Inspection/Maintenance Program Highlights
U.S. EPA
For further info contact: Eugene Tierney 313-668-4456

July - Sept 1995

  
Highlights 9-25-95

Maryland - September 26, 1995 - The State submitted a CO redesignation
request for Baltimore on September 18, 1995.  More committee hearings will
be held in November and are expected to focus on test-and-repair and ASM. 
Voluntary IM240 testing is reportedly doing well.

Michigan - September 26, 1995 - Michigan has applied for CMAQ funding to
open one voluntary IM240 test station in western Michigan.  The State
estimates that 13,000 cars will be tested annually and generate emissions
reductions of one half ton per day.

Utah - An updated version of the Analytical Protocol for assessment of the
I/M program credit for test-and-repair programs in Utah was sent out to EPA
Regional Air Directors and staff for distribution to states for comment. 
All comments should be faxed to Philip Lorang before October 31, 1995.  EPA
is in the process of analyzing Utah's data and as yet, no discount rate has
been determined.

Vermont - September 25, 1995 - Agency of Natural Resources Secretary
Barbara Ripley announced that the State intends to move forward with an I/M
program.  The announcement contained few details except that the State is
contemplating an add-on to the existing safety inspection program.
Washington D.C. - September 26, 1995 - The District submitted a
redesignation request for CO on September 18, 1995.

I/M OBD Rule - September 26, l995 -  A meeting was held with AIAM, AAMA and
the motor vehicle manufacturers regarding the proposed I/M OBD rule, which
was published on August l8, l995.    Discussion centered on I/M test
procedures for vehicles equipped with OBD systems.   Issues such as 
properly set readiness codes, fault code retrieval and customer awareness
of these codes and the subsequent impact on a vehicle passing or failing an
I/M test were discussed.   EPA will take the issues discussed under
consideration when drafting the final rule.  The comment period for this
rule has been extended to October 13, 1995.

OTR - September 22, l995 - A notice of proposed rule making providing I/M
implementation flexibility to areas in the Ozone Transport Region has been
sent to the Administrator's office for signature.  A press advisory will be
published by Friday, September 29, l995.

Flex Rule - September l8, l995 - The I/M Flexibility Amendments were
published in the Federal Register.  The rulemaking has also been posted on
the TTN bulletin board for public access.

Highlights 9-11-95

Nevada  - September 5, 1995 - The Las Vegas, low enhanced, I/M program
started up using the new NEV94 analyzers.  The upgraded mechanic training
program will begin in December.  The contract with Desert Research
Institute on RSD will be completed in February 1996.  Implementation of RSD
testing may begin in March l996.

I/M Final Flex Rule - September 11, 1995 - The I/M Flexibility Final Rule
was signed by the Administrator on September 5, 1995.  The rule is being
processed by the Office of Federal Register and should be published by next
week.
OBD Rule - September 11, 1995 - A notice extending the comment period to
October 13, 1995 for the On-board Diagnostics NPRM should be published in
the Federal Register within two weeks.

Highlights 8-14-95

Michigan - August 7, l995 -  The Detroit area has apparently violated the
ozone standard this summer.  The area was redesignated to attainment in
April 1995, after several years without a violation, although two incidents
occurred last summer.  The State of Michigan plans to send a letter by
August 31, l995, confirming that a violation has occurred.  Despite this,
the State is proceeding with plans to discontinue the AET program, which 
has been largely ineffective in reducing emissions.  The State is
considering which contingency measures to implement to address the problem.

OBD Rule - August l4, l995 - The Administrator has signed the proposed rule
and it should be published in the Federal Register within the next two
weeks.  This rule would establish procedures and SIP requirements for
conducting OBD checks in I/M programs.

