NAAACCC UPDATE 10 - April 2002

Emissions Update - Provincial Air Care    

             

On March 30th. 2002 Environment Canada published the New On-Road Vehicle Emission Standards in the Canada Gazette. This document can be viewed on the Canada Environmental Web Site http://www.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/the_act/ under the title Participation. The new regulations provide information on why the government is planning to reduce emissions. The section on harmonization explains why Canada must align its emission standards with the United States.

The new proposed On-Road Engine Emission standards call for cleaner vehicles to be available in Canada starting September 1, 2003. The measures would result in progressively greater annual emission reductions of pollutants that form smog.

It is estimated that in 2020, the proposed regulations will contribute to the following emission reductions from new on-road vehicles in Canada: nitrogen oxides (-74%),

Particulate matter (-64%), carbon monoxide (-23%) and volatile compounds (-14%).

These new regulations will complement previously announced cleaner fuels initiatives including the proposed low sulphur diesel regulations and the existing low sulphur gasoline regulations, as well as the Benzene in Gasoline Regulations which are also part of the government's clean air agenda. 

These new emission standards do not apply to existing or vintage vehicles, but we can expect the government to take some action on older vehicles as they work their way down on their priority list. The NAAACCC is prepared to work with the government, on any proposed regulations that would impact our hobby, before the proposed regulations appear in the Canada Gazette.  The NAAACCC has already initiated contact with Representatives in Environment Canada to participate under the Public Participation Program.

A big hand must be given to the Air Care Collector Council members, Fred Bennett of the SVABC, Jim Macdonald of the VCCC and John Carlson of the NAAACCC. These members were successful in having the "Collector Plated Vehicles emission-testing program modified. This modification will result in most of our vintage vehicles passing the emission tests.

The initial results of the surveys on Vintage Vehicle Usage appear to confirm vintage vehicles in BC are only driven about 500 miles/year as opposed to the previously thought 8,000 miles /year. This information should help take heat off vintage vehicles under future emission testing and high emitting vehicle scrappage programs.  The NAAACCC thanks all members who contributed to this survey.

All NAAACCC Members will be meeting in Toronto on April 19th. and 20th. for an annual meeting. This will be an important strategic meeting in which strategy and direction will be discussed and developed to protect the Vintage Automobile Hobby.

                                                                        Dennis Duncan , NAAACCC Director