Proposed Regulations Amending the Off-Road Small Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations
Backgrounder
The Government of Canada is proposing to establish more stringent emission standards for air pollutants from off-road small spark-ignition engines, which are typically found in:
- Lawn and garden machines, such as hedge trimmers, brush cutters, lawn mowers, garden tractors, and snow blowers;
- Light-duty industrial machines, such as mobile generator sets, welders and pressure washers; and,
- Light-duty logging machines, such as chainsaws, log splitters and shredders.
Improving Canada’s Air Quality
Off-road small spark-ignition engines emit substances such as nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through the combustion and evaporation of the fuel used to power these engines. These pollutants then lead to the formation of ground-level ozone that contributes to smog. Air pollution can cause adverse human health effects, such as an increased risk of various cardiovascular and respiratory problems.
The proposed Regulations Amending the Off-Road Small Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations (the proposed amendments) would help to further reduce air pollutant emissions in Canada. They would apply to 2018 and later model year off-road small spark-ignition engines in Canada. From 2018 to 2031, the proposed amendments would lead to approximately 20,000 fewer tonnes of NOX and 58,000 fewer tonnes of VOCs emitted from these engines.
Specifically, the proposed amendments would improve air quality by:
- Establishing more stringent exhaust emission standards in alignment with current United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) regulations for engines designed to be used in non-handheld machines; and
- Introducing standards in Canada for emissions of air pollutants from the evaporation of fuel from engines designed to be used in handheld and non-handheld machines. This is also in alignment with the U.S. EPA current standards.
Economic Impacts of Proposed Regulations
- The proposed amendments to the Off-Road Small Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations would only apply to the manufacture and import of new small spark-ignition engines or machines containing them, and not to existing engines and machines being used in Canada. The engines covered would be those off-road engines using a spark plug or other sparking device and generating no more than 19 kilowatts of power.
- To comply with the stricter standards, it is expected that the cost of new small spark ignition products would increase by approximately $10 to $17 as a result of the proposed amendments. These costs would be partially offset by fuel savings resulting from increased fuel efficiency of enhanced small spark ignition engines
- Compliance with the proposed amendments is expected to reduce key air pollutants and, therefore, improve the health of Canadians. Between 2018 to 2031, the estimated cumulative savings for Canadians would be $140 million in health benefits, $9 million in fuel savings and $3 million administrative burden reductions for industry.
During the same period, the total cumulative costs of the proposed amendments are estimated at approximately $68 million: $67 million to domestic manufacturers and importers of off-road small spark-ignition engines and machines, $525,000 to domestic machine manufacturers for the testing of evaporative emissions and $130,000 to the federal government for compliance promotion activities.
As a result, the net benefit of the proposed amendments is estimated at approximately $84 million. Complete information can be found in the regulatory impact analysis statement (RIAS) for the proposed amendments.
Aligning Canada’s Emissions Standards
The proposed amendments would modify the Regulations such that Canadian emission standards would be aligned with the U.S. EPA’s Phase 3 standards for emissions from off-road small spark-ignition engines. Alignment with United States federal regulations would create a level playing field for industry and help to ensure that engines sold in Canada meet the same stringent air pollution emission standards as those sold in the U.S.
Given the integrated nature of the North American machine industry, alignment of Canada-U.S. standards provides significant health and environmental benefits in a cost effective manner. Alignment helps preserve the competitiveness of Canadian machine manufacturers, provides regulatory certainty to the industry, and delivers benefits that outweigh the costs for Canadians.
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