Highlights 7-31-95

Missouri - July 14, l995 - The Deputy AA for Air and Radiation and the EPSD
Director went to St. Louis today for a meeting to discuss Missouri's I/M
program.  The lawsuit against EPA over the l5% SIP requirement and
sanctions has not been decided.  But, the State is ready to start
considering options for an I/M program.    The Legislature is ready to
accept financing and ownership of stations by a contractor, instead of the
State, if there are contractor stations.  A start date of January l997 is
anticipated.  The State contracted with  Sherman Engineering to write the
RFP for the building and operating contract.

New York - August 2, 1995 - The State has submitted its I/M SIP.  The
Region is preparing a completeness finding for the submittal, thereby
stopping the sanctions clock.  The SIP calls for a retest-based hybrid
program in the New York city MSA and two options for the upstate area, one
meeting EPA's proposed low enhanced performance standard, and another
adding a pressure test and OBD check to the statewide safety inspection,
which would meet the OTR low-enhanced performance standard.

New York - July 24, 1995 - Public hearings on the emergency rules for the
I/M SIP were held last week in New York.   There was considerable public
comment and the State says it will take some time to put together the
response to comment.

Texas - July 20, 1995 - Texas submitted the three alternative plans they
are considering for the I/M program.  The plans were approved by Governor
George Bush and the chosen version is to be submitted to the Governor on
August 3, 1995.  The first option is a decentralized BAR90, test-and-repair
annual program with the addition of gas cap testing and remote sensing. 
Option two, the Motorist Choice Option, is the same as option one, except
it allows motorists to choose between test-only biennial tests and test-
and-repair annual tests.  Option three, low impact, requires test-only
change-of-ownership testing using IM240 and remote sensing of about 20% of
the fleet.

On Board Diagnostic - July 25, l995 - The Administrator signed the Notice
of Propose Rulemaking - On Board Diagnostics Inspection/Maintenance
requirements.  The rule should be published in the Federal Register within
the next two weeks.  This rule would establish procedures and SIP
requirements for conducting OBD checks in I/M programs.

Highlights 7-17-95

California - June 30, 1995 - The State submitted its I/M SIP to EPA today
and a letter deeming the package complete was signed and sent on the same
day.  The package contains emergency regulations.  In the letter finding
the SIP complete, EPA indicated that while the proposed program falls short
of meeting the minimum requirements for a "high" enhanced I/M program, it
does meet the necessary criteria for a "low" enhanced I/M program.

Colorado - July 12, 1995 - Boulder, which is an enhanced I/M opt-in area,
started testing in two new stations that opened July 1.  The last station,
in Denver, is scheduled to begin testing on September 15.  The program is
still showing an average failure rate of 9%, with two thirds  passing the
first reinspection.  The average cost of repairs is $151, and the average
reduction in emissions after repairs is 59%.  Despite the fact that the
program is running smoothly, Congressman Paschal -- who last session 
sponsored a bill to kill the program -- has announced that he is writing a
new bill to kill the program and will introduce it in January 1996, when
the legislature reconvenes.

Illinois - June 29, 1995 - The State submitted its I/M SIP to EPA today.  A
letter finding the package complete has been sent out.

New Jersey - July 17, 1995 - The State has submitted an I/M SIP to the
Regional office.  It is being evaluated for completeness.  The SIP calls
for a hybrid program with biennial ASM and evaporative purge and pressure
testing for all model year vehicles using the ESP alternative evaporative
system tests.  Vehicles four years old and newer may be tested at test-and-
repair stations or test-only stations, at the owner's choice.  Vehicles six
years old and older are initially tested at test-only stations and may be
retested at test-and-repair stations.

Texas - July 13, 1995 - Local Councils of Government have formed a
committee to discuss the future of I/M and have invited EPA's Region 6 to
participate.  The committee will include elected state representatives,
TNRCC, repair industry representatives, consumer groups, and the Texas
Department of Public Safety.  Meanwhile, the Governor's office and TNRCC
continue to work behind closed doors to develop 2 - 3 I/M program design
options to propose to EPA sometime in the near future.