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

[57hemicuda]

This is what we need, no more stinking rules, Anarchy Anarchy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9MiS9tn_r4

[Che70velle]

Originally Posted by 214Chevelle

One of two women I'd leave my wife for.

Marcus! Your crazy man!

[JKnight]

102k+ plus signatures as of right now, so it already met the 100k needed.

[COYBILT]

Give them a inch and they will take a mile

[fearlessmark]

I read a number of import tuner magazines, and I would not be surprised if this "clarification" is in response to the 1600whp GT-Rs, and 900whp Evolutions that are featured in these magazines. A lot of these are presented as street driven and many have plates displayed for all to see. Here in CA, there is an exemption from the annual smog test for the first seven years after a new car is sold. These cars generally fall into that exemption period, and anybody with a brain knows that there is no way these cars are emission compliant, especially the EPA and CARB! The only thing that amazes me about all this is that it took them so long to start cracking down! These "street" cars are obviously flaunting the rules, and they are very "in your face" about it. If we in the hobby aren't careful, we may lose the ability to modify our cars at all.

[JsTA]

Originally Posted by fearlessmark

I read a number of import tuner magazines, and I would not be surprised if this "clarification" is in response to the 1600whp GT-Rs, and 900whp Evolutions that are featured in these magazines. A lot of these are presented as street driven and many have plates displayed for all to see. Here in CA, there is an exemption from the annual smog test for the first seven years after a new car is sold. These cars generally fall into that exemption period, and anybody with a brain knows that there is no way these cars are emission compliant, especially the EPA and CARB! The only thing that amazes me about all this is that it took them so long to start cracking down! These "street" cars are obviously flaunting the rules, and they are very "in your face" about it. If we in the hobby aren't careful, we may lose the ability to modify our cars at all.

Those are a very very small minority even in the GTR world though. Seems like a lot of wasted political effort for a very small perceived gain. Then again anything California related seems to mirror that same mindset.

[Ben@SpeedTech]

SEMA has made an official clarification, I got it today in my SEMA news email. Sounds like they see this as a serious threat to our industry and they feel the EPA is out of bounds in what they're doing. I don't think this should be taken likely in any way at all.

Although this is targeting race only cars, it absolutely translates to targeting street cars too. If at the very least the EPA shuts down production of performance parts for emissions equipped cars rather than chasing down offenders at races, this will not only require a race car to be stock engine configurations, it will cease us putting a GT40 intake on a Fox Body Mustang, or a dual exhaust kit sans cats on your 75 Camaro, or headers on your 69 Camaro if it came with an air pump, despite the fact that it's a street driver and not a dedicated race car.

Again I propose this is a foot in the door to pose more regulation in the future. How boring will it be to see a stock 180 hp G body running down the drag strip. Mine ran 17.9's stock, that's >cough< cool. Not! If we as enthusiasts put a leash on it and oppose this regulation now it makes it that much easier to negotiate in the future. If we take it lightly and let the EPA gain control, it will do just the opposite and they will regulate our hobby into boring melancholy.


Click here to read SEMA's article... SEMA Myth/Fact write up

[Che70velle]

Over 135K signatures so far. Sure, it's more than the target number, but the more opposition to this, the better. If you haven't signed it, go do it. It's free, and only takes a couple of minutes.

[96z28ss]

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

EPA Proposed Regulation:

Under the EPA proposed regulation, certified motor vehicles and engines and their emission control devices must remain in their certified configuration even if they are used solely for competition. Violators would be subject to the fines and penalties included in the tampering prohibitions.

SEMA’s Understanding of Proposal as Confirmed by the EPA:

SEMA representatives met with EPA officials on January 20, 2016 to confirm the association’s understanding of the proposed regulation. The EPA officials confirmed that the regulation would make it illegal to convert a certified motor vehicle into a vehicle to be used solely for competition. The EPA officials claimed that this had always been their interpretation of the Clean Air Act.

Myth: This proposal is not changing current law.

