Two weeks have been added to the period in which comments on the proposed Phase 2 round of federal GHG rules for commercial vehicles will be accepted by the two agencies jointly working on the rulemaking.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have extended the deadline for submitting comments from Sept. 17th to Oct. 1st.

“In response to requests for an extension, we are extending the public comment period for the Heavy-Duty Phase 2 proposed rules and NHTSA’s DEIS [Draft Environmental Impact Statement] through October 1, 2015,” the agencies stated. “This extension will provide the public additional time to provide comment on the proposed rules and DEIS.”

Last month, EPA and NHTSA held “public listening sessions” in Chicago, Long Beach and Dallas during which top EPA and NHTSA officials heard comments from government and environmental agencies, manufacturers, fleets and other stakeholders about the proposed rules and posed clarifying questions as well.

At the Long Beach session, held on Aug. 18, most of those who offered comments were positive about the proposed regulations. However, there was disagreement on some particulars, such as the timing of implementation, NOx standards, and incentives for business.

Written comments on the Phase 2 GHG rule proposal should be directed to EPA to Docket No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2014- 0827 or to NHTSA to Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0132. For NHTSA’s DEIS, direct comments to Docket No. NHTSA-2014-0074.

Comments may be submitted via the www.regulations.gov web site by clicking here or by mailing to these addresses:

• EPA: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, EPA Docket Center, EPA/DC, EPA WJC West Building, 1301 Constitution Ave., N.W., Room 3334, Washington, DC.

• NHTSA: Docket Management Facility, M-30, U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building, Ground Floor, Rm. W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.