. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/TBT/N/USA/745 
4 September 2012  
 (12-4753) 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
The following notification is being circ ulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES  
If applicable, name of local governme nt involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (763) 
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :    
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Vehicle emissions 
(ICS 13.040, 43.040) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Approval and 
Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Low Emission Vehicle 
Program (5 pages, English). 
6. Description of content:  EPA is proposing to approve se veral State Implementation Plan 
(SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Mary land. These revisions pertain to adoption by 
Maryland of the California Low Emission Vehicle Program (LEV), or California Clean Car Program. The underlying Maryland regulations require all new 2011 and subsequent model 
year passenger cars, light trucks, and medium-duty vehicles having a gross vehicle weight 
rating (GVWR) of 14,000 pounds or  less that are sold in Maryland to meet California 
emission standards. 
The Clean Air Act (CAA ) contains authority by which ot her states may adopt new motor 
vehicle emissions standards that are identical to California's standards. Specifically, Maryland has adopted California's light a nd medium-duty new vehi cle standards by reference, and then 
submitted these rules as part of the State's SIP revision to EPA.  
The Maryland Clean Car program has two objectiv es. The first is to reduce emissions of 
nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic com pounds (VOCs), both of which are precursors 
to the formation of ground level ozone pollution,  from new motor vehicles sold in Maryland. 
The second objective of the program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new motor 
vehicles weighing under 10,000 pounds GVWR. Maryland submitted supplemental SIP 
revisions to modify its own program to match updates by California to its program and to 
harmonize with recently es tablished Federal (and Califor nia) greenhouse gas and fuel 
economy standards promulgated by EPA appli cable to 2012-2016 model year vehicles of the 
same vehicle types covered by Maryland's rule s. This action is being taken under the CAA. G/TBT/N/USA/745 
Page 2  
 
  7. Objective and rationale, including the na ture of urgent problems where applicable:  
Protection of the environment and consumers  
8. Relevant documents:   77 Federal Register (FR) 50969,  23 August 2012; Title 40 Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 52. Will appear in the Federal Register when adopted.   
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    To be determined 
10. Final date for comments:  24 September 2012 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addres ses, if available of the other body:    
Internet URL's: 
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/ FR-2012-08-23/html/2012-20787.htm  
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-08-23/pdf/2012-20787.pdf