We are finally seeing some movement from the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in regards to the EPA’s proposed regulations against converting street vehicles for racing purposes and the sale of aftermarket “race use only” parts.
Today, the AMA published a press release detailing much of the same information we brought you yesterday about the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2016 – better known as the RPM Act.
In its press release, the AMA says that it supports the efforts being made in Congress, and that the motorcycle lobbying group is also working with SEMA to keep EPA regulations for vehicles used in competition as they currently stand.
The AMA also says that its focus is to have language in the RPM Act that would specifically exempt competition motorcycles from EPA regulation, a move that would ensure that MotoAmerica and other race series in the US would continue to operate unrestricted.
The AMA’s press release makes little mention about the sale of “race use only” aftermarket parts, which truthfully is the larger at issue at stake in the EPA’s proposed regulations, and likely the EPA’s primary target. SEMA reports that the aftermarket parts industry is $1.4 billion annual business in the United States.
However, it is reasonable to assume that any lobbying efforts by SEMA on this issue would cover the motorcycle aftermarket business as well.
The next step in this process is a hearing on March 15th, before the House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology Oversight Subcommittee.
This meeting will focus on the proposed regulations by the EPA, and whether they overreach the agency’s authority. The AMA reports that the RPM Act is expected to be part of that hearing’s discussion as well.
“The RPM Act would make it clear that it has always been legal to modify motor vehicles – including motorcycles – for competition-only use,” said Wayne Allard, AMA Vice President of Government Relations.
“This practice continued unquestioned until last July, when the EPA proposed a new regulation that would make these conversions illegal. The EPA has never claimed the conversion of street vehicles into competition vehicles was prohibited before this regulation was proposed.”
Lastly, the AMA says to keep an eye out for its “AMA Action Alerts” which will prompt members as to when targeted reactions from individuals can make a difference.
Source: AMA
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