Archive for Wednesday, April 18, 2007
EPA proposing limits on lawnmower emissions
April 18, 2007
Advertisement
Washington — Those polluting engine-powered mowers that are a staple of suburban lawn care would become much cleaner under emission limits proposed Tuesday.
The regulators' proposal follows a long-running dispute between California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Missouri Republican Sen. Kit Bond, who has sought to block the change in order to protect a small-engine maker in his home state, Briggs & Stratton Corp.
Walk-behind and riding mowers and other garden equipment account for up to 10 percent of summertime smog-forming emissions from mobile sources in some parts of the country.
The Environmental Protection Agency's new proposal applies to engines under 25 horsepower, which power nearly all walk-behind and riding lawnmowers as well as small generators and other devices. The rule would cut smog-forming emissions from the engines by 35 percent; the reductions probably would be accomplished by adding catalytic converters that reduce pollution from exhaust.
The rule would take effect in 2011 for riding mowers and 2012 for push mowers and would apply only to new engines.
Adding catalytic converters will make mowers more expensive and some in the industry resisted the change. The California Air Resources Board has estimated that walk-behind mowers will cost 18 percent more under the new regulation, while the price of commercial turf care mowers will go up about 3 percent.
California already has enacted the rule. The nation's most populous state has unique authority under the Clean Air Act to establish its own pollution rules if it's granted a federal waiver. California got the small-engine waiver last December and began regulating walk-behind mowers on Jan. 1 with the restrictions for riding mowers coming Jan. 1, 2008.
Bond initially sought to block California from instituting its regulation but backed off under pressure from Feinstein. He did succeed in blocking other states from being able to copy California's rule, something the Clean Air Act normally allows. Instead, he required EPA to write the national standard that was proposed Tuesday.
More like this
- EPA explains denial of Calif. greenhouse gas waiver March 1, 2008
- Pollution rules on lawn mowers to increase costs September 7, 2008
- Clean-air rules aim to cut haze at U.S. parks May 30, 2001
- EPA regulation targets off-road vehicles May 12, 2004
- EPA issues revised truck pollution rules August 2, 2000
Top ads RSS
- Tonganoxie Nursing is now hiring for: LPN-Part Time 2PM-10PM & ...
- Floor Tech/Floater Sun.-Thurs., 2-4 hrs. per night, start at 5:00 ...
- Googols of Learning Child Development Center is now hiring for ...
- ALL GIRLS & GUYS $400 - $850 / week. No ...
- Cleaning Technician- 5 eves. per wk, 3 hrs per night; ...
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Blog: Tasering Your Preteen: Can You Imagine? November 24, 2009 · 71 comments
- Mangino not living on his knees November 29, 2009 · 18 comments
- Jobless recovery will haunt Democrats November 29, 2009 · 12 comments
- Woods hurt in accident November 28, 2009 · 24 comments
- City commission agenda for Dec. 1 November 28, 2009 · 7 comments
- Turbine manufacturer passes on Lawrence site November 24, 2009 · 119 comments
- On the street: With the retirement of U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, what characteristics would you like to see in a new congressman? November 29, 2009 · 14 comments
- Senate report: Bin Laden was within grasp of U.S. troops November 29, 2009 · 10 comments
- Two arrested after altercation at Henry's November 29, 2009 · 10 comments
- FINAL: Ressel's last-second field goal gives MU 41-39 victory over KU November 28, 2009 · 87 comments
- KU teams hone ultimate Frisbee skills November 29, 2009
- Reese's Pieces: Kitty Reese screen-prints designs with a darker ‘Holly Hobbie Country Rainbow Brite’ aesthetic November 29, 2009
- Victim ID’d in fatal car-cycle crash November 29, 2009
- Two arrested after altercation at Henry's November 29, 2009
- Firebirds’ 4-year run notable November 17, 2009
- City caters to its increasingly diverse population with culture, food offerings November 28, 2009
- Leaving Las Vegas: Sin City on losing end of rough economy November 29, 2009
- City commission agenda for Dec. 1 November 28, 2009
- Miserable ending November 29, 2009
- Papa does preach: Call to ministry can run in the family November 28, 2009
18 April 2007
at 12:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Ragingbear (Anonymous) says…
Yes. Because we all know that it is because of people mowing their grass with cruddy mowers that is responsible for global warming and environmental pollution. Not other things like those out of tune 18 wheelers that rumble down the street and leave behind black clouds of soot that setting onto everything around them. Nor is it the vehicles that everyone is using that get around 5mpg.
Good thing we figured this out before we actually tried fixing any of those other problems.
18 April 2007
at 7:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
Did you even read the article, ragingbear?
“Walk-behind and riding mowers and other garden equipment account for up to 10 percent of summertime smog-forming emissions from mobile sources in some parts of the country.”
Sure, there are larger sources of pollution, but this is still significant.
18 April 2007
at 8:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
How many mowers does Al Gore use to keep the lawn of his mansion in shape?
18 April 2007
at 8:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
gr (Anonymous) says…
“The Environmental Protection Agency's new proposal applies to engines under 25 horsepower, ”
Wow! I guess everyone should buy the biggest mower they can afford to help reduce greenhouse emissions.
Small bad. Big good.
Guess it would work for SUVs, too.
Just more evidence this whole thing is a political FARCE!
18 April 2007
at 8:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
“Just more evidence this whole thing is a political FARCE!”
Just more evidence that'll you'll jump to whatever conclusion supports your faith-based view of the world.
18 April 2007
at 9:32 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Ragingbear (Anonymous) says…
I did read the article. The numbers were pulled out of the rectum of a diseased pit viper. It is all in the wording..
~~Walk-behind and riding mowers and other garden equipment account for up to 10 percent of summertime smog-forming emissions from mobile sources in some parts of the country.~~
Account for UP TO 10 percent~Well, 1 percent could be part of that. For that matter, so could 0.0001%.
From mobile sources~ What is a mobile source? My farts contain methane after a heavy meal of beans. My butt is mobile. Does that mean that my butt is responsible for 10% of the smog?
In some parts of the country~ You mean, as in the parts of the country that consist of a 10 foot area around the lawnmower in question?
This entire publication is just another greenhouse gas producing smoke screen to ignore the real perpetrators of the havoc we are wreaking upon this planet.
18 April 2007
at 9:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
lounger (Anonymous) says…
Every little bit helps!
18 April 2007
at 9:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
snowWI (Anonymous) says…
Cars have had catalytic converters for years. Its about time that lawn mowers had them as well.
18 April 2007
at 10:18 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Ragingbear (Anonymous) says…
Let me clarify something here. I am not saying that lawn mowers are not polluting. I am saying that it is stupid that we are going after lawnmowers when there are so many other major contributers being ignored.
What's next? Will we have to take our mowers to be inspected every year like many states require on cars?
18 April 2007
at 11:44 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
KsTwister (Anonymous) says…
All city governments should start implementing push reel mowers now! Even better.
18 April 2007
at 12:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
Ever wondered where a lot of the material to make catalytic converters comes from?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/652…
18 April 2007
at 3:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
gr (Anonymous) says…
Let's say you own a lawncare business. Or a dealer. One that uses BIG lawn mowers. You want better prices. If all push lawnmowers go up in price, it may be more feasible to use a lawncare business.
Hmmm. Better find a legislature to see if he'd pass a law.
'Increased acid rain instead of CO2? Shrug. Who cares. Increased revenue.'
Kind of funny if you ask me. Increased pollution and death elsewhere for supposed reduced CO2 here. I'd bet there'd be some bozo saying that increased pollution is nothing if our world overheats and burns up because we run lawnmowers.