Sample Research Proposal Letter

EPA Proposes Tougher Guidelines for SCR Engines

The proposed guidance on selective catalytic reduction systems specifies requirements for warning drivers when they are running low on diesel exhaust fluid. It also proposes slowing the truck down to 5 mph if the DEF tank runs down to empty or the SCR dosing is not working, and it would require the system to identify and respond to poor-quality DEF. And it proposes guidelines for better tamper resistance.

In its discussion, the agency sidelined Navistar International's contention that SCR systems are easily circumvented.

"EPA does not believe Navistar's finding reflect the overall efficacy of SCR systems on heavy-duty diesel engines currently in operation or the way they are actually used," the agency said in its June 7 proposal.

Navistar, the only truck manufacturer that does not use SCR technology to meet the 2010 standard, had challenged the standard on grounds that drivers could get around SCR systems. In a test conducted by a contractor Navistar hired, drivers operated SCR trucks for extended periods without DEF, ran engines with water rather than DEF and manipulated DEF warning systems.

But the agency said that these findings arose from deliberate attempts to circumvent the systems, and that most drivers make the effort to comply.

"While it is possible that drivers could intentionally take such actions … the manner of truck operations conducted in the Navistar study is clearly not representative of the vast majority of truck operations," the agency said.

EPA cited surveys by the California Air Resources Board, American Trucking Associations and Cummins Engine showing that the overwhelming majority of drivers do not wait for warning systems to go off before they refill their DEF tanks. If the warnings did go off, the drivers tended to refill before inducements such as engine slowdown took effect, the agency said.

The evidence shows that the inducements that are now required are working, the agency said. "It appears that manufacturers' past SCR designs and EPA's guidance have resulted in highly effective controls to protect the operation of SCR systems."

Revisions are needed, however, because of new developments in SCR technology, the agency said. New sensors are better able to detect poor quality DEF, for example, and engine manufacturers have been improving their inducement systems.

Searle Scholars Program « Limited Submission

Kinship Trust: Searle Scholars Program

Limit on number of proposals: One nominee per institution

Notification of nomination or intent to nominate: Due by 5 p.m. June 15 to the Research Funding Opportunities Manager

Internal preproposal submission deadline: Due by 5 p.m. July 20 to the Research Funding Opportunities Manager

Estimated internal review completion date: July 27

Searle application deadline: September 30

Internal preproposal requirements

Title page (1 to 2 pages): Provide a title page with the name of the sponsoring agency and the full name of the program or programs for which the candidate has been nominated. Include a heading for “Month, day and year of the first tenure-track faculty appointment or equivalent appointment,” and under that heading, provide the date, whether the appointment was at NC State or another organization. Provide the name, title, mail address and telephone number of the staff college research administrator of the candidate’s home college. If the candidate has a joint appointment in two colleges, identify the college research administrator of the college from which the candidate’s full application would be submitted. Also include the date the internal preproposal is submitted.

Letter of recommendation (up to 3 pages) : The candidate should obtain a letter of recommendation/nomination from the department head. The letter should say clearly what makes the candidate truly special, and use examples. The letter should cite the candidate’s work, track record and potential for making outstanding research contributions relative to the program(s) for which the candidate is seeking institutional nomination. The letter should be addressed to the NC State Internal Review Panel, Searle Scholars Program, or to the NC State Internal Review Panel, Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences. For confidentiality, the letter should be sent directly from the author to the Research Funding Opportunities Manager

Research abstract: Provide a research abstract based on the requirements of the program for which the candidate is nominated. If the candidate is nominated for two programs, provide an abstract for each one, based on program-specific requirements.

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