Advocacy

EPA Approves California OHV Emissions Rules

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved revised rules issued by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for Off-Highway Recreational Vehicles (OHRVs), including off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs), sometimes called UTVs or side-by-sides.

The rules establish evaporative emissions standards for OHRVs to be phased-in between 2018 and 2021. Sand cars, off-road utility vehicles and off-road sport vehicles are now also classified as OHRVs, to align with the federal classification of these vehicles. Noncompliant dirt bikes and ATVs are eligible for CARB’s OHV Red Sticker registration and are subject to usage restrictions. The emissions exemption for “competition vehicles” will be narrowly applied to “race-only vehicles” or “racing vehicles” operated exclusively on closed courses in sanctioned racing events. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.