Congress never intended the Clean Air Act to be interpreted as giving the EPA the authority to regulate vehicles used solely for competition, regardless of whether the vehicles were once emissions-certified road vehicles. Once a vehicle is taken out of use as a road vehicle and dedicated solely to racing, it is beyond the laws which apply to road vehicles. The EPA and SEMA fundamentally disagree on this point. SEMA has cited the statutory text, legislative history, and congressional intent of the Clean Air Act, as well as 46 years of history whereby vehicles have been converted from certified road status to status as race vehicles without any objection from EPA.

Myth: The EPA is merely clarifying the law as it relates to motor vehicles and nonroad vehicles, and its proposal only affects vehicles driven on the streets.

The EPA is adding new language to the regulations. This new language states that a motor vehicle can never be modified, even if it is used solely for competition and never again used on public roads. The EPA is seeking to prohibit modifications affecting any emissions-related component, such as engines, engine control modules, intakes, exhaust systems, etc.

Myth: The EPA’s proposal only affects medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

The EPA inserted the problematic language into a rulemaking that focuses on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, however, the rulemaking also includes a section entitled “Miscellaneous EPA Amendments.” The language affecting “vehicles used solely for competition” (i.e., racecars) was a “miscellaneous EPA amendment” and would, in fact, affect all light-duty vehicles, not just trucks.

Myth: SEMA is overreacting, this will never get passed.

The EPA has issued a proposed regulation. Regulations are issued by federal agencies and not voted on by elected representatives. If the language becomes final (EPA is expected to issue a final regulation in July), then it will have the force of law and can only be challenged in federal court or overturned by Congress.

Myth: The EPA could not enforce this proposal.

The proposal would give the EPA the power to enforce against any vehicle owner that converts his or her emissions-controlled motor vehicle into a vehicle to be used solely for competition. Whether or not the EPA chooses to enforce, it would be illegal for an individual to convert their motor vehicle. Additionally, the EPA has stated that it will enforce against aftermarket companies that sell parts for use on the converted vehicles, which will limit racers’ access to parts.

Myth: The EPA’s proposal would not affect vehicles that have already been converted into racecars.

It is the EPA’s position that they will be able to enforce against vehicles that have already been converted in the past. While the EPA has indicated that it does not currently plan on enforcing against individuals, it does plan on going after the companies supplying parts for vehicles that have already been converted. So, if you have a racecar that began life as a street car, this regulation would affect your access to parts, and leave you open to enforcement if the agency so chooses.

Fact: The EPA’s proposal would not affect racecars with original emissions controls.

The EPA notes that race vehicles with original, unmodified emission controls, including the original engine configuration, engine control module, intake and exhaust components, do not violate the law. The issue is that very few competition race vehicles have been left unmodified and in a certified configuration.

Fact: The EPA’s proposal would not affect purpose-built racecars, such as sprint cars, open-wheel dragsters and the cars that currently compete in NASCAR.

The EPA agrees that vehicles that were originally manufactured for racing are excluded from regulation under the Clean Air Act. However, the EPA believes this exclusion extends only to vehicles that were never certified for on-road use or issued a VIN.

Fact: The EPA’s proposal will not affect the exemption for “nonroad vehicles,” such as dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles and boats used solely for competition.

The EPA has indicated that it will continue to allow “nonroad vehicles” (dirt bikes, ATVs, snowmobiles, boats) to be exempted from certain emissions regulations if they are used solely for competition. Distinct from its stance on motor vehicles, however, the EPA’s current position on nonroad vehicles allows emissions-certified nonroad vehicles to be converted into vehicles used solely for competition.

Get the Facts for Yourself:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles--Phase 2, 80 Fed. Reg. 40,138 (July 13, 2015), docket no. EPA–HQ–OAR–2014–0827:

Please use the search function to locate this provision within the proposed regulation:
PART 86--CONTROL OF EMISSIONS FROM NEW AND IN-USE HIGHWAY VEHICLES AND ENGINES
***
Subpart S--General Compliance Provisions for Control of Air Pollution From New and In-Use Light-Duty Vehicles, Light-Duty Trucks, and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
***
67. Section 86.1854-12 is amended by adding paragraph (b)(5) to read as follows:

§ 86.1854-12 Prohibited acts.

[RickM415]

all these 3 letter agencies only objective is to take your money and create bs laws that do nothing but make up bs fees and taxes, even an air compressor needs a permit in CA