SIP Page 1 of 1 

Region 8: EPA's Air Pollution State Implementation Plans 

You are here: EPA Home Region 8 R8 Air SIPS 

Pr nt this Page 

State Utah 

State Agency Department of Environmental Quality 

Affected Area Statewide 

Regulation Utah State Implementation Plan 

Rule Number Section X, Part A - Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program 

Rule Title 

State Effective 

Date 

EPA Effective 

Date 

Notice of Final 

Rule Date 

Notice of Final 

Rule Citation 

Comments 

Rule Text: 

Rule History 

State Effective 

Date 

08/ 02 / 2002 

X.A - General Requirements and Applicability 

05 /1 8/ 2004 

01 / 03 / 2006 

ll / 02 / 2005 

70 FR 66264 

EPA Effective 

Date 

11 / 08/ 2002 

Et ~ 

Utah X. Part A. Veh . I.M. Program. pdf 

Notice of Final Rule 

Date 

10/ 09 / 2002 

Notice of Final Rule 

Citation 

67 FR 62891 

Rule Comments 

Text 

EPA has attempted to ensure that th is information accurately reflects EPA's final action as 

published in the Federal Register (FR) and cod ified in the Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR). If there are discrepancies, however, the CFR and the FR are the official record . 

EPA Home I Privacy and Security Notice I Contact Us 

https://yosemite.epa.gov/R8/R8Sips.nsf/b2af5baa99cc429287256b5f0054df73/17ee0e259f6155ed8... 6/2/2014 

UTAH STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 

SECTION X 

VEHICLE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM 

PART A 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICABILITY 

Adopted by the Utah Air Quality Board 

March 31,2004 
Table of Contents 

1. General Requirements ....................................... , .............................. .............................. 1 

2. Applicability ........................ ..................... ...................................................................... 2 
-

UTAH STATE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 

SECTION X 

AUTOMOTIVE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE (liM) PROGRAM 

PART A 

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICABILITY 

1. General Requirements 

Federal liM Program requirements This SIP revision demonstrates compliance with the 

federal Basic liM standards specified in 40 CFR 51 SubpartS, "Inspection/Maintenance 

Program Requirements" last amended at 66 FR 18156, April 5, 2001, as required by 

Section 182 of the Clean Air Act. The EPA liM rule establishes a program performance 

standard and other requirements that will provide more effective control of carbon 

monoxide and ozone precursor emissions. The Utah State Implementation Plan 

establishes more stringent requirements for each designated liM c.ounty. The 

requirements for Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber Counties are described in parts B, C, 

D and E of this section. 

On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) Checks By January 1, 2002, OBD checks and OBD-related 

repairs are required as a routine component of basic and enhanced 1/M programs on 

model year 1996 and newer light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks equipped with 

certified on-board diagnostic systems. The federal performance standard requires repair 

of malfunctions or system deterioration identified by or affecting OBD systems. 

Utah liM program history and general authority The legal authority for Utah's liM 

programs, Section 41-6-163.6, was enacted during the First Special Session of the Utah 

legislature in 1983. liM programs were initially implemented by Davis and Salt Lake 

Counties in 1984 and by Utah County in 1986. 

In 1990, the legislature enacted Section 41-6-163.7 that requires that liM counties use 

computerized liM testing equipment, adopt standardized emission standards, and provide 

for reciprocity. Those requirements were fully implemented by Davis, Salt Lake, and 

Utah Counties on September 1, 1991, and by Weber County on January 1, 1992. 

Section 41-6-163.6 was again amended by the legislature in 1992 to include vehicles 

owned and operated by the federal government, federal employees, and students and 

employees of colleges and universities. The 1992 revision of 41-6-163.6 also established 

more stringent restrictions for vehicles that qualify for a farm truck exemption. 

Amendments to Section 19-2-104 in 1992 authorize the Utah Air Quality Board to 

establish requirements for county lfM programs after obtaining agreement from the 

affected counties. The same bill amended Section 41-6-163.6 to allow the counties to 

subject individual motor vehicles to inspection and maintenance at times other than the 

FINAL --March 31,2004 Section X, Part A, page I 
annual inspection. This authority was sought in anticipation of adding an on-road testing 

element to the current liM programs as soon as funding is available. 

Section 41-6-163 was amended in 1994 to authorize implementation of liM programs 

stricter than minimum federal requirements in counties where it is necessary to attain or 

maintain ambient air quality standards. Section 41-6-163 requires preference be given to 

a decentralized program to the extent that a decentralized program will attain and 

maintain ambient air quality standards and meet federal requirements. It also requires 

affected counties and the Air Quality Board to give preference to the most cost effective 

means to achieve and maintain the maximum benefit with regard to air quality standards 

and to meet federal air quality requirements related to motor vehicles. The legislature 

indicated preference for a reasonable phase-out period for replacement of air pollution 

test equipment made obsolete by program in accordance with applicable federal 

requirements, and if such a phase-out does not otherwise interfere with attainment of 

ambient air quality standards. 

House Concurrent Resolution No.9 of the 1994 General Session of the legislature 

(H.C.R. 9) was a concurrent resolution of the legislature and the governor expressing 

opposition to the EPA position regarding the implementation of enhanced automobile 

inspection and urging the EPA to recognize the benefits of other automobile inspection 

program options and to work with the state to develop workable plans for attaining 

ambient air quality standards and protecting public health. Parts B, C, D and E of this 

section document state liM requirements and applicability that are specific to Davis, Salt 

Lake, Utah and Weber Counties, respectively. · 

In 1995, the legislature amended Section 41-6-163.7 to rescind the requirement for liM 

program standardization and reciprocity between counties. While advantageous, 

standardization and reciprocity between liM counties is no longer required, and each liM 

county is free to develop an liM program that best meets the respective county's needs. 

