This statement is completely unfair and false. The EPA is made up of ordinary people just like you and I, both Democrats and Republicans, who work a job, pay a mortgage and have families. The EPA has no interest in eliminating any form of racing. The EPA is focused solely on reducing emission sources and in that respect they have done an outstanding job. Today we have clean air to breath and clean water in our lakes and streams to drink.

Our problem as car enthusiasts is that we don't want them in our play ground messing with our toys. So the issue we need to focus on is not bashing the EPA, but working on solutions for stopping additional regulations from becoming law which will ultimately kill the aftermarket manufacturers.

To be perfectly honest, I happen to like clean air and water. The problem is I also like racing and racecars. So I have a conflict of interest that I have to deal with. Because of this conflict, would like to see a dialog started between SEMA and EPA on possible alternatives to just a blanket law that you must have factory certified emissions equipment installed. I would like to see an alternate procedure in place whereby any aftermarket engine builder would be allowed to simply pass an emissions sniff test and have the engine be certified legal. Given the state of modern technology, computer machining processes and EFI, I don't think it would be unreasonable to be able to build an engine that could pass emissions tests without the arbitrary need for emissions hardware hanging on it.

Join SEMA Action Network today!
http://semasan.com

Completely unfair and false? Not really. Kind of harsh though.

I to like clean air, water, etc. I also share your desire to see a balanced and fair way of achieving goals that satisfy all parties. Sadly that's not reality. Not everyone thinks like that. There are those that look at cars like yours and mine and see them as evil. Doesn't matter than you've replaced that old engine with a modern one and have reduced the emission output, increased the MPG, improved the safety and lowered the carbon foot print....all things they want. We are seen as loud, wild and unruly. You are the enemy, evil and the source of the problem in their mind. I will never forget being in NORCAL and seeing the stereotypical Birkenstock wearing, tree huger who is driving a beat up VW bug. The back end of the car was covered with "SAVE THE _____" stickers. The truly funny part was that this car was blowing black exhaust, the brakes sounded like metal on metal, and it was rusty beyond belief. This is the type of person that doesn't like you or your Camaro and fights to have it illuminated. This person is lobbying, backing and the type that gravitates towards a job in the EPA. It's a good cause kind of thing.

When have we ever seen the government pass laws that are fair for everyone, don't negatively impact the end users (you and I) or industry unfairly? That just doesn't happen. Take the hot topics of Guns and Gay Marriage for an example. What does happen is extremely restrictive laws are passed that go far beyond what's needed. Then those laws have to be challenged and fought to gain back some of what was lost.

I look at it like this. If I wanted to crush something in America that I didn't like, the easy way would be to create laws that where like an iron cap that cut off any and all means. Then I'd sit back back and fend off attacks. I've already won and even if some or part of what I accomplished is reversed...the negatives have all ready done damage.

The reality is that the EPA is a government agency that does what it's told to do. It is also made up of people (not all) who have selfish motives of one type or another (this is everywhere) and people who need to justify their jobs/reason for being. This isn't just an EPA or even government thing. It's a people thing.

Guys like you and I who want balance, have to fight these things in a harsh way. If we put an iron cap on the subject, we control what happens.

With Respect Brother!

[Ben@SpeedTech]

As mentioned before my understanding is 1975 was when cats were standard, but emissions equip dates back to the late 60s. These laws won't affect only late model cars, unless the EPA comes out and specifies that. There are many cars from the 70s, be it racer or street cars, that had emiss. equip that left the car long ago.

Besides my pro touring car I have a Nova set up for street /strip with an old school n/a SBC engine that has a pretty nasty solid cam in it. There's no way on this planet that engine will pass a sniffer test at idle and likely runs a little rich at full throttle. I used to drive this car daily daily (when I could afford to before I got married and had kids, lol) and on a good day with it's 4.56 gears it got 6 mpg. Along with perhaps 10s of thousands of other enthusiasts, not all of us has swapped an emissions friendly LS motor into our cars, nor do we all want to. So we're stuck with non-modern engines that don't burn cleaner, aren't more fuel efficient, don't get better gas mileage, and even with a pair of cats likely still won't pass a sniffer test.

But, these cars haul beans as they are built to do. Laws like this will shut them down, and that's unfortunate. Again I say it will be pretty boring to go to a race event and see a bunch of cars running down a track with engines restored to their low hp smog equip laden engines. Where's the fun in that?

Ultimately this is give and take from both sides. The EPA can't just sit back and say race cars are a direct detriment to the cleanliness of our air, they have ti realize we're a very small part of a very large problem, and part of the history of America. Boats produce emissions, airplanes produce emissions, off road bikes and other toys produce emissions, so in all that why are they now targeting auto racers only? What's next after us? Boat racing? Air shows? Motocross? ...

[Ben@SpeedTech]

The fight continues with some help in Washington.

Here's the latest from the SEMA newsletter...

"By SEMA Washington, D.C., staff

SEMA is supporting Capitol Hill allies on legislation that will clearly exempt from the Clean Air Act street vehicles converted to racecars for competition-only use. As previously reported, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a regulation to prohibit conversion of vehicles originally designed for on-road use into racecars. The regulation would also make the sale of certain products for use on such vehicles illegal.

“Despite recent indications that the EPA is considering a new rulemaking to request additional public comment on its proposed racecar rule, it is now clear that an amendment to the Clean Air Act will effectively end any debate over the exemption of motor vehicles converted for competition use. SEMA views congressional action as a decisive step to settle this issue once and for all,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “The EPA is attempting to write a new interpretation into the regulations. The racing community and parts makers need the certainty that legislation will provide.”

A SEMA-initiated White House Petition opposing the EPA-proposed regulation currently contains more than 156,000 signatures, well past the 100,000 signature threshold necessary to elicit a response from the administration."

[TheJDMan]

SEMA Action Network legislation update:

West Virginia Resolution Opposing EPA Ban on Certain Race Cars Approved by House; Moves to Senate.

What is H.C.R 68?

H.C.R 68 recognizes that the EPA regulation would impact all vehicle types, including the sports cars, sedans and hatch-backs commonly converted strictly for use at the track. While the Clean Air Act prohibits certain modifications to motor vehicles, it is clear that vehicles built or modified for racing, and not used on the streets, are not the “motor vehicles” that Congress intended to regulate.

H.C.R 68 recognizes that this proposed EPA regulation represents overreaching by the agency, runs contrary to the law and defies decades of racing activity where EPA has acknowledged and allowed conversion of vehicles.

H.C.R 68 acknowledges that SEMA submitted comments in opposition to the EPA regulation and met with EPA officials to confirm the agency’s intentions to prohibit conversion of vehicles into racecars and make the sale of certain emissions-related parts for use on converted vehicles illegal.

Overview: A West Virginia House Concurrent Resolution (H.C.R. 68) to urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) not to prohibit conversion of vehicles originally designed for on-road use into racecars was approved by the West Virginia House in a vote by all members. The pending EPA regulation would also make the sale of certain products for use on such vehicles illegal. The resolution will next be considered by the Senate.

Please follow the link below, and send an email to WV lawmakers urging them to support H.C.R 68.

http://semasan.com/page.asp?content=aa2016WV7&g=SEMAGA

[TheJDMan]

Use this search form to find your elected officials at all levels of government. Write your officials, request that they oppose the EPA's proposed changes.

http://semasan.com/lookup.asp?g=semaga

[JsTA]

Originally Posted by TheJDMan

This statement is completely unfair and false. The EPA is made up of ordinary people just like you and I, both Democrats and Republicans, who work a job, pay a mortgage and have families. The EPA has no interest in eliminating any form of racing. The EPA is focused solely on reducing emission sources and in that respect they have done an outstanding job. Today we have clean air to breath and clean water in our lakes and streams to drink.

Our problem as car enthusiasts is that we don't want them in our play ground messing with our toys. So the issue we need to focus on is not bashing the EPA, but working on solutions for stopping additional regulations from becoming law which will ultimately kill the aftermarket manufacturers.

To be perfectly honest, I happen to like clean air and water. The problem is I also like racing and racecars. So I have a conflict of interest that I have to deal with. Because of this conflict, would like to see a dialog started between SEMA and EPA on possible alternatives to just a blanket law that you must have factory certified emissions equipment installed. I would like to see an alternate procedure in place whereby any aftermarket engine builder would be allowed to simply pass an emissions sniff test and have the engine be certified legal. Given the state of modern technology, computer machining processes and EFI, I don't think it would be unreasonable to be able to build an engine that could pass emissions tests without the arbitrary need for emissions hardware hanging on it.

Join SEMA Action Network today!
http://semasan.com

We live in a capitalistic economy. Let the industries sort this out and let demand drive innovation instead of threat of law driving barely any innovation. If the market doesn't want demand safer car or lower emissions, then it is obviously not a major issue in the minds of the general public. The country was originally ran by its inhabitants, not a select group of few that are "elected" and then distance themselves from the very issues they are creating. We are the employer, not the other way around.