JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT CHALLENGE TRADE ASSOCIATION'S PARTICIPATION WITH EPA IN ESTABLISHING ENGINE EMISSION STANDARDS

WASHINGTON D.C. -- The Department of Justice's Antitrust Division said today it does not intend to challenge an industrial trade association's participation in a federal rulemaking process concerning emission standards for engines.

The Portable Engine Manufacturers Association, comprised of manufacturers of small nonroad engines, will participate with other groups on an Environmental Protection Administration advisory committee that will draft recommendations on feasible and cost-effective emission control standards for engines manufactured by PPEMA members.

To prevent the disclosure of competitively sensitive information such as technology or costs, PPEMA will gather information from its members and transmit it in aggregate form to the EPA and the advisory committee.

Additionally, EPA has forbidden members of the advisory committee from restraining competition or receiving confidential business information on individual firms.

Anne K. Bingaman, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division, said the EPA and PPEMA safeguards will significantly reduce the risk of any anticompetitive effects resulting from PPEMA's participation in the rulemaking process.

Under the department's business review procedure, an organization may submit a proposed action to the Antitrust Division and receive a statement as to whether the Division would challenge the action as a violation of federal antitrust law.

A file containing the business review request and Department's response will be made available in the Legal Procedures Unit of the Antitrust Division, Room 3235, Department of Justice, Washington D.C., 20530. After a 30-day waiting period, the documents supporting the business review request will be added to the file.