In 2002, the Legislature amended Section 41-6-163.7 to allow for inspection every other 

year for cars that are six years old or newer on January 1 each year. This provision is 

applicable to the extent allowed under the current state implementation plan for each area. 

2. Applicability 

General Applicability All of Utah's ozone and carbon monoxide non-attainment and 

maintenance areas are located in the four counties where Utah's State Implementation 

Plan for Automotive Inspection and Maintenance (liM) Program is applicable. 

FINAL --March 31 ,2004 Section X, Part A, page 2 
···- U.S. BUREAU OF CENSUS POPULATION FOR OZONE MAINTENANCE AREAS 

OZONE MAINTENANCE 

AREA 1980 CENSUS 1990 CENSUS 2000 CENSUS 

Salt Lake County 619,066 725,956 898,387 

Davis County 146,540 187,941 238,994 

TOTAL 765,606 913,897 1,137,381 

U.S. BUREAU OF CENSUS POPULATION FOR CARBON MONOXIDE 

MAINTENANCE AREAS 

CO MAINTENANCE 

AREAs 1980 CENSUS 1990 CENSUS 2000 CENSUS 

Ogden City 64,407 6,909 77,226 

Provo City 74,111 86,835 105,166 

Salt Lake City 163,034 159,936 181,743 

TOTAL 301,552 310,683 364,135 

EPA's requirement for minimum mandatory geographic coverage for Basic liM programs 

is the urbanized area in which an applicable nonattainment and maintenance area is 

located. Parts of Utah's carbon monoxide and ozone maintenance areas are 

geographically located within the following U.S. Bureau of Census urbanized areas. 

There is no direct correspondence between the geographic boundaries of the maintenance 

areas, the urbanized areas, and Utah's liM programs. 

U.S. BUREAU OF THE CENSUS DATA FOR MAINTENANCE URBANIZED AREAS 

URBAN1ZED AREAS 1980 CENSUS 

205,744 

169,699 

674,201 

1990 CENSUS 2000 CENSUS 

Ogden Urbanized Area 

Provo-Orem Urbanized Area 

Salt Lake Urbanized Area 

TOTAL 

FINAL --March 31 , 2004 

1,049,644 

Section X, Part A, page 3 

259,147 417,933 

220,556 303,680 

789,447 887,650 

1,269,150 1,609,263 
Utah's State Implementation Plan for liM is applicable county-wide in Davis, Salt Lake, 

Utah, and Weber Counties. The carbon monoxide and ozone maintenance areas and the 

associated urbanized areas are located completely within these four counties. 

Enforcement mechanism The liM programs are registration-enforced on a county-wide 

basis. Section 41-6-163.6(1) requires that a certificate of emissions inspection or a 

waiver or other evidence that the motor vehicle is exempt from the liM program 

requirements be presented prior to registration of a motor vehicle in the counties where 

liM programs are required. 

Applicable zip codes Federal liM regulations require submittal of a list of ZIP codes for 

liM program areas. EPA plans to use ZIP codes to help liM programs identify vehicles 

subject to emissions-related recalls by the manufacturer. This liM program element is 

only mandatory in areas where enhanced liM is explicitly required by the Clean Air Act. 

Participation in the database and access to the information will provide consumer and air 

quality benefits should Utah's liM programs elect to participate when the system is 

developed. 

Test frequency Vehicles are tested on an annual basis, except that vehicles six years old 

or newer on January 1 each year may be tested every other year if allowed under the 

current state implementation plan for each area. A certificate of emissions inspection or a 

waiver or other evidence that the vehicle is exempt from the liM program requirements 

must be presented at the time of, and as a condition precedent to, registration or renewal 

of registration of a motor vehicles as specified in Section 41-6-163.6 and 41-1a-203(1)(c). 

The liM inspection is required within two months prior to the month the registration 

renewal is due. Owners of vehicles operated without valid license plates or with expired 

license plates are subject to ticketing by peace officers at any time. Registration status is 

also checked on a random basis at roadblocks and in parking lots at various locations 

around the state. Per Section 41-1a-402, Utah license plates indicate the county of 

registration and the expiration date of the registration. 

Valid registration required Per Section 41-1a-1303, it is a Class C misdemeanor for a 

person to drive or move, or for an owner knowingly to permit to be driven or moved upon 

any highway any vehicle of a type that is required to be registered in the state that is not 

registered in the state. Section 41-1a-1315 specifies that it is a second degree felony to 

falsify evidence of title and registration. 

Registration schedules Section 41-1a-215 specifies that vehicle registration dates are 

staggered throughout the year. Registrations continue for a period of twelve months 

beginning with the first day of the calendar month of registration and does not expire until 

the last day of the same month in the following year. Vehicle owners are not able to alter 

the test frequency by late registration of the vehicle. Section 41-1a-216 says that "the 

new registration shall retain the same expiration month as recorded on the original 

registration even if the registration has expired" unless the vehicle has been out of 

FINAL --March 31, 2004 Section X, Part A, page 4 
--.. service. This provision ensures that the vehicles are tested on an annual basis. 

Change of ownership Vehicle owners are not able to avoid the liM inspection program 

by changing ownership of the vehicle. Upon change of vehicle ownership the vehicle 

must be re-registered by the new owner. The new owner must present an emissions 

certificate, waiver, or proof of exemption from the 11M program as a condition precedent 

to registration. The liM documents must be dated no more than two months prior to the 

registration date. The new annual registration and liM inspection dates for the vehicle 

will be the date of registration. 

FINAL --March 31 , 2004 Section X, Part A, page 5