http://news.abateoforegon.net/info21.htm The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF) is currently involved in a Sound and Emissions Initiative to make certain all motorcyclists, small shops and custom builders are represented in the development of national and international sound and emission actIons.
On February 3rd and 4th 2006, Dave Dwyer, MRF Assistant in Government Relations, and Kirk Willard, MRF Vice President attended the V-Twin Expo in Cincinnati meeting with several representatives from the aftermarket industry including MIC American V-Twin Committee members, media and an advisor to Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA). Legislative issues relating to current and proposed EPA regulations and proposed sound regulations were discussed. Tele-conferences and additional meetings have and will continue to be conducted in the future.
On February 7th, 2006, MRF Vice President of Government Relations, Jeff Hennie and MRF Vice President Kirk Willard met with EPA officials from the Office of Air and Radiation in Washington D.C. to discuss and clarify the MRF position and review statements made by EPA representatives during a Regulation 41 Informal group meeting on motorcycle noise emissions in Milwaukee, WI conducted under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The MRF presented information related to recent developments by both the motorcycle industry and rider groups concerning motorcycle sound issues.
Also in February 2006 the International Motorcycle Cooperation Group comprised of MRF, Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations (FEMA), American Motorcyclists’ Association (AMA) and Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme (FIM) met in Geneva, Switzerland to address sound and emission issues currently being discussed by the United Nations.
Furthermore, MRF Vice President Kirk Willard attended the fifth Regulation 41informal group meeting on motorcycle sound emissions, the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP29) and the Working Party on Noise (GRB) . During those meetings FEMA and the MRF discovered exhaust emissions limit values were being reintroduced for consideration within the World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC) test platform. In addition, there was lengthy informal discussion in Geneva about efforts being made in Europe to begin work on a stricter emissions and noise standards.
In light of this development , Bob Tomlins, FEMA Assistant General Secretary, will be representing the International Motorcycle Cooperation Group (MRF, FEMA, FIM and AMA) in Pune, India April 20-21st, 2006.
In conjunction with international participation, MRF members and SMROs are visiting Washington DC to lobby members of Congress. Members of both the House and the Senate are receiving updates from their constituents on these key issues.
In addition, the MRF anticipates several meetings related to these issues during the International Motorcycle Safety Conference taking place the last weekend of March in California. MRF board members Jeff Hennie, Kirk Willard, and Jay Jackson will be in attendance and while the focus of the meetings is safety, we expect a dialog regarding emission and sound issues to take place as well.
In an effort to tie all this information together to benefit our nations’ motorcyclists the MRF has scheduled a meeting at the EPA's National Vehicle Fuel Emissions Laboratory in early April to discuss both emission and sound issues.
"The overwhelming response the MRF has received from our EPA questionnaire and the amount and level of discussions we are having with these various stakeholders convinces me we are on the right path. We will continue our efforts to represent and protect our interests with what appears to be the eventual move toward tighter noise and exhaust emission limit values in a significantly emerging global environment," said Kirk Willard. "Our participation at home and abroad will be instrumental in ensuring law makers, regulators and manufacturers will consider our point of view and listen to our concerns."
