Emission Control From PETROL Motor Vehicle

SUBJECT	Emission Control From PETROL Motor Vehicle.
The Law	Environmental Quality (Control of Emission from Petrol Engines) Regulations, 1996 -       a subsidiary of the Environmental Quality Act, 1974.
The Issue	N.S.T’s 11th October 2001; Front Page,  titled “Workshops roped in – Service centres also allowed to conduct smoke emission tests”

The NST report (Summarized)

q  The DG DOE, Puan Dato' Hajah Rosnani Ibarahim would grant ‘Approved Facility’ status to workshops and service centre to enable them to conduct emission testing on petrol fueled motor vehicles (except motocycles).

q  The test parameters: Carbon Monoxide and Hydrocarbons.

q  The stipulated legal emission standard, according to Regulation 10, (Fourth Schedule):

	Carbon Monoxide %	Hydrpcarbons (parts per million) (ppm)
Existing model	4.5	800
New model	3.5	600

The Approved Facilities to be: (Speculated from the NST report):

Puspakom, EON, Proton-DRB, Perodua, AAM, Esso, Mobil, BP, Shell and Caltex. Shall issue test certificates on the spot.

Testing Fee: no report – be paid by car owners.

Legal Liability: Max. RM 2000 compound if tests are being performed by DOE enforcement.

What the law says? – the jest.

Environmental Quality (Control of emission from Petrol Engines) Regulations 1996 - Part II

q  New motor vehicle and any new model registered on or after 01/01/97and weighing less than 2.5 ton has the following emission standards:

           

Mass of Carbon Monoxide	2.72 g/km
Combined Mass of hydrocarbon and Nitrogen Oxides	0.97 g/km

q  New motor vehicles and any new model registered on or after 01/01/97 and used for carrying goods and weighing maximum not more than 3.5 tonnes has the following emission standard:

Reference Mass (rw) (kg)	Mass of carbon Monoxide g/km	Combined Mass of Hydrocarbons and Nitrogen Oxides (g/km)
Rw < 1250	2.72	0.97
1250< rw < 1700	5.17	1.40
1700<  rw	6.90	1.70

q  Test and certificates issued only by manufacturer or assembler, prior to delivery!

q  Racing & Rally cars on approved or designated racing circuits and rally terrains are EXEMPTED.

(So, Micheal Schumacher is not be affected!!!  he cruises at appox. 250 km/hr!)

  

“ Most of us subscribe to this one ! ”

Part III

q  Applicable to every existing motor vehicle in use, anywhere and any time.

q  Limits of gaseous emission: Fourth Schedule, Regulation 10. (Please refer to earlier text The NST report – Summarized – 3^rd Paragraph)

q  Legal liability:

i)             Max. compound RM 2,000.00;

ii)            Prohibition Order (vehicles deemed not allowed on public roads) if the emission still exceed the limit in subsequent test done within 3 months after the 1^st test done by the DOE or other authorized officers e.g RTD, Police, etc. (Regulation 12 & 13) Prohibition order shall be lifted only after a verification re-test following the mechanical remedial measures proved satisfactory to the DOE/Authorities.

iii)           The exhaust tail – end pipe section has to be straight i.e. for the final 150 mm before outlet into atmosphere – regulation 15.

iv)           Switch-off our engine after idling for 3 minutes in any enclosed, partially enclosed area or terminus!  - Regulation 16.

v)            We have to keep a log book for the emission test: Registration number, date, time, result of tests and preferably name of approved facility/emission tester.

- be made available for inspection by the DG DOE/authorized officer – at anytime!

Professional Suggestion

How does this new law affects companies subscribing to ISO 14001 – EMS. What should we do?

Purchase of new cars

An S.O.P should be developed based on the interpretation from this new legal requirement

e.g. 1 (To begin with…)

 “The Purchasing Department shall ensure that any purchase of new petrol motor vehicle (except motorcycles) shall be accompanied by an Emission Test Certificates for the car and be issued by their respective manufacturer or assembler. And, the final section of the exhaust pipe be in linear configuration at a minimum uninterrupted length of 150mm.”

Idling Petrol Vehicles

e.g.2

 The top management shall define the following:

i)             Enclosed Areas (in our premise)

ii)            Partially Enclosed Areas (in our premise)

iii)           Terminus and transit areas.

Definition shall appear in EMS manual or the respective S.O.P/W.I.S. Preferably accompanied by a layout map – indicate the areas defined.

iv)           Regularity of test is not defined under the law – so this means we have the luxury to set our own frequency

Note: From the DOE’s perspective – our emission must conform to this limit at all times!!!

Since this law calls for immediate effect, I suggest prompt response from the Top Management and the EMS Committee.

External Communication

Any further inquiry pertaining to this environmental aspect that subscribes to a legal requirement may be forwarded to the DOE (HQ) at 03-26924403 or 26924441

This E-mail: Author: Mr. Khalid Mohd Ariff

                                 (Principal Consultant)