Introduction

In August 2004, Environment Canada issued a discussion document on the planned Marine Spark-Ignition Engine and Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Emission Regulations (hereinafter referred to as the proposed Regulations) on Environment Canada's CEPA Environmental Registry¹. The discussion document outlined the proposed Regulations which would establish standards to reduce smog-forming emissions from outboard motors, personal watercraft, snowmobiles, off-road motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in alignment with United States (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Interested parties were invited to provide comments on the proposed technical content and approach of aligning Canadian regulations for these vehicles and engines with the U.S. standards.

Environment Canada has considered the comments received concerning the proposed technical content and approach during the development of the proposed Regulations. The major issues raised by commenters in regards to the proposed Regulations are addressed in the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement (RIAS) that accompanies the publication of the proposed Regulations in Part I of the Canada Gazette. This document provides a more detailed summary of the comments concerning the technical content and approach received from interested parties and provides Environment Canada's response to those comments. A description of the proposed regulations and explanation of the benefits and costs, alternatives considered, and consultation undertaken are found in the RIAS.

The comments received are divided into two sub-sections:

• technical and regulatory elements of the proposed Regulations; and
• general policy-related issues.

¹ The discussion document is available at Discussion Document: Marine Spark-Ignition Engine and Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Emission Regulations