Matthew Rodriquez 

Secretary for 

Environmental Protection 

February 12, 2014 

Air Resources Board 

Mary D. Nichols, Chairman 

1001 I Street • P.O. Box 2815 

Sacramento, California 95812 • www.arb.ca.gov 

Administrator Gina McCarthy 

United States Environmental Protection Agency 

Headquarters Ariel Rios Building 

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. 

Mail Code 1101A 

Washington, D.C. 20460 

Edmund G. Brown Jr. 

Governor 

RE: Request for Waiver Action Pursuant to Clean Air Act Section 209(b) for 

California's Heavy-Duty Engine On-Board Diagnostic System Requirements (HD 

OBD) and On-Board Diagnostic System Requirements for Passenger Cars, 

Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles and Engines (OBD II) 

Dear Administrator McCarthy: 

In 2012, the California Air Resources Board (CARS) adopted amendments to the 

regulation entitled "Malfunction and Diagnostic System Requirements -- 2004 and 

Subsequent Model-Year Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty 

Vehicles and Engines (OBD II Requirements), 

1 and to the regulation entitled 

"Enforcement of Malfunction and Diagnostic System Requirements for 2004 and 

Subsequent Model-Year Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty 

Vehicles and Engines" (OBD II Enforcement Regulation).

2 . 

CARS subsequently adopted amendments in 2013 to its regulation entitled "Malfunction 

and Diagnostic System Requirements for 2010 and Subsequent Model-Year HeavyDuty Engines" (HD OBD Requirements),

3 the regulation entitled "Enforcement of 

Malfunction and Diagnostic System Requirements for 2010 and Subsequent ModelYear Heavy-Duty Engines" (HD OBD Enforcement Regulation),

4 and to the OBD II 

Requirements and the OBD II Enforcement Regulation. 

I am writing to request that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

1 Title 13, California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 1968.2 2 Title 13, California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 1968.5 

3 Title 13, California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 1971 .1 4 Title 13, California Code of Regulations (CCR) section 1971.5 

The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. 

For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our website: http://www.arb.ca.qov. 

California Environmental Protection Agency 

Printed on Recycled Paper 
Gina McCarthy, Administrator 

February 12, 2014 

Page 2 

take appropriate waiver action on California's 2012 and 2013 amendments to its onboard diagnostic system requirements applicable to light-, medium-, and heavy-duty 

vehicles and engines. 

I am enclosing our waiver analysis, which includes a description of the 2012 and 2013 

amendments to the OBD II Requirements and OBD II Enforcement Regulation, and the 

2013 amendments to the HD OBD Requirements and HD OBD Enforcement 

Regulation, a review of the criteria governing EPA's evaluation of a California waiver 

request, and our rationale supporting our request, including supporting documents that 

are included in the enclosed CD-ROM for your convenience. 

If you need additional technical information on this item, please contact 

Mr. Michael Regenfuss, Manager of ARB's Engineering Studies Branch at (626) 575-

7004 or mregenfu@arb.ca.gov. You may address legal questions to Alexander Wang, 

Senior Staff Counsel, at (916) 323-9610 or awang@arb.ca.gov. 

Sincerely, 

Executiv

~fe Officer 

~ Attachment 

Enclosures 
Gina McCarthy, Administrator 

February 12, 2014 

Page 3 

cc: David Dickinson (w/attch. and encls.) 

Attorney/Advisor 

United States Environmental Protection Agency 

Ariel Rios Building 

1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. 

Mail Code 6405J 

Washington, DC 20460 

Janet Cohen (w/attach. and encls.) 

Associate Director, Compliance Division 

United States Environmental Protection Agency 

Office of Transportation and Air Quality 

2000 Traverwood 

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105 

Michael Regenfuss, Manager of Engineering Studies Branch 

Mobile Source Control Division (w/attach. and encls.) 

Alexander Wang, Senior Staff Counsel 

Office of Legal Affairs (w/attach. and encls.) 

Michael Terris, Assistant Chief Counsel 

Office of Legal Affairs (w/attach.)