1. Introduction

This document provides a detailed summary and Environment Canada's response to comments received from stakeholders relating to development of the proposed Off-Road Small Spark-Ignition Engine Emission Regulations.

On February 17, 2001, the Minister of the Environment published the Federal Agenda on Cleaner Vehicles, Engines and Fuels in Part I of the Canada Gazette. This agenda outlines the Minister's intent to develop a series of measures over the next decade to reduce emissions from vehicles, engines and fuels.

One element of the federal agenda is the development of regulations under the authority of Part 7, Division 5 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) to establish emission standards for small spark-ignition engines aligned with those of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In July 2002, Environment Canada released a discussion draft of the new federal regulations. The discussion draft was accompanied by a note describing four specific regulatory issues: accepting engines certified to European Union emissions standards; Canadian regulatory plans to address proposed EPA amendments to U.S. emissions standards; special provisions for winter engines; and emission averaging provisions. The discussion draft was sent to stakeholders and posted on Environment Canada's CEPA registry web site (https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/historical/public-consultations/preliminary-consultations-off-road-small-spark-ignition-engine-emission-regulations